You have always enjoyed coffee at coffee shops, but have you ever thought of making your coffee at home? The idea is even better since you can make the best coffee with better quality and choose the coffee beans you want. While making coffee at home has been there for centuries, it is a practice that many people across the globe still enjoy to date. The question many ask is, how can I make it better? What do I need to know, and what process should I follow? You need to know what “better” means and find the best version of what makes you happy. Whether you love your coffee dark, rich, or bitter, with the right tips, you can make delicious coffee just like the one you buy at cafes. Follow these techniques to improve the way you make your coffee at home.
Use Whole, Fresh Coffee Beans
The roasted beans’ aroma makes the coffee smell and taste delicious. After roasting the beans, the aromatic compounds disappear immediately through degassing. They take almost all the flavor with them, and if they stay for a week without being used, about 70% of these compounds will have escaped, which means the coffee made from them will be flavorless. Grinding coffee increases the surface area exposed and makes it easier for the compounds to escape. To get the best coffee whose flavor and pleasant taste are intact, you need to use fresh coffee beans and grind them right before brewing.
Scaling
While most of us know the number of coffee teaspoons we should mix with water to make the best coffee, the rules might not apply when brewing coffee. For instance, many use two tablespoons of coffee to make one cup. While brewing, the amounts of coffee beans you use are determined by their size and density. Different coffees make a wide range of sizes and weights, meaning one tablespoon of a certain coffee can weigh differently from another coffee. You can only get it right using a scale since it will show you the weight. This way, you will become not in terms of volume but by weight. Using a scale ensures that you know exactly how much goes into your cup regardless of the type of coffee you use.
Use the Correct Amount of Coffee
The darkness or lightness of a cup of coffee depends on the ratio of coffee to water. Adding too much coffee makes the cup stronger or darker while using less coffee makes the cup weaker or lighter. But how do you know the correct amount of coffee to use? You can get it right using the right ratio between coffee and water. The recommended ratio for many coffee makers can range between 1:12 and 1:15.
Use the Right Coffee Machine
A coffee machine is among the most crucial tools for coffee brewing. The fastness at which flavors are extracted from coffee is determined by the particle size of the coffee. Big particles take longer to release the flavor, while small particles take less time. You would want all your grounds to be the same size while brewing coffee so that all these are at the same rate. With the ability to control the sizes of your ground, you also can control the brewing process. Burr grinder helps you achieve consistent size. Quality coffee machines in Australia have unique settings to help you consistently produce the desired grind sizes. You get the perfect grind particles for your brew.
Use Filtered Water
Water makes the largest percentage of brewed coffee. This means that the taste and the quality of water you use to make coffee play a significant role. If you use water with odor or bad taste, your coffee will taste bad. Consider using purified water if you want your coffee to taste delicious. Tap water is mostly good and pure for brewing. Alternatively, you can use filtrated water, such as bottled water, if you have doubts about tap water quality. The water should also not be distilled because it is too pure, and coffee requires a few minerals and impurities to brew properly and taste better.
The Water Must Have the Right Temperature
Temperature is a crucial component in coffee making. An optimum temperature is required to extract flavors properly. The recommended temperature is between 190-200 degrees. Water temperature determines the speed at which the flavors are extracted and what is extracted. With the right temperature, all coffee flavors will be absorbed, which means your coffee will taste nice. Water below 190 degrees does not extract the desired flavor, while water above 200 extracts excess, making the coffee bitter. You can use a thermometer to measure the temperature. There are also unique kettles that heat the water to the right range.
Bloom the Coffee
Blooming is the process by which coffee bubbles after being poured water into it. It happens when the water dissolves the coffee grounds compounds and causes a buildup of pressure inside them, forcefully releasing carbon dioxide.
Carbon dioxide interferes with the quality of the brew since it pushes water away from the coffee ground, preventing extraction. To avoid this, start by putting a small amount of water into the coffee and wait for a few seconds before adding more water to give the coffee time to bloom. Blooming is a vital process in coffee making as it helps the water saturate the coffee grounds for more flavor and aroma. The amount of water you use to bloom should be twice the amount of coffee you use.
In conclusion, home coffee-making is one of the best ways to get quality coffee. You need to use the right tools and coffee and know how to brew. Fresh coffee beans are perfect if you want your coffee to be more flavored. Measure both water and coffee to get the correct ratio. Use the right grinder or coffee machine to ensure the water is clean and at the right temperature for flavor extraction. Do not forget to bloom, as it helps in saturation and enhances the aroma of the coffee.
