Brewing the perfect cup of coffee
• Use the best quality whole coffee beans available
• When available use filtered water. If your water already tastes bad your coffee will also have the bad taste.
• Freshness is another key factor. Store your coffee in an airtight container preferably a glass jar with a rubber seal. Remember that moisture, as well as heat and oxygen, is one of coffee’s enemies so avoid storing coffee in the refrigerator.
• Only roast or purchase enough coffee that will last you 1-2 weeks. • Grind the coffee based upon the type of brewing method
o Drip – Medium
o Percolator – Medium-course
o Moka Pots – Fine
o French Press – Course
• Proper measuring of the coffee is another main key for drip coffee makers
o For each cup of water, as measured on the coffee pot, use 1-2 tablespoons of ground coffee. Start at 1 tablespoon and work your way up for your desired taste.
o For a quick measuring method: figure out how much coffee you need in cup measures, rather than in tablespoon measures. 8 tablespoons = ½ measuring cup of ground coffee.
• Make sure the bed of grounds is level within the brewing basket.
• It’s a good habit to make sure that your brewing devices remain clean. Even though you may have a favorite cup, just remember that your coffee will taste better if you wash often.
• It is best pour excess coffee into a pre-heated carafe or thermos. This will help your coffee to stay at the optimum temperature and to avoid the “burnt” taste from coffee warmers. It is also a good practice to follow this process when using a French press to avoid bitter tasting coffee.
Excerpts taken from The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook and The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Coffee & Tea.
