3 Essential Tips for Brewing the Perfect Cup of Coffee

Everyone who loves coffee loves coffee their way.

There are many ways to make coffee.

So many ways to drink coffee.

So many ways to LOVE coffee!

There really isn’t a wrong way to “coffee,” …right?

Well, kinda.

That answer — and what you will consider a quality cup of coffee — all comes down to why you drink coffee.

Taste is important.

So is practicality.

And tradition. (*shoulder shimmy*)

Why do you drink coffee?

That’s the right reason(s) to drink it.

You’re making coffee to enjoy it.

Know why you like it — and you can work with improving the areas you don’t.

Let’s get to brewing!

1) Take Time With Your Brew.

Make brewing and drinking coffee a ritual!

Umm…yes, you can stir in good intentions — that’s always nice! — but not really what I meant.

You’re likely to drink your coffee every(ish) day.

If you have a daily ritual around your coffee making, you will enjoy your cup even more.

Repetition is comforting.

And often ignored these days.

Or viewed as boring.

We live in the age of convenience and instant gratification.

Even coffee has been marketed as an easy, quick experience.

Simplicity is king. And I’m all for it!

But faster isn’t always better.

Especially with coffee.

You’d be surprised how delicious you can make a simple cup of coffee taste if you spend a few minutes — not ages, just a little while — on the process.

Ever wonder why coffee at gas stations or coffee shops or diners has a nice body to it?

Their coffee is — shocking! — brewed.

Proper brewing takes time.

Have you ever had a cup of French press coffee?

That brew is thick!

You can almost chew it!

And not in the grindsy, oops-I-messed-up-on-the-filter sort of way.

Nah.

French press coffee is thick because of the brew style.

And you can only get that sort of texture with time.

There is a process to making coffee, regardless of how much time you spend on it.

The basic steps are the same, no matter which brewing style you use:

Pour hot water over ground coffee beans, let the mixture sit, filter/pour out carefully, and enjoy!

Why not work with these steps, and make something delicious?

Like anything else in life — coffee is what you put into it.

If you stir a little time and care into your coffee, it will serve you better.

You can have yourself a lovely, stabilizing, grounding experience — just by being intentional with your brew.

2) Use “Good” Coffee Beans

Look — people like what coffee they like.

And they like their coffee for different reasons.

Some like the taste.

Some like the caffeine boost.

Some like the coffee they use because they’ve always used it.

(What was that about repetition?)

You may have used Folgers, for example, for years and years and years.

You like it. And there’s nothing wrong with that!

Really! That’s great!

I tend to like the idea of Folgers more than I like the taste.

Folgers reminds me of waking up at my grandma’s house as a child.

I’d always taste her black, Folgers coffee and think all the adults were crazy for liking that disgusting drink.

I really didn’t like coffee as a kid.

But I loved coffee time.

There’s just something about sitting around a table with your favorite people over coffee.

Folgers is full of great memories for me.

And sometimes, memories are reason enough to keep people buying the same brand.

I still love coffee time with my grandma.

And honestly, I don’t even mind drinking Folgers!

I just like other affordable brands better.

But I don’t want to spend lots of money on coffee.

I go through a lot of it.

The frequency of use should be considered when shopping for your favorite type of coffee.

Don’t break your bank, man.

You can splurge sometimes — and really savor that special brew!

But for an everyday cup? Don’t spend your life’s savings.

There’s no need!

There are plenty of affordable, high-quality options out there for you to try.

But purchasing one doesn’t need to be stressful.

There are really only two types of coffee beans to focus on — Arabica and Robusta.

That’s it.

Most people prefer the taste of Arabica beans.

And most high-quality coffee is made up exclusively of Arabica beans.

Robusta beans are a cheaper variety of coffee and are blended into a lot of cheaper brands.

With Arabica beans.

Because typically, Robusta beans don’t taste as good as Arabica beans.

And blending is needed to balance out the flavors.

Generally, the more Arabica beans in the blend, the better.

But taste is still relative, right?

So try what you want to try!

Read labels, decide on something affordable, and get to brewing.

Who cares what other people think — you’re the one drinking the coffee!

You’ll find what you like.

While we are discussing beans, it must be mentioned — roasting is a separate subject for exploration.

If you find great beans but end up with a crappy roast, you’re probably not going to like the taste of your coffee.

Starting your exploration with a medium roast is a relatively safe bet.

You can expand once you find a brand you like.

One last point about beans:

If you can grind your beans right before you drink your coffee, that’s awesome.

But pre-ground coffee is just fine!!

Don’t feel like you MUST grind your own beans to get a fresh, tasty cup of coffee.

Work with what you have.

Now, let’s discuss the other essential ingredient for making a good cup of Joe:

Water!

3) Use the “Correct” Water Temperature

Many coffee machines use their own heating mechanisms, and you don’t need to think about your water temperature.

Woot!

But if you’re using a French press (my favorite!), or another method for which you heat the water for your coffee, you’ll probably want to use water between 195° and 205° F.

Many people just boil the water they use to make coffee.

Some brewing systems even require boiling water.

As you probably know, water boils at 212° F.

If you use boiling water and you’re happy with your coffee, power to you!

You brew you!

But when you use water above ~205° F, you’re extracting more of the bitter flavors out of the coffee grounds.

If you use water below ~195°, the coffee will not achieve its full flavor and body.

That’s not necessarily bad.

You like what you like!

But understanding what you like — and figuring out how to fix what you don’t — is always a plus.

Conclusion

You want to make the best cup of coffee you can.

“Best,” though, is relative.

If you are happy with your coffee-drinking ways, then I tip my hat to you!

If you’re looking to improve your coffee-brewing methods, though, I hope you take these three simple tips to heart:

· Take your time with your brew. (You won’t regret it!)

· Use quality (but affordable) coffee beans.

· Regulate the temperature at which you brew your coffee (sweet spot: ~195°- 200° F).

Now, tell me!

How do YOU like your coffee?