They say that a cup of good brew makes all the difference. We couldn’t agree more! A lot of people who begin their morning with a cup of joe swear by it as a means to brighten their day. If you rely on coffee to get you through the day, read on to learn how to brew the perfect cup of coffee.
Owning a French press or expensive coffee makers doesn’t always ensure good quality coffee. Similarly, a lack of fancy coffee gadgets doesn’t have to mean that you need to make a trip to Starbucks for the good stuff. So, the next time you crave a cappuccino, try making one with your home-brewed coffee.
Whether you wish to enjoy a cup of creamy coffee or just like yours black, good quality coffee grounds are the key to brewing great coffee. While you can get pre-roasted coffee grounds, roasting coffee beans at home can take the flavor of your coffee up another notch.
You can easily grind your roasted coffee beans with a coffee grinder. Keep the consistency of the coffee grounds similar to that of breadcrumbs. Coffee that’s ground too fine often results in a cloudy brew that tastes grimy.
Once you’ve brewed your coffee, take a couple sips of it black and unsweetened. This will help you get to know the nuances of its flavor. If it tastes too bitter, add more coffee grounds in the next brew. But if it tastes too sour and acrid, reduce the amount of grounds.
Here are three easy ways to brew the perfect cup of coffee at home.
Method 1: Use Hot Water
Not owning a coffee maker or a French press doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy a decent cup of coffee. You can easily brew coffee with some good quality coffee grounds and a cup of hot water.
To get the temperature of the water right, let the water come to a boil and then set it aside for 30 seconds. Water this hot will not scald the grounds, but will draw out the right nuances of the flavor and aroma.
If you don’t have filter paper at hand, paper towels will do just fine. After all, nothing should keep you from your daily hit of caffeine.
Things you’ll need:
- Roasted coffee grounds – 1 tablespoon
- Hot water – 1 cup
- Paper towel
Step 1. Put coffee into a paper towel arranged over a container
- Arrange a paper towel over a container as you would a coffee filter.
- Put 1 tablespoon of roasted coffee grounds into the makeshift filter.
Step 2. Add hot water and let the brew strain
- Pour in just enough water to wet the grounds and let it sit for 30 seconds.
- Next, pour half of the remaining cup of water through the grounds and let it sit for 30 seconds again.
- Then, pour in the rest of the water in small amounts so as not to flood the filter.
- Let it stand again for 30 seconds.
- Let the filter drain completely before discarding the grounds.
Step 3. Pour your coffee and enjoy
- Pour your coffee into a cup or mug and enjoy the perfect brew.
- You can sweeten or cream your coffee as desired.
Method 2: Use a Coffee Maker
If technology baffles you, then auto-drip coffee makers are just the thing for you. Making coffee in one is child’s play...almost! Just keep a few key points in mind and you’ve got a hassle-free way to enjoy great coffee. All you need is water and decent coffee grounds.
Step 1. Add coffee to the coffee maker
- Put 1 tablespoon of roasted coffee grounds into the filter of your coffee maker.
- Slide the coffee filter back in place. Different coffee makers will have different mechanisms and you may need to work according to that.
Step 2. Add water to the coffee maker
- Pour 1 cup of water into the water reservoir and put the lid back on.
Step 3. Brew the coffee and enjoy
- All you need to do is plug in your coffee maker and switch it on.
- Let a full brew cycle run for the best flavor.
- Turn off the coffee machine when it has run a full cycle to prevent any accidents.
- Remove the carafe and empty the filter promptly to prevent your coffee from going bitter.
- Pour the coffee from the carafe straight into your coffee mug and enjoy the brew.
Method 3: Use a Cold-Brewing Process
While not as popular, cold brewing results in the healthiest brew possible. The cold-brewing process yields a coffee that is less bitter and acidic than coffee that has been exposed to hot temperatures. Coffee made with this process has a rich, subtly sweet flavor.
Using cold-brewed coffee is also the best way to make delicious cold coffee. This way your cold coffee doesn’t get watered down with ice cubes used to cool it down.
Step 1. Combine water and coffee grounds in a Mason jar
- Put 3 tablespoons of roasted coffee grounds into a mason jar or any other jar with a lid.
- Pour 1 cup of cold water into it. The water need not be frigid, just normal as opposed to the hot water generally used to brew coffee.
Step 2. Let the coffee grounds steep
- Let the coffee steep for 18 to 24 hours.
- In a pinch, you can let it steep overnight. But the longer the steeping time, the richer the flavor of the brew. Some people even go for 42 hours of steeping time.
Step 3. Strain the coffee
- Now, the straining part is a bit elaborate. Pour the coffee through a fine mesh strainer to remove the coarser grounds. Clean out the strainer or use a different one for further straining.
- Line the strainer with filter paper. A folded paper towel will also work.
- Pour the coffee through the filter paper and let it strain completely.
- Strain it through filter paper again if the coffee appears cloudy.
Step 4. Store and use as desired
- You can pour the coffee into a container appropriate for storage or drink it immediately.
Tips
- If your cold-brewed coffee remains cloudy even after straining through filter paper a couple of times, it means that your coffee grounds were too fine. Try coarser coffee grounds the next time.
- Keep your coffee maker clean to avoid bad tasting or moldy coffee. You can use white vinegar to clean your coffee maker.
- The shelf life of unroasted coffee beans is about 1 year, while roasted coffee beans last 1 month. Once ground, the shelf life of roasted coffee decreases to 1 to 2 weeks, as its aromatic oils go rancid after that.
- Always store your coffee grounds in an airtight jar.
Summary of How to Brew the Perfect Cup of Coffee
Download this infographic.