You may or may not know this but there is a process to making a great tasting cup of coffee. To simply throw some grinds into a filter and splash some water over them is simply a waste of time and money. What follows is a definite way to create the perfect cup of coffee.
Ingredients
There are two main ingredients to consider when preparing to create the perfect cup of coffee. These are of course, coffee and water. However, you cannot simply throw these two ingredients together in a pot and hope that you get a cup of coffee that is rich and full flavored just the way you like it. There are preparations to be made. Let's go through these preparations in order.
Coffee
Coffee, in order for it to be brewed correctly, must first of all be fresh. Coffee retains it's freshness for about a week after the bag has been opened and the beans have been ground. After that, it begins to go stale and brackish.
Another factor to consider when creating the perfect cup of coffee is the grind of the coffee. As stated before, if you have an Automatic Drip coffee maker you don't want to have your coffee ground for a coffee press. That is, unless you want your coffee to taste weak. Always grind your coffee according to the filter you use. Paper cones and metal cone filters which are found in most of the slightly higher priced coffee makers have a finer grind than a flat bottom filter, which is found in the most common coffee machines.
Now we move on to storing coffee. It should be stored in an airtight container, preferably ceramic, although it's perfectly fine to store your coffee in a tupperware bowl if you have one. Never, never, never put ground coffee in the freezer! There is a reason for this. If you keep it in the freezer and continuously open and close it each morning for your morning cup, you run the risk of freezer burn and that is a taste that no one who loves coffee should ever have to go through.
If you must put your coffee in the freezer, at least keep it there before opening it, in bean form and once you've taken it out put it in a storage container at room temperature as discussed earlier.
Water
Now we move on to the second ingredient of a great cup of coffee: the water. Ideally your water should be fresh and clean with no fishy or other odors emanating from it. If your tap water is odorless and looks and smells clean, then it's fine to use for your coffee. Otherwise, you should use filtered or bottled water.
Putting It All Together
Now you're ready to brew your coffee. If you've gotten the right grind for your coffee and it's fresh and your water is fresh as well, there is only one more thing to do. You must get the proportion of your coffee right. The ratio of coffee to water should be two tablespoons coffee for every six ounces of water used. For example, if you plan on making a eight ounce cup of coffee, you should add two and one third tablespoons of coffee to the filter.
For making multiple cups, measure accordingly.
Anything more and you risk the coffee tasting bitter. Anything less and it could turn out too weak. If you want lighter coffee, consider adding hot water to the cup after it has been brewed.
If you've followed these simple instructions correctly, you should have in your hand a cup of coffee that is rich and full flavored. Sit back, relax and enjoy, secure in the knowledge that you now know how to make the perfect cup of coffee!
Well, there you have it. You know about the necessary freshness of your coffee and your water and you know what the ratio is to make great coffee. I hope you've enjoyed this article and I hope that you use the knowledge contained in it.
