How to Brew the Perfect Coffee: 12 Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Drink

The co-author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Coffee & Tea shares his coffee making secrets. If you follow her recommendations, you will get the best coffee you have ever tasted. Readers Digest.

Photo: IStock

“Brewing a great cup of coffee seems easy, but how often do you get the same taste as your local coffee shop? says coffee expert Christine Hansen. “The good news is that, unlike other culinary endeavors, making good coffee requires more technology than spending money on gadgets.”

A delicious cup of coffee is quite achievable at home if you don’t make common mistakes when preparing it.

Using insufficient hot water

Many popular coffee makers never heat the water to the ideal temperature (90 to 96C) to make perfect coffee. Water in this range extracts the most flavor. Switch to a French press or potting method (Chemex or ceramic filter) where freshly boiled water is poured over ground beans and infused for three to four minutes. They usually cost around $30, which is cheaper than the average electric coffee maker.

On the subject: How to make your children smarter: 10 scientific ways

Using grains that have been milled a long time ago

Buying pre-ground coffee is a big mistake. As soon as coffee beans are ground, they begin to reveal their nuances of taste. The longer you wait to brew them, the faster the flavor will decrease. Grind beans in the grocery aisle or do it yourself at home with an inexpensive coffee grinder. Grind the grains while the water heats up.

Pour into a cold cup

If you pour hot liquid into a container with a lower temperature, it will not stay hot for long. Extend your coffee enjoyment by preheating your cup. The best part is that the water is already boiling - just pour some water into the cup, leave it there while the coffee is brewing, and empty it before pouring the drink. It is also recommended to rinse the French press or douse it with hot water before adding ground coffee.

Drinking from the wrong cup

The dainty china tea cups you pull out for tea time and the super functional Corelle coffee cup you've had for years will cool down quickly.

Like the article? Support ForumDaily!?

A thick-walled cup retains hot steam for longer. Try looking for a white, diner-style, thick-walled coffee mug.

Use of stale grains

Ideally, beans that have been roasted within the last three weeks should be used. The easiest way to verify this is to find out the roast date. Coffee roasters who sell their beans locally often label packages with this information. If you pick up a bag of coffee from a grocer or farmer's market, check the bottom of the bag - it's often dated.

measure by eye

Putting freshly roasted and finely ground beans into the eye filter is a habit to break. A good rule of thumb is to use eight heaping teaspoons for a 34-ounce French press (standard size). This will cause the coffee to taste intense, but not as strong as espresso.

Don't raise your sugar and milk levels

How a person drinks coffee is a matter of personal choice, but we always recommend trying to get the maximum flavor from a sip. Many coffee shops carry small brown packets of turbinado sugar. This sweetener is simply tastier than white sugar. As for milk, it is better to use whole milk. Low-fat milk can dilute coffee.

Using the wrong ratio of coffee and water

It is customary to start with two heaping tablespoons of coffee per cup, and then adjust the proportions as needed.

Savings on water quality

It's tempting to use tap water because it's free, but you'll really feel the difference when you switch to filtered water or bottled spring water. This is because such water does not contain minerals. Otherwise, tap water impurities will affect the taste of your morning drink.

Leaving old grinds in the filter basket

If you rarely drink coffee, make sure you remove the used grounds immediately after brewing. If it stays in the filter for a few days, it may become moldy and you will need to thoroughly clean the machine before using it again.

Storing coffee in the wrong place

There is no one suitable place to store coffee. But you need to find a place without moisture. This could mean using a container with an airtight lid (such as a glass jar) or keeping a bag or jar of coffee on a shelf or in the back of a pantry.

You may be interested in: top New York news, stories of our immigrants, and helpful tips about life in the Big Apple - read all this on ForumDaily New York.

Forget to clean the coffee machine

Like everything else in the kitchen, the coffee maker needs to be cleaned regularly. Wash pitcher, filter basket and lids in soapy water after each use. And at least once a month run a brew cycle with equal parts water and vinegar.

Read also on ForumDaily:

In Texas, a passenger shot an Uber driver: it seemed to her that she was kidnapped and taken to Mexico

Which European country to move to to live like in paradise and inexpensively

Gas explodes at barbeque restaurant, killing 31

Do you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram  and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis.