How To Make The Perfect Cup Of Coffee Every Time -

The average person often misses the most important steps when it comes to making a perfect cup of coffee.

So, below are the exact steps to being able to make everything taste perfect when it comes to your morning cup of joe.

Let’s dive right in.

Step 1 – Choose high quality beans from a reputable coffee roasters

Choosing low quality beans is the number one mistake made by general home brewers. Buying coffee beans from a supermarket where they are mass produced with focus on price rather than quality is definitely not the right way to go.

There are lots of independent roasting companies right across the world who roast fresh coffee every day.

A lot of UK Roasters have all the brewing information on their website for their individual coffee beans. Adams & Russell is one of those, but other speciality roasters do also.

Step 2 – Choose beans over grind form

Choosing beans is important to creating the perfect cup every time. They stay fresher for longer and even if you made a cup with ground the day it arrived, using beans will still be miles fresher.

Many say that ground coffee beans tend to lose their flavour from the minute they are ground and packed.

Step 3 – Choose your brewing method

There are so many different types of brewing method. Most of them require different levels of extraction, water temperature and even grind size.

The most commonly chosen at-home method is probably the cafetiere, followed by the Stove top espresso maker or the V60. One of the latest to be released on to the market is the Aeropress and Aeropress GO. While in recent years home based espresso barista machines have shot through the roof in terms of popularity.

Whatever your chosen brew method, it’s a good idea to consult with your coffee roasters of the correct timings and ratios.

Step 4 – Get the grind size right for your brewing method

Once you’ve chosen your brew method, it’s time to make sure the grind size is correct. Some websites will offer specific sizes depending on your chosen method. Whereas others will do a standard grind size.

The most important difference is that between an espresso machine and other brewing extraction methods. You need a really fine grind for espresso. Whereas you’ll need a much coarser grind when using, for example, a cafetiere.

Some barista machines have a grind size dial on them so you can play around until you get the perfect pressure.

Step 5 – Weigh out your coffee beans

If you consulted your coffee roasters on weights and ratios, you should have the correct way of doing things. The most common amount needed is around 18 grams of coffee for the perfect brew. But it can vary per bean or desired strength.

So, if you really want to create the perfect cup of coffee every time, then simply buy some barista scales and take just a few minutes each time to weigh out the right amount needed for your beans.

Step 6 – Don’t over-boil the water

This is one of the most common mistakes when it comes to brewig at home.

People think the water needs to be ‘boiled to the max’. However, if you over boil the water, it can burn the granules. This, in turn releases a bitter taste and you will definitely tell when it comes to having your first sip.

One suggestion is that after the kettle has boiled, you could leave it to stand for a few minutes before pouring it into your chosen brew equipment.

Step 7 – Get the water-to-coffee ratio just right

Now that you’ve got the right grind size and right amount of coffee, you’ll want to make sure you use just the right amount of water to grounds.

This is taking your brewing one step further, but if you’re looking for the prefect taste, is a step worth taking.

Step 8 – Get the right extraction time

If you’re using an espresso machine, then your machine will likely do this for you.

However, if you’re using a cafetiere, you’ll want to make sure you only steep the cafetiere for a few minutes before plunging it down. If you under steep, the coffee won’t brew properly and may taste slightly acidic. If you over-steep it will taste bitter.

So do your timings and once again, consult with your roasters on what the best timings are for your chosen coffee beans.

Step 9 – Serve in the correct sized mug

This is super important if you’re using an espresso machine. Especially if you’re making different types of drinks. For example, a flat white requires a small mug, whereas an Americano will require a slightly bigger mug. And a latte, a bigger mug again.

Home Barista machines don’t necessarily tell you how much milk to use or what size mug. However ,you could purchase properly sized/named mugs from a speciality coffee roasters. That way, you don’t need to worry about the differences too much.