8 Ways to Better Tasting Coffee

At FoodieGems we love coffee. And, I just love waking up on a chilly morning, walking around the house in my slippers, doing some light reading, all while sipping on a cup of hot coffee.

For some, making the perfect cup of coffee almost seems impossible. Others feel they need to go out and buy hundreds of dollars worth of equipment to make the perfect cup, only to be disappointed when their new equipment doesn't provide them what they were looking for. Today, we are going to share with you just 8 easy steps to make a better cup of coffee.

Think Fresh. Coffee beans are freshest the first two weeks after the roast date. Thus, to get the best taste from your coffee,  use the beans within the first two weeks of purchase. 

Storage. Often times you will see people using coffee beans for decoration in their kitchen, stored in glass containers on the kitchen counter top. Doing so, however, can make your coffee beans lose that great fresh roasted flavor, resulting in stale coffee. To prevent this from happening, it's always good to store your coffee in an air tight glass or ceramic container in a dark and cool location. 

Grind Your Beans. Just as if you were cooking a meal, fresh ingredients always have the best taste. The same is true with coffee. Fresh ground coffee beans are better than already ground coffee which often times loses much of it's flavor.  Before brewing a cup of coffee, make sure to grind just enough beans for that day. This will ensure that all the flavor and oils from the coffee beans will be in your cup of coffee rather than released into the air by sitting around.

Choose A Good Grinder. Have you found your cup of coffee to be bitter at times? It may just be your grinder. When it comes to grinding your beans, consistency is essential. If the size of the grinds vary, the result will be sour or bitter tasting coffee. The best grinder for a consistent grind is a Bur Grinder. If you do not have a Bur Grinder, most local coffee shops will grind your beans for you.

Bottled Water. Don't underestimate what the water you use can do. If your tap water has a funny taste before you brew your coffee, it will have that same taste after you brew your coffee as well. For better tasting coffee use cold bottled or filtered water. I guarantee you will taste the difference.

Weigh It Out. Coffee comes in different sizes and densities. Because of this, it's often better to weigh your coffee rather than use a tablespoon. For example, a tablespoon of one roast may vary greatly from another. To ensure the perfect dose, it's always best to weigh out your beans.

Rinse Your Paper Filter. Before you begin brewing your coffee, use hot water to rinse your paper filter. This will ensure your coffee doesn't have that "paper" taste and it will also help to keep the filter lined up properly with the dripper.

Try Using A French Press. While drip machines do make a great cup of coffee, the paper filter can soak up some of the oil from the coffee grinds. This means it's taking away flavor from your cup of coffee. Since a French Press doesn't use a paper filter, more flavor is left resulting in a better cup of coffee.

By following these 8 ways to a better cup of coffee, you can start your day off right.

What Tips Do You Have For A Better Cup Of Coffee? Tell us in the comments below.