Having trouble getting the perfect cup of coffee everytime? I guess you are probably doing some things in the wrong way. Some may say; ‘I've done everything just like how I saw it done in that video but, I just can't get it'. Don't worry, be patient, you're getting closer to the breakthrough with each trial. All you need to do might be to correct one or two steps and you get a very good result.
Brewing your coffee seems easy if you learn to do it the right way, just like with anyother thing in life. But even doing it the right the right way may be difficult, because as far as I am concerned, there are many right way to brewing coffee. The espresso, French press and many others. And that introduces its own array of worries because you now have to pick the right choice for yourself.
But leaving the brew aside, after doing a little bit of coffee you begin to discover that the ability to deliver the perfect cup of coffee draws on a lot of processes and factors, that you may or may not know about. Some are basic things under your control, others demands that you spend a little more extra time and resources to get the right choice and perfect match for you.
To make these possible, and assist anyway I can, I decided to dig deep into the maze of coffee making, and try as much as possible to uncover all the important points and factors that heavily influences the outcome of every coffee you make. From factors like the source of the coffee and type of coffee bean to different brew methods and its precautions, I tried to cover the foundations, so you can move up for there.
I won't go in too deep as I may have loved to, but I will try as much as I possibly can to present my points in an understandable way. I may include some links to more articles if you are interested in going deeper in the maze of the coffee world.
So without wasting your time let's move on.
How to Make the Perfect Cup of Coffee.
1. Type of Coffee: the Best and the Manageable.
2. Sources of the Coffee and the Resulting Flavors.
3. Roasting: the Next Step.
4. Packaging and Storing for Maximum Freshness.
5. The Pre-Brewing Factors.
6. Which Brew Style is Best.
7. Drinking: Going Black or Adding ‘Condiments' to Boost the Taste.
Let's continue.
Type of Coffee: the Best and the Manageable.
For those of you new to the world of coffee and for those of you experts in the world of coffee, there exist two major type of coffee: the Arabica and the Robusta. A few others exist but they are either a sub specie of these two or an almost unknown variant.
The Arabica coffee is regarded are the best bean in the world of coffee making. There are known to be flavor rich beans with a lot going on for them. Arabica beans according to stats are the highest grown and exported bean type in the coffee market. I think the last time I check this bean accounted for over 70% of the world coffee production and exportation. These figures testify to how beloved they are to real coffee fans.
The Robusta on the other hand, accounts for the remaining percentage of the coffee market leaving a few crumbs for the other variants. Robusta coffee lack substantial regard when compared to Arabica. They fall short in flavor profile and are known to be high in caffeine. Generally, most coffee lovers see robusta beans as low quality simply because they lack is term of flavor.
When you are in the market for good coffee beans, especially if you are just beginning your coffee loving career, it is good you start with an hundred percent Arabica beans. As you go forward, you may discover that Arabica beans are expensive and may want to opt for blends and I see no problem in that.
A few things to note on Arabica and Robusta as you make your choice.
- Arabica are more difficult to grow and harvest but they get more love and patronage.
- Produce from Arabica coffee plants are little in quantity when compared to Robusta coffee, which produce more coffee beans.
- Arabica beans have more appreciable flavors than robusta that lack in term of flavor and appear slightly bitter when brewed.
- If you love more caffeine it may interest you to know that Robusta has more of it than Arabica coffee. And not just that it posseses more antioxidants than Arabica.
What I will say is that you may want to try out a few brands first, than pick the one that is closest to the real Arabica if that's is the one you want. If you find robusta interesting then, it will do you well to know that robusta are used more in instant coffee. You have to do these testing and tastings so you don't completely lose out on the wonders of your early morning shot.
That aside you should try to understand how dedicated to quality in planting and harvesting/processing your desired brand is, because getting a nice Arabica beans or a wonderful blend is not enough, planting, processing and harvesting all play a major role in the flavor and taste of your coffee.
Sources of the Coffee and the Resulting Flavors.
The section deals with the source of your coffee. While some companies may design a coffee bean, pack and just send it out to the market, others take it upon themselves to make sure they specify the farm and origin of this coffee beans. Why? Because the source influences the product.
And this singular act is regarded as a good business practice by specialty coffee drinkers all around the world. It helps them to pinpoint and keep to a particular brand and source, making them truely appreciate the act of those producing good coffee. And also I think it helps to place those locations in high regard as coffee followers round the globe know how important they are to the coffee trade world wide.
I will share the brief writeup of each country and the flavor their coffees are known for. If you previously don't know about this, I think this will help you with growing closer to your bean and really understanding what they are, since you know more about their origin.
Ethiopia – the flavors available from Ethiopian beans are strawberries, Jasmine, blueberries and floral.
Kenya – for Kenya you can get grapefruit, lemongrass, citrus, berries and bergamot.
Mexico – Mexican coffee gives chocolate and hazelnut flavors.
Rwanda – for Rwandan beans the flavors of caramelized sugar, lemon, orange and dates are prevalent.
Costa Rica – Costa Rica gives dark chocolate, apricot, brown sugar and tropical fruits notes.
Colombia – the Colombian beans comes in sweet nut and bittersweet chocolate
Guatemala – for Guatemalan produce, the most popular flavors are mild chocolate, nut and toffee.
That's it. This short write-up presents the most common coffee exporting areas and the flavors they are known for. So when you are at your next coffee shopping adventure and you see a pack with the name or any inscription that states the country of origin, with this short guide you can pre judge what to expect and know what to go for.
Roasting; the Next Step.
After knowing the type of beans you want and the country of origin, I think the next step in this perfect coffee making journey is deciding the type of roasting you want. As with everything else, processing of agricultural produce does one of two things; either dispel some attributes or introduce and bring to the fore some hidden ones.
Roasting is the processing green coffee beans go through and it has its stages and influences on the final product. These stages present different set of factors to the table. So, knowing how each roast work will not only get your closer to your perfect coffee, it will make the whole process enjoyable for you.
The Light Roast.
Also know as the Scandinavian roast, the light Roast involves processing the coffee beans so it changes color slightly but not much. Here only surface level fruity and citrus flavors are brought to light as the roasting do not actually temper with the depths of flavor the coffee holds.
However, the light roast coffee tend to have more caffeine than darker roast coffee but none of those bitter or slightly burnt taste that is like a second nature for the dark roast.
The Medium Roast.
As the roasting continues and the coffee is still in the roasting machine, the next phase we arrive at is the medium roast. The medium roast is a bit darker and more depths have been unlocked in these beans. This type of roast is also one of the most loved around the world.
So by virtue of being under roasting for more time, the medium roast has less caffeine in it but it has a richer more balanced flavor profile than the light roast.
Medium-Dark Roast.
As we move further, the coffee beans composition begins to change, take shape and more attributes are brought to the surface. Here we are entering the depths of flavor and tapping into the aromatic oil compounds found in the coffee beans.
There is marked difference between the medium and medium-dark roast in their flavor profile. And the presence of aromatic oils makes it one of the preferred roasts(along with dark roast) for espresso brews and it's lovers alike.
Dark Roast.
The last to come out of the refining process, the dark roast, is held high in some coffee sects. Dark roast can also be called the French roast or Italian roast and during the last phase of achieving these, care has to be taken so the right end point can be gotten. .
Dark roast beans have a fuller flavor profile and can taste a bit burnt, a taste some people love. A cup of pure black espresso brewed with this type of bean, will give you a feel for what a dark roast taste like. It usually give a strong flavor and generally less caffeine.
Moving on..
The first three processes dealt with the coffee beans origin, type and processing and these are manage by the farmers, firm and packagers. The next step deals with your own effort in making your next cup of coffee the best. It involves storage and preservation of your coffee.
You should know that after making sure you got the right coffee, from the right country, with the right roast you have to move further and preserve that coffee in the right way. The processes might seem difficult but truth be told, a search on the internet or looking for a trust worthy retail store in your locality can solve all these problems in one go.
Packaging and Storing for Maximum Freshness.
Now for packaging, I am going to address a few more things. The first aspect is making sure the coffee you bought is fresh from the roasting company and second getting that coffee and preserving it at home.
Looking for fresh coffee is easy, all you have to do is make sure that the company is trustworthy first and then you always see the packaging or enquire for the dates of production, roasting and packaging. These seemingly unimportant things can save you a lot down the line.
After getting the fresh coffee home, what you have to do next is to preserve it under the right conditions. No refrigerator or freezers. Make sure to understand that, because exposing your coffee to these conditions will affect the balance of moisture in it and also reduce the pleasure you will derive from brewing that compromised coffee.
The best way to store your coffee is to put it in a cupboard, away from sunlight and water. In a cool dry place. You can also use a sealed container to make the process neat and organized. That's all you have to do. And always make sure you don't buy lots of roasted coffee in one go. It is better to buy little at a time, let's say like once a week so you continue deriving freshness everytime you make your coffee.
The Pre-Brewing Factors.
Now we are closer to the brewing time but wait a minute, there are mechanisms we have to put in place so the brewing can be successful. The importance of these factors are laid out in a few words.
Important Pre-Brewing Equipments/Factors.
Scale: A kitchen scale is your next best friend and an import factor for making consistently good coffee. It is not to be overlooked. The scale helps you guage your coffee grinds when you are preparing to brew your perfect coffee.
Most coffee drinkers won't know the importance of scaling, until they decide to test their hand making coffee for themselves. After repeated failures, they will then discover that besides everything else, getting a working scale is a recipe that brings you close to success.
Measuring Spoon. A measuring spoon can also be called a scooping spoon. The work of a measuring spoon is that it helps you get the correct quantity everytime. It is a good tool to have along with a working scale because, it also helps to maintain consistency in measurement and with all things being equal, consistency in results.
Grinder: With everything in place, a grinder can make or break how you coffee turn out in the end. So you see that choosing a good grinder is compulsory as one minor error can destroy a long day of work. As you may have discovered, each brewing method builds on a specific type of grind size so having a grinder that can grind in multiple sizes is not only the best but if for any reason you want to use a new brewing style, you can easily switch.
When shopping for a grinder, make sure you get a (quality grinder) that can grind the coffee seeds evenly throughout. This singular action helps to make sure the coffee is brewed to perfection and nothing else. Usually a guide will come with your coffee grinder so from there you know what to do.
Gooseneck Kettle: The gooseneck kettle is another essential in the operation perfect coffee. First, it helps get your water to a boil and secondly, it make pouring the water for brewing EASY. You may be able to pour with a regular kettle but a gooseneck kettle can very well simplify the process.
Easypour Cup for Milk Frothing: When it comes to milk foaming or frothing, you need a good milk cup for that purpose. A milk frothing cup makes the process of foaming the milk and pouring it very easy thanks to it's special design.
You may want to look for a cup with a metal body and a wooden handle, and is quite deep in itself. It's helps to froth more milk without fear of spilling and you can easily hold and handle without burning yourself.
Water: To show you the importance of water, take a look at this formula; Brew coffee = Water + Coffee grinds. So you see that water is indispensable to a good tasting coffee drink. Your water must be clean and properly boiled before you allow to cool to the appropriate temperature. For checking the temperature readings, you may or may not need a temperature scale, but having one is good anyway.
Make sure to use fresh water, with as little mineral content as possible. The purpose for this is so that you know you have lesser amount of interference on the deliciousness of the coffee brew.
Other Minor Considerations are tamps, used specifically for espresso machine, good quality paper filters and some brew specific components that will be talkabout under the next heading.
Which Brew Style is Best.
No brew style is the best. Each offers their advantages and disadvantages. Each have their perculiarities and reason for their appeal and why some people love one more than the other.
In this section, I will not be writing a tutorial on how to use each type but on the general use of one method and its perculiarities. I will address the four major methods: Espresso, Pour over, French press and Drip Coffee
Espresso Machine.
This method is one of the signature method of brewing coffee and it is pupolar worldwide. The resulting coffee drink is called the espresso coffee and it is known for its concentrated look and taste. Espresso is taken as shots due to how concentrated it is and it is also serves as a base for a lot of specialty coffee drinks like that Latte, Americano and many others.
The machines are feed with the coffee and water, so after the water heats up the espresso machine brews the coffee for you using pressure. The process takes less than a minute; 25-40 secs in most cases.
Extra Tips.
- Espresso machine are expensive compared to others.
- You need to learn to use them before you can nrew good coffee.
- The grind size for an espresso is fine but not too fine. It has a reason for that.
- It has one of the easiest methods, the super automatic espresso machine, which completely undertake the task from grinder all the way to brewing.
Read more on how to use an espresso machine.
Pour Over.
The pour over method is pretty simple to do and it's one of the most used means of making coffee at home. All you need is the filter and the brewery. This methods is known to brew flavourful cups of coffee and although they are brewed for longer time, the results are good in their own right.
Extra Tips.
- Quite easy to set up for anyone.
- Always know the water temperature as you brew.
- Search for good filters, as some filters may actually absorb some of the aromatic oils and flavor in the coffee.
- The best grind for pour over is medium-fine, so the coffee can exist at the perfect timing of 2-3 minutes.
Drip Coffee.
Drip coffee making involves using a coffee making machine. You load in your coffee grind and your water, the machine does its job. Simple and straight forward. But one special thing about drips is that you can make based on the machines size a lot of cups at a time.
Extra Tips.
- You will need a machine to use, so you generally spend more for setup.
- You need to learn how to use the machine, so you can make your coffee efficiently.
- Everything is by hand, the grinding, loading and filling.
- When grinding, aim for a medium ground. It helps create proper balance for easy and complete extraction of the coffee juices.
- You can brew lots of cups at a time based on the machine's capacity.
French Press.
One of the easy and straight forward coffee making technique is the French Press. This way of making coffee is quite straight forward and easy. Brewing with this method helps to bring out all the goodies in the coffee for you to enjoy.
Extra Tips.
- You will need a special French Press, a grinder, a scale and a kettle. Not so expensive.
- French Press takes more time when compared to many other methods at a range of up to 4 mins.
- It is fairly easy to make and operate.
- You can brew a good number of cups in one sitting. You just have to get the correct measurement and you are set.
- The best grind is the coarse grind, so you can brew the coffee very well. And also to make sure that the coffee grounds does not enter your coffee cup as you extract the juices. You don't want your coffee to be grainy.
So these are the common methods of coffee making, and you can choose anyone of them for yourself.
Other coffee making methods are:
- Chemex Method.
- Aeropress.
- Cold brew.
- Moka pot.
- V 60.
- Turkish Method.
- Siphon Method.
I will try to cover each method in more details, in separate posts. But for now, if you are interested in any method, you can search it up on the internet and read more about it.
Drinking: Going Black or Adding ‘Condiments' to Boost the Taste.
Now unto the last part of making a good coffee, most people might be wondering if they should drink coffee just as is or if they should mix with other flavor enriching things. My opinion and I am sure, others opinion is that you do what you want.
If you want it black, go black. Nothing stops you. If you want to mix it up, nothing stops you from doing that either.
Things you can mix with you coffee for your own pleasure.
- Dairy Milk.
- Non-dairy Milk.
- Steamed Milk.
- Milk Foam.
- Chocolate.
- Whiskey.
- Icecream.
- Whip Cream.
- Sugar.
- Ice.
- Rum.
- Hot water.
- And so on...
And least I forget, you can take these some step further by learning to do some coffee arts. If you can master it, your coffee skills will never be the same.
Conclusion.
As you know we've come a long way. But before we call it a day, there is something you shouldn't forget anytime you brew your coffee. Lack of this singular activity can ruin the best coffee in the world. And it is a result of inaction. That activity is cleaning.
You have to make sure you clean your tools and utensils regularly. Why? Because your coffee machine or maker cannot make good coffee when there are loads of bad coffee in it. Always clear out the coffee containers to make sure you always brew fresh and get fresh coffee anytime you prepare the world's most popular commodity your way.
Thanks for reading.
Resources:
- 1. Pictures Credit- www.unsplash.com
- 2. Rules to make a perfect coffee - https://www.eatingwell.com/article/41595/9-rules-for-how-to-make-a-perfect-cup-of-coffee/
- 3. Best Coffee Beans - https://luxe.digital/lifestyle/dining/best-coffee-beans/