How to Brew the Perfect Cup of Coffee at Home

There’s nothing quite like a perfectly brewed cup of coffee for coffee lovers to start the day. While you can find great coffee at your local coffee shop, there’s something special about brewing your coffee at home. Here are our tips to help you brew the perfect cup of coffee at home.

Start with Fresh Beans

Use no more than two weeks old beans
Look for beans that have a roast date on the bag

Avoid buying pre-ground coffee
Grind your beans just before brewing

The first step to brewing the perfect cup of coffee is to start with fresh beans. Coffee beans begin to lose their flavour soon after being roasted. So it’s best to use no more than two weeks old beans. Look for beans with a roast date on the bag to keep to the 2-week rule. Avoid buying pre-ground coffee if possible, as it can go stale even faster. Instead, grind your beans just before brewing to ensure maximum freshness and flavour. This is where the bean-to-cup machines show their winning skills because the beans are ground on demand for every cup.

Which Beans?

All easily available ground coffee beans will work in the coffee makers at home. We have enjoyed the coffee made from supermarkets brand beans right up to the rare and expensive Kpoi Luwak. While there is no comparison of the flavours, each of the different types of beans we have tried ground well to make a good cup of coffee. Personal taste plays a big part in the choice of beans; you try many different roasts and types to find the one you prefer.

Choose the Right Grind Size

The next step is to choose the right grind size for your brewing method. Different brewing methods require different grind sizes, so choosing the right one is essential to get the best flavour. For example, a French press requires a coarse grind, while a drip coffee maker requires a medium grind. Espresso machines, on the other hand, require a fine grind.

As a guide, use the table to select the right grind size for your brewing method. This is just a guide, as altering the grind size will alter the intensity and flavour of the coffee. There is plenty of room to experiment.

French press – Coarse grind
Drip coffee maker – Medium grind
Espresso machines – Fine grind

Measure Your Coffee and Water

To get the perfect cup of coffee, it’s essential to measure your coffee and water carefully. Generally, you should use two tablespoons of coffee for every six ounces of water. However, you may need to adjust this ratio based on your taste preferences. The bean-to-cup machines allow a degree of adjustment in the settings for the perfect cup.

Use Clean Equipment

To ensure that your coffee tastes its best, it’s essential to use clean equipment. Coffee oils and residue can build up in your coffee maker or bean-to-cup machine over time, affecting your coffee’s flavour. Clean your equipment regularly with the manufacturer’s recommended cleaning product. These are usually in a dissolvable tablet form and are dissolved into the machine’s workings. You can start the automatic cleaning/descale procedure in the machines menu with only a few taps. Using only the manufacturer-recommended chemicals compatible with your bean-to-cup machine is important, as any other product may void the warranty or damage the machine.

Use the Right Temperature for Water

The water temperature that you brew your coffee can significantly impact the flavour. Water that is too hot can burn the coffee, while water that is too cool can result in a weak and under-extracted brew. The ideal temperature for brewing coffee is between 195 and 205 degrees Fahrenheit. If you don’t have a thermometer, bring your water to a boil and let it sit for a minute or two to cool down slightly before using it to brew your coffee. The bean-to-cup machines have sensors and heaters to get the water to the perfect temperature for your coffee, taking the steps and guesswork out of the coffee-making process.