Why Your Homebrewed Coffee Tastes Terrible
For most people, enjoying a cup of coffee every morning is compulsory. However, when your coffee brew at home is sub-par in flavor, it will disappoint you daily and start your day on a not-so-good note. But it does not have to be that way. You can brew your coffee at home and not feel the need to go to your nearest java for the real deal. To fix things, you need to know what the problem could be, and with time, you will brew yourself a great pot. The problem can be old coffee, the coffee maker, or something else you did not expect. Below are common reasons why your homemade coffee could be tasting terrible.
Buying the wrong coffee type
What type of coffee do you always buy? Cheap coffee, in most instances, is not good. Plus, the roast is made in batches and without proper timing, care, and temperature. Therefore, there are coffee brands you should know for you to get the right coffee. For instance, a French press needs a coarse and large grind, while an espresso maker requires a fine coffee grind. Also, you need to consider the caffeine strength, acidity levels, the bitterness or sweetness, among other factors. Keep trying various coffee brands until you find your favorite ones.
A dirty coffeemaker
If your coffeemaker is dirty, it will ruin the flavor of your coffee. Mostly it is because you cannot see the grime and grit that is causing the problem. Coffee leaves an oily and oxidized residue that hides in little nooks, and it affects the flavor. Therefore, you need to clean your coffee equipment at least once a week or rinse and clean with mild soap after use. Disassemble this to reach all the pieces and inserts. If you put off cleaning your coffee maker, it will still make your coffee terrible. Unfortunately, even though you use the best brand and the finest grind. For it picks on the dirt and changes the taste and flavor.
The water you use is the problem
The quality of water you use to brew your coffee could be the problem. You may be using the right amount of water to brew, but the water you use changes the taste of your coffee. According to coffee specialists, the water you use to brew should be of high quality. It should have zero chlorine, no odor, have the correct alkalinity, and have a pH of around six. Tap water mostly fails the test. For this reason, use a water filter system and get your water ready to brew your coffee. Also, if you can afford it, buy bottled water that is preferred to make coffee and have some at home.
Your coffee is not fresh
Coffee is not the best to buy in bulk. Most coffee stays fresh for at most a month or two after its ground. When buying your coffee, check the sell-by date on ground coffee you buy and treat that as a start of a month to after which the coffee starts losing flavor and thus it is no longer fresh. Alternatively, check the best buy date and take that as seriously. If you prefer to grind your beans, grind in small batches that you will use in a week. Better still, invest in a coffeemaker with a built-in grinder to do the work for you.
Not using the right amount of water
When it comes to the amount of water you use to make your coffee, everyone has their preference and customization. Less coffee and more water will make a less strong cup of coffee in terms of caffeine power and taste, while the reverse of this makes a brew that is strong on all fronts. But you can only stretch as far. At some point, very little water relative to scoops of coffee will make your brew concentrated for proper flavor, and yes, it goes the other way as well. Follow the rule of thumb and use 1.5 tablespoons of coffee per every six ounces of water. So, not only do you consider the right amount of water but the quality of water, as well.
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Why Your Homebrewed Coffee Tastes Terrible