30 Jun 5 Coffee-Brewing Mistakes You’re Probably Making

5 Coffee-Brewing Mistakes You’re Probably Making

By Diego Campos, Amor Perfecto coffee farmer, 2021 World Barista Champion

Coffee is an essential part of most people’s morning routines. In fact, 72% of Americans 60 and older drink at least one cup of coffee per day. While a majority of people think the perfect cup of coffee comes from a Starbucks drive-thru or neighborhood cafe, the truth is, professional-level coffee can be made at home no matter your Barista skills. But there are some mistakes even the most seasoned coffee drinkers may be making when brewing their morning cup. Here are the top 5 coffee-brewing mistakes people often make as well as some tips on how to make better coffee at home.

1. Using unfiltered water – When you are brewing coffee, don’t just fill the coffee maker or boil water from the tap. Unfiltered water contains minerals and other additives that can taint and alter the flavors of the coffee. Use filtered or bottled water instead.
2. Not using a scale to measure your coffee – Portioning ingredients by weight rather than volume is much more precise. Your coffee brewing system or coffee itself might come with a scoop but using it could result in a brew made with too much or too little coffee depending on how much you compress the coffee in the scoop. This can make the strength of your coffee vary from pot to pot. Weigh your coffee!
3. Not weighing your water – Measuring your liquids by weight is always better than eyeballing what line of the coffee pot you’ve filled to or using a measuring cup. Just like the coffee grounds, weighing your water results in a more consistent and precise brew flavor. The ideal ratio is 1 gram of coffee per 15 grams of water
4. Using pre-ground coffee, over-grinding or under-grinding coffee beans – Grinding your beans right before you brew results in a much fresher taste. You also need to make sure you are grinding beans on the right setting for the type of coffee maker you are using. Over extracted coffee can taste bitter and lack flavor. This is caused by grinding beans too finely. Under extracted coffee can taste sour and acidic and this is the result of beans being ground too coarsely or too short of a brew time. Espresso machines need a fine grind, the average coffee pot handles a medium grind well, for pour over a medium-course grind is ideal and for a French press you’ll want to opt for a course grind setting and longer steeping time. The most course settings should be reserved for cold brew coffee that brews for hours or overnight.
5. Storing coffee beans in a warm or sunny location or freezing them – Coffee beans should be kept in a cool and dark location. You shouldn’t keep coffee stored in clear containers. Keeping it in an opaque container that blocks the light keeps beans fresher. Glass containers may look nicer on the kitchen counter, but they may actually be spoiling the flavor of your beans.

If you are looking to take your barista skills a step further, Amor Perfecto offers 15-minute  online barista classes as well as Colombian coffee that can be delivered to your doorstep within 6-8 weeks of harvest.