Love a cup of coffee first thing in the morning? Looking to exercise with your drink to find the ultimate enjoyment (and energy boost) from your favourite drink? There are multiple ways to enjoy your coffee, along with various styles and types of beans to try. And that’s before you discuss flavour profiles and strength. Whether you are moving from the ever-popular instant coffee or you want to move away from the coffee pods to try a more satisfying drink, these coffee brewing tips can be exactly what you need.
Experiment with Brew Methods
You will find that many coffee drinkers will have their favourite brew methods, but if you’ve not experimented with different ones, now is the perfect time to do so. Move away from your to-go method and branch out to see what flavours and taste experiences you can gain from trying options such as the pour-over method, Aeropress, French press and more.
Each method can bring something different from what you are using. For example, the pour-over method offers a cleaner taste, while a siphon coffee maker can introduce new flavours to your drink. Take your time to adjust your brewing methods and the water-to-coffee ratio, which is the proportion of water to coffee used in brewing. A common ratio is 1:15, meaning one part coffee to 15 parts water; however, you can adjust this to your preferred ratio. This can help you uncover the possibilities and potentially your new favourite drink.
Invest in Quality Beans
You do not necessarily need the most expensive beans, just the best quality beans you can afford. And as everyone’s taste buds are different, you are likely going to have different preferences for others anyway. Looking at the different types of beans you can buy, and their flavour profile can be a good starting point. From earthy tones to bright, fruity acidity, you can uncover a range of different beans with tasting notes you don’t even have come across before. A good tip is to use local roasters to source your beans, as they can give you flavour notes and roast dates: ideally, you want to use your beans within two weeks of roasting.
Don’t forget you don’t need to buy pre-ground beans. You can grind your own as you need them for a better taste experience. Grinding your own beans allows you to preserve the freshness and aroma, which can significantly enhance your coffee’s flavour profile. Take the time to understand whether electric grinders work for you or are manual coffee grinders better. It’s a personal choice in many cases.
Water Matters
The quality of your water matters. The different chemicals found in water can influence the flavour profile, meaning you might not experience the bean how you are meant to. If your tap water has a strong odour or the water is hard, consider switching to filtered or bottled water for a cleaner, fresher taste that doesn’t alter the coffee as much. And you need to be careful not to scold the coffee with boiling water. Instead, aim for water between 90 °C and 96 °C.
Enhance It
Step away from the coffee shop syrups and flavourings and go back to spices that are more compatible with the bean. Cinnamon and nutmeg are great options to try, and plant-based milk can also offer extra texture and flavour. Consider a citrus zest for your coffee or chocolate, but avoid artificial flavourings, as this can ruin the drink.
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