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Simple Tips for Great Coffee at Home

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From the bean to the cup, great tasting coffee depends on much more than just fresh coffee beans. The way you grind, brew and serve your coffee will have just as much impact on the final taste as the beans themselves. While specific methods for grinding, brewing and serving vary with coffee styles and coffee machines, there are a few simple rules to follow no matter how you make your cup.

Tip 1: Be Clean

Coffee brewing equipment must be thoroughly cleaned after every use. The more complicated the brewing equipment, the more thoroughly you need to clean it. Freshly roasted coffee beans are shiny because they are coated with aromatic oils. During the brewing process these oils will leave a fine, oily residue on your brewing equipment. If left without washing, the oily film will quickly become rancid – tainting the next brew.Whether you are using an automatic espresso machine, a French Press (plunger), a Stovetop espresso maker, or any other coffee-maker, thorough cleaning is a must. After cleaning, rinse your equipment with fresh water. This is to completely remove any detergent residue that might spoil the next brew.

Tip 2: Be Generous

Strong coffee can always be diluted, but weak coffee cannot be made stronger. For this reason, it is best to be generous with your coffee portions. In addition, if you try to make a large quantity of coffee with a small amount of beans, the coffee will be over-extracted. The result will be a weak, bitter-tasting brew. To avoid this problem, always use one generously heaped tablespoon of coffee per 200ml serve of regular coffee. Alternatively, for espresso, use 6-7 grams of tightly packed coffee grounds per 40-50ml single-shot.

Tip 3: Be Water Wise

Using clean, filtered water can improve a coffee's flavour quite dramatically. This is especially true for areas where the water supply is tainted with chemicals and/or mineral deposits. Never use water that has been sitting in the kettle all night. Instead, filter some fresh water, boil it and leave to stand for 1-3 minutes. Once the water has cooled to just below boiling point, it can be use to brew your coffee. Using water that is too hot will only scald your coffee resulting in a burnt and bitter-tasting brew.

Tip 4: Be Fresh

When it comes to coffee, fresh is best. The beans should be freshly roasted, the water should be fresh and, once brewed, the coffee should be drunk immediately. Certainly don't leave it stand on a hot plate for hours where it will become bitter and rancid. In addition, never reheat your coffee or attempt to re-use coffee grounds.

Following these four tips will improve your coffee no matter what equipment you use or coffee-style you brew. If you would like to learn more about brewing techniques, coffee makers and coffee machines, visit www.coffee-makers-cafe.com. You will find tips, recipes, recommended products and information on how to use coffee equipment to make great espresso and non-espresso coffee at home.

By Shona Lynch

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