9 Rules for How to Make a Perfect Cup of Coffee

Are you wondering how to make the perfect cup of coffee at home? With many types of coffee beans, it can be confusing where to start. Don’t become confused by different types of coffee beans, we supply 6 different blends using the 2 world’s most popular best coffee beans, Arabica, and Robusta. As a coffee bean supplier, we want to give you the best-tasting coffee when you buy coffee beans from your coffee supplier.

3 Common Coffee Brewing Method at Home

There are three most common brewing methods for coffee at home.

1. Classic Drip Coffee Machine

If using whole beans, grind the beans to a uniform consistency similar to regular table salt. Transfer the grounds into a filter-lined filter basket, then place it in the drip machine. Swivel the waterspout over the centre of the grounds.

1. Pour clean water into the back of the machine (not over the grounds) and press the on button.
2. Turn off the machine as soon as the coffee is done brewing (it will stop bubbling) to avoid a burnt taste. Be sure to clean your machine once a month by filtering through a mixture of water and vinegar, which removes any built-up residue.

2. Pour-over Coffee Maker

Arguably the best method for a delicious, aromatic and complex cup of coffee, the pour-over coffee maker won\’t disappoint.

1. First, bring cold water to a boil in a kettle.
2. If using whole beans, grind the beans to a uniform consistency similar to granulated table salt.
3. Meanwhile, put a filter in the brewer and rinse with hot water. This removes the papery residue on the filter and warms up the brewer, keeping your coffee hot for longer. Discard the water used for rinsing.
4. Add the grounds to the filter, making sure the surface is level. When the water is between 195°F and 205°F (about a minute after removal from the heat), slowly and steadily pour just enough water over the grounds to saturate them completely, starting from the middle and working your way outward. Stop pouring before the coffee begins to drip through. This is called the \”bloom\” pour, which allows the coffee to de-gas.
5. Slowly pour in the remaining water, keeping the water in the dripper between half and three-quarters full. This should take 3 to 4 minutes. Carefully remove the filter, then serve and enjoy.

3. Cafetiere (or French press)

Caffeinate like a European and make your morning coffee with a French press.

1. First, bring water to a boil in a kettle.
2. If using whole beans, grind the coffee beans to a consistency similar to breadcrumbs (coarser than you\’d want for pour-over). The grounds should be uniform in size, without a lot of fine grit. Add the grounds to the French press.
3. When the water is between 195°F and 205°F (about a minute after removal from the heat), add it to the French press and stir it vigorously into the grounds. The brew time is about 4 minutes, then slowly plunge the press, separating the grounds from the coffee.
4. Serve and enjoy. Note: if you\’re not planning on drinking the coffee immediately, do not leave it in the French press, as it will continue to sit on the grounds and become bitter. Instead, pour the coffee into a carafe to enjoy later.

There are many other methods, but we will cover them in another article. For the sake of your curiosity, we will list them here for your reference. Other coffee brewing method includes:

• Aeropress
• Clever Dripper
• Cold Brew
• Espresso
• Stovetop
• V60

How much coffee should I add?

A general rule of thumb or the golden ratio is one to two tablespoons of ground coffee for every six ounces of water. Adjust this ratio per your taste preference. You can buy a measuring cup for more accurate measurements.

Tips for Making the Best Coffee

Rule 1: Buy Fresh Coffee Beans

Without question, coffee is best when used within days of being roasted. Buying from a local roaster (but you can roast coffee yourself right at home too) is the surest way to get the absolute freshest beans. Be wary of buying bulk coffee from supermarket display bins. Check out our coffee products fresh out of the roaster every day.

Oxygen and bright light are the worst flavour busters for roasted beans, so unless the store is conscientious about selling fresh coffee, the storage tubes get coated with coffee oils, which turn rancid. Coffee beans packaged by quality-conscious roasters and sold in sturdy; vacuum-sealed bags are often a better bet.

Rule 2: Choose Good Coffee If It\’s Within Your Budget

Snobbism among coffee drinkers can rival that of wine drinkers, but the fact is that an astonishing world of coffee tastes awaits anyone willing to venture beyond mass-marketed commercial brands. Speciality coffees that clearly state the country, region or estate of origin can provide a lifetime of tasting experiences.

There are two major beans on the market Robusta and Arabica. Arabica beans are more widely produced, have a wider range of flavours and are generally considered the \”better bean.\” Look for 100% pure Arabica beans. The cheap alternatives may contain Robusta beans, noted for their higher caffeine content but harsh flavours.

\”Nasty\” is a term commonly linked to Robusta coffees by Espresso devotees. But these types of coffee can be expensive. If you\’re barista budget has taken a hit, there are plenty of good grocery store brands that deliver your morning buzz at half the price of fancy beans.

Rule 3: Keep Coffee Beans Fresh

Always store opened coffee beans in an airtight container. Glass canning jars or ceramic storage crocks with rubber-gasket seals are good choices.

Never refrigerate (roasted beans are porous and readily take up moisture and food odours). Flavour experts strongly advise against ever-freezing coffee, especially dark roasts. Optimally, buy a five- to seven-day supply of fresh beans at a time and keep them at room temperature.

Rule 4. Grind Your Own

Nothing can ruin a pot of coffee more surely than tap water with chlorine or off-flavours. Serious coffee lovers use bottled spring water or activated charcoal/carbon filters on their taps. Note: Softened or distilled water makes terrible coffee–the minerals in good water are essential.

Rule 5. Avoid Cheap Filters

Bargain-priced paper coffee filters yield inferior coffee, according to the experts. Look for \”oxygen-bleached\” or \”dioxin-free\” paper filters (e.g., Filtropa, Melitta). Alternatively, you may wish to invest in a long-lived gold-plated filter (e.g., SwissGold). These are reputed to deliver maximum flavour but may let sediment through if the coffee is ground too finely.

Rule 6. Do not Skimp on the Coffee

The standard measure for brewing coffee of proper strength is 2 level tablespoons per 6-ounce cup or about 2 3/4 tablespoons per 8-ounce cup. Tricks like using less coffee and hotter water to extract more cups per pound tend to make for bitter brews.

Rule 7. Use Good Water

Nothing can ruin a pot of coffee more surely than tap water with chlorine or off-flavours. Serious coffee lovers use bottled spring water or activated charcoal/carbon filters on their taps. Note: Softened or distilled water makes terrible coffee–the minerals in good water are essential.

Rule 8. Beware the Heat

Water that is too hot will extract compounds in the coffee that are bitter rather than pleasant. The proper water temperature for brewing is 200°F or about 45 seconds off a full boil. (Most good coffee makers regulate this automatically.)

Once brewed, do not expect coffee to hold its best flavours for long. Reheating, boiling or prolonged holding on a warming platform will turn even the best coffee bitter and foul-tasting.

Rule 9. Keep Your Equipment Clean

Clean storage containers and grinders every few weeks to remove any oily buildup. At least monthly, run a strong solution of vinegar or speciality coffee-equipment cleaner like Urnex through your coffee maker to dissolve away any mineral deposits. Rinse thoroughly before reuse.

You can Buy exclusively locally roasted coffee blends and sustainably sourced best tasting coffee beans in and around Yorkshire. With Balmforth and Co you can buy coffee beans that UK recognized and are awarded with a 2 star Great Taste Award.

Balmforth & Co also provides with the option to buy best coffee beans as well as the cheap coffee beans. Not only coffee bean wholesale, but also retail. As a shop owner you would be happy to hear that our customers do have option to get their Barista Training on B&Co. Only the Best Beans for our customers.

Just to let you know, you can also get your very new or refurbished coffee machine from B&Co.

If you want to hear more about our product and services, get in touch with Refreshment Systems (B&Co parent Company) on 0800 169 3686.

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