The Jam Box

Posted in Coffee on 31. May, 2010

Making the perfect cup of coffee is a skill that anyone can master. The secret of the perfect cup comes several key elements – the quality of the coffee bean, the quality of the water, the type of brewing being done, and the grind of the coffee being used.

The type of coffee bean and water you use is something you can easily control. Simply make sure you buy good quality beans, and use good tasting water (no horrible chemical tastes – filtered water is usually the best). However the link between the type of brewing you are using and the grind of coffee you need is more detailed and bears a closer examination.

It’s no secret that we make coffee by having hot water pass over ground up coffee beans. However for it to really work well we need to understand just how long the water should be passing over the beans. Generally speaking, the ’soaking’ time relates directly to how coarse the coffee is ground. This means that smaller coffee grinds need less contact with the water, and coarser grinds need longer contact.

Espresso coffee is only in contact with the water for 20-40 seconds, and uses a very fine grind of coffee as a result. Drip coffee makers run the heated water through the coffee over several minutes, so need a medium grind coffee. A French press coffee maker leaves the coffee to soak in the water for 4-5 minutes, and uses an extremely coarse grind. If coffee is left contacting water for too long for its grind size, unwanted extracts emerge and make the coffee taste bitter. On the other hand, you don’t want the water to pass through too quickly (which can happen if you, for example, use French press grind in an espresso maker), since very little of the coffee flavor (and caffeine) will be extracted.

An under appreciated element in brewing coffee (and managing the balance between over and under brewing of the coffee) is the humble filter. Not only do they keep the grind out of your cup, but they also control how fast the water passes over the grinds. By far the most common types of filters are paper (followed not too far behind by plastic), but many people are beginning to use metal varieties. Paper filters are quite good, however they can absorb some of the coffee flavor and some people claim they can taste the paper in the final coffee. Metal filters are usually make from gold plated mesh, or regular stainless steel. They are made from a very fine weave, and filter out the coffee grinds very well. And most importantly, they don’t affect the flavor of the coffee at all. And for the environmentally conscious, metal filters are also much friendlier on the environment.

No matter what type of filter you get, make sure you buy a decent brand. Cheap filters have a tendency to clog, and can will stop the coffee brewing properly. A good quality metal filter will outlast the machine it is being used with, and save you money in the long run.

Making a cup of coffee isn’t hard. Making a perfect cup takes a little more knowledge, but once you know the tricks it isn’t any harder. Begin with quality fresh beans, and nice clean water. Match your brewing style to the proper grind (espresso = fine, Chemex coffee makers and drip coffee makers = medium, French press = coarse), experiment a little with exact proportions, and pretty soon you’ll be brewing killer coffee every time.

Find out helpful recommendations about quick and easy recipes – please study the web page. The time has come when proper information is really at your fingertips, use this opportunity.

Making A Perfect Coffee