Brewing Hot Coffee:
A cup of hot coffee to start off your day, a cappuccino to get rid of that lazy afternoon, an espresso as a dessert! The choice is yours but the secret behind a refreshing coffee is the right brewing. Though there are many methods of brewing a cup of coffee and no single technique would be perfect for all. Brewing is a technique, the choice of which varies from person to person and is different for different flavors. Here are some tips and suggestions to brew a perfect coffee.
The Equipment
Make sure that your equipment – coffee brewer is thoroughly cleaned after every use. Rinse it with clear and hot water, and dry it with absorbent towel. Check for any residue. If any, it can impart a bitter flavor to your coffee if used without cleaning.
The Coffee
Always puchase freshly roasted coffee and use it in small amounts, as much as you require. Ideally you should purchase your coffee every 1 or 2 weeks. After that the coffee loses its flavor.
The Grind
It is important to know the size of your coffee granules. If your coffee coarsely ground then the oil will be underextracted, hence will taste flat and if it is ground very fine then it may lead to a bitter taste.
The Water
Always use fresh filtered or bottled water to brew your coffee. If your tap water contains chlorine then let it run for few seconds before you fill it in your coffee pot. Use only cold water.
The Quantity
You can use 1-2 tbsp of ground coffee for 6 fluid ounces of water. If your coffee package suggests a ratio try that. Although this needs to be adjusted to suit individual taste.
The Temperature
Water temperature should be in the range of 195-205ºF. A lower temperature will result in a flat taste to the coffee and a higher will spoil the flavor. If you are brewing the coffee manually then allow the water to come to full boil, turn off the flame, cover and let it rest for a minute before you pour it over the ground coffee.
The Time
In the dripping system the contact time could be 4-5 minutes and in manual brewing it could be 2-3 minutes. Though you will need practice and experimentation to determine the right amount of brewing time.
The Taste
Brewed coffee should be enjoyed immediately. The flavor starts to deteriorate after about 20 minutes. If you need to keep it hot for some time, store it in a vaccum thermos or flask.
Brewing Cold Coffee:
Put half pound (approx 450 grams) coffee in the brewing container and add around 4-5 cups of water. Do not stir but make sure the coffee is wet. Let it stand for around 12 hours. Later just pull out the cork and let the brewed coffee flow into a glass. The cold brew is ready for use. Store this concentrate into the refrigerator. Now you can prepare you favorite Mocha or Frappucino in minutes.