So many of my friends and relatives who've visited in the last few years have told me that the coffee I brew tastes delicious, even going as far as saying it was the best coffee they ever had. They always ask, 'What's your secret?'.
Well, I often wondered to myself the same question but came to realize a few years ago that the methods I used played a big part in producing that perfect cup of coffee and it has to do with brewing a full pot of coffee. This morning, I decided to take some pictures as I prepared my morning brew and now, I'm ready to share with you my not-so-secret method. Anytime of day, whether it's first thing in the morning or in the afternoon following dinner, after reading this article, you'll be brewing your own fantastic coffee. Enjoy as your family and friends taste their first sip and happily inform you it's the best coffee they've ever had!
Here we go...
Water obviously is a key ingredient. I recommend using filtered / purified water. I have a 'Big Blue' water filter set up on my incoming city water pipe which removes a lot of junk from tap water. As a secondary measure, I also use a Brita water filter pitcher that I keep in my refrigerator. If you don't have any filters set up on your lines, then I recommend using Brita to filter your water.
Since we're on the topic of filters, I double filter for my brew. First, I use a double mesh filter and then place a paper filter over it. This prevents fine grinds from making their way through into the pot and then into your cup. We don't want coffee grinds in our coffee, do we?
The paper filter not only acts as a secondary filter for your brew but serves a second purpose. Keep reading to find out what it is.
Now that you have your water and filters ready, it's time to add the coffee but before I go further, let me tell you there's a big difference between ready made pre-ground coffee such as Maxwell House and whole coffee beans. Pre-ground coffee may taste fresh for a few days after opening but lose their kick after being exposed to air for prolonged periods. That's why I only use whole beans.
My favorite bean is the Zavida Organica blend I buy from Costco. I've tried other blends such as 8 O'Clock Coffee's Bakkar blend and the Williams brand and all are very tasty. One brand that totally blew me away was Blue Mountain coffee from Jamaica. Pricey but worth every sip. For this post, I'm using Zavida Organica. You can experiment and try different blends for yourself.
Every morning, I use my coffee grinder (cost $20) to freshly grind a batch of beans. I use this little scooper which measures exactly 4 tablespoons. This gives me the exact amount I need to brew a full pot of coffee. If you're planning on brewing half a pot, then you should only need 2 tablespoons.
It doesn't look like much. When you put the beans in the grinder, it should look like this. I've seen people really overdo it with how much coffee they use for a single pot. How much you use is part of the 'secret' to produce the perfect brew. This also means you'll use less coffee beans which equals to that many more pots of coffee in the long run from that one bag of beans, making each pot less expensive cost wise.
Once the beans are in the grinder, grind them down for about 10 to 15 seconds. Try to avoid over-grinding. I find that if the beans are coarsely ground, they absorb the water better as it flows through and of course, the end result is a better tasting coffee. The grinds should look something like this...
After I've placed my fresh grinds in the filter basket, I set the coffee maker to run a full pot in 'slow brew' mode. Using this mode, it'll take 15 to 20 minutes to brew a full pot. Some coffee makers don't have the slow brew feature so if that's the case with you, don't worry. Just let it run as it normally would. You'll still get a great pot of coffee.
At this point, it takes patience to wait for the pot to be full and most of us will be tempted to snatch the coffee pot out half way through the brewing process. We've all done at one time or another. I know I have but one of the 'secrets' to brewing a perfect pot of coffee is to let it go till the final drop falls, so to speak. If one cup is pulled out halfway through the brew process, not only will you get a cup that tastes stronger than the rest but will also throw the 'flavor balance' out. What we're trying to achieve is a perfect FULL pot of coffee in which every cup will taste deliciously the same.
Once your coffee is ready, go ahead and add your favorite extra(s) in your cup such as milk and sugar. Myself, I prefer my coffee black with a drop of honey as a sweetener and add a dash of ceylon cinnamon. Honey and cinnamon mixed together have great health benefits and cinnamon also helps to neutralize acids in coffee. Why not add them to my morning coffee then, eh?
Your coffee is now ready to serve. If this is your first fresh ground home brew, I'll bet the first thing you'll think is, 'Why didn't I do this sooner?'. I started making my coffee this way about 7 years ago and I've never gone back. So much so that I rarely visit coffee shops anymore because their coffees are awful tasting. Why pay $2 a cup for an awful tasting coffee when you can produce a full pot for about 50 cents and have it with supreme flavor?
Another important 'secret' is to remove the coffee from heat, usually within the first half hour or the coffee will darken and lose its flavor from being overcooked. I use this coffee thermos to place left over coffee in. Not only will it keep your coffee hot for few hours but it will also keep the coffee's rich flavor intact. Some pots are thermoses in themselves so just turn off the heat a few minutes after the brew is completed.
Lastly, let's revisit the paper filter so I can explain its dual purpose. First, it's used to prevent very fine particles from falling through into the pot during the brewing process and its second purpose is to make the cleaning process much easier.
The paper filter makes it super easy to remove all the coffee grinds without making a mess and can then be placed with the food waste. I'll usually place it in an open plastic container by the kitchen window and let it dry overnight before placing in the food waste bag to prevent moisture buildup as this can attract bad mold.
So there you have it. Not only can you now make a perfect pot of delicious tasting coffee for yourself, your family and visitors but now you also know a simple trick to make it that much easier to wash your coffee pot, filter and filter basket afterwards.
Try this method and let me know how it works ou for you in the comments section below. I almost wish I was there to see the happy expression on your face. A great cup of coffee can set the mood for your entire day. If you're like me, you love your coffee. I hope these little 'secrets' I'm sharing helps you in preparing the most delicious cup of coffee.
You deserve a good coffee today!
Peace & Love to Everyone.
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