Good to The Last Drip: Part 1
Coffee purists will argue that the drip maker doesn't offer enough control of the finished product. However, the convenience of use and cleanup make auto-drip a rather popular brewing method. The main focus of this article would be to talk about the basic principles needed to prepare a great cup of coffee so you can relate this to making great auto-drip coffee.
Brewing coffee hinges on some basic premises which will be studied seriously while discovering how to make great coffee. These are standards which have been arrived at and agreed upon through a long time of research, learning from mistakes, and lots of failed glasses of coffee. The info that I am divulging would not originate from my private lab but has been handed down from countless other people who have paved the way for most people.
I can say that We have validated the outcomes. To have quality brewed coffee, needless to say, you need to be using quality roasted coffee which is fresh and properly ground. Even the best coffee maker available on the market will not create your stale Folgers taste like anything but stale Folgers.
The basic principles that have to be maintained to realize properly brewed coffee are:
1. Clean Water
2. Proper Water Temperature
3. Proper Extraction Time
4. Proper Grind and Dosage
5. Clean Water
Using clean water can make a big difference in the entire taste of the brewed coffee. It will likewise assist you to achieve consistent coffee. Having 'off' flavors from regular water such as for instance chlorine, iron or other minerals in your water will taint your perception of this brewed product. Since purified water does not have any taste or odor to begin with, it can pass no taste or odor on to your coffee. Here is the simplest way in order to taste your coffee in all of their intended glory. Along with making higher quality coffee, purified water has benefits for your equipment as well. Lime deposits which normally form through the continual usage of unfiltered coffee won't have an opportunity to form in your equipment.
To get clean water you may either buy distilled water at the store or use a water filtering device. Some of the newer automatic drip coffee makers have filters built-in with replacement filters readily available.
Water Temperature
Water temperature is essential towards the proper extraction regarding the flavor molecules from the ground coffee. The recommended brewing temperature for the coffee is 95-98 ºC. The sad the fact is that numerous of this coffee makers available on the market do not come near to attaining the appropriate temperature out of the box. Furthermore, if you don't maintain your equipment clean and this has formed mineral deposits inside, this can stop the water from heating appropriately.
Proper Extraction Time
Extraction time is practically trivial in the event that brewing temperature is correct. If the brewing temperature is hot enough, then the simple force of gravity will force water to drip out at only concerning the right rate. However, because of variations in basket design, some makers produce over-extracted coffee. This means that the warm water has received way too much exposure time for you to the coffee and is beginning to extract unpleasant flavors into the brewed beverage. Coffee ought to be brewed hotly and fairly quickly. For example, a 10-cup pot of coffee should take between 3 and 4 minutes to brew.
Given that we have discussed the significant factors in preparing good drip coffee, we will focus on which coffee makers perform best for every single situation and then develop a composite of what may be the greatest coffee maker for your needs.
Proper Grind and Dosage
I only mention this in this article because it is a significant factor in the outcome of your finished product. It does not necessarily have almost anything to do together with your coffee maker. People always ask how strong they should brew the coffee therefore the response is simple: whatever tastes right to you. A beneficial starting point is 1 Tbsp. per 6 oz water. The grind of your coffee really should not be as fine as espresso or as coarse as French Press. If in doubt, ask your local roaster to grind it for you.
Summary
When I mentioned before, these practices will likely not turn Folgers into Starbucks. However, even inferior coffee has an improved possibility of achieving greatness if these procedures are followed. In Part II of the series, i am going to discuss just how to apply this knowledge to look for a computerized four cup drip coffee maker that can best assist you to.