Coffee is the most popular morning drink in many countries worldwide. Most people cannot get on with their day without a cup of joe. You need that cup of java to help you wake up in order to take on what the day will throw at you.
But how do you know that you are getting the most of your coffee? Chances are you are not getting the best version of your coffee out there because you are likely using your coffee maker incorrectly. Let’s go over the 10 ways that you are probably using it all wrong.
You Have Not Cleaned your Grinder In A Long Time
If you cannot remember the last time you cleaned your grinder, then that is a problem right there. You have a build-up of bacteria and fungi and other unimaginable microbes that you are putting into your coffee without even knowing it. Besides, you are getting a chunky grind since it is not being cleaned regularly. You need to clean your grinder out at least once a week!
The Grind You Are Using Is Wrong
If you are grinding and going, there is a good chance the grind you are using is wrong. There are different grind sizes and it may very well be wrong for the filter system of the maker you have. It all depends on how quickly the water passes through the filter and if you are using the wrong one, you will have very bitter or watered down coffee.
You Use The Timer
You may be tempted to use the timer for convenience’s sake, but the fact of the matter is if you use it, you are not giving your coffee the best quality. Coffee beans left out in the air will oxidize which will ruin the quality and that is what you do when you utilize the timer if you grind the beans the night before. If you want a high-quality cup of joe, forget the timer.
Have You Considered The Quality Of Your Water?
There is a good chance that you are using poor quality water for your coffee which is why it is not turning out to be the best it can be. If your water is too hard then your coffee will be too strong, and if it is too soft, it will be flat and sour. You want the Goldilocks of water when it comes to making the perfect coffee. Go and find out the hardness of your water and you will want to invest in the right equipment to make your water just right so your coffee reflects on that.
You Are Not Using Cold Water To Fill Your Reservoir
Coffee makers are designed to use cold water and if you are not putting cold water in your reservoir, then your coffee will become sludgy. They will heat water as they are programmed to do so at the correct temperature and it works only if you use cold water. But warm or lukewarm water will cause the coffee to become overly extracted which causes it to become sludgy. And if the coffee is not extracted enough, then it becomes weak. In order for the coffee to be properly extracted, you have to use cold water so it heats it up properly.
Your Coffee Maker Is Not Warming Up Properly
The perfect brew happens when the water temperature is from 195 to 205 degrees Fahrenheit. If your coffee maker is not warmed up to that level, then you will have bitter coffee. If your maker cannot brew at that temperature, then it is either defective or old and needs a replacement.
You Don’t Pay Attention To How Much Water You Add
Do you know how full your reservoir really is? Chances are you don’t and you make the wrong amount of coffee based on the amount of water in it. You want to let your maker do its job for every five minutes. And whenever you have that perfect brew, make note of how much water you added in your reservoir so you do it again, and don’t factor in the coffee and the filter when it comes to using the right amount of water.
You Don’t Bloom Your Coffee Grounds
You may be tempted to throw your coffee grounds into the maker but you can’t do that if you want to have a good-quality cup of java. You need to allow your coffee grounds to bloom first. That will make all of the difference in the world.
You Don’t Check Your Coffee Grounds In The Middle Of The Brew
Chances are you have not considered opening your filter basket in the middle of the brew to see how it is doing. This is an important thing to do since not all coffee makers are made the same way. There is a good chance that the water is only touching the same grounds and not the others during the brew. And that would explain the poor quality of the coffee.
You Use The Wrong Amount Of Coffee For What You Want
You may want your coffee strong or mild, light, or dark. If you are using the wrong amount of grounds, then you will not get the coffee you want. You need to realize that one to two tablespoons of ground coffee is for five ounces of water and keep that in mind. Therefore, the type of coffee you prefer, you need to do some math and calculate how many grounds of coffee to add to your maker. This way you can get the coffee you want.
If you have been consistently making coffee that is far from satisfactory, then you know you are using your coffee maker wrong. Be sure to fix the issues you are having with your maker and don’t forget to clean it on a regular basis!
