To prepare a good coffee you do not have to be an expert barista, but you need to pay a lot of attention to a series of details that make a difference. In fact, every coffee grower has ever heard about the main fundamentals of coffee and how they influence the flavor of the coffee. We refer to the proportion, to the ground, to the water, and to the freshness. Do you remember them, right? To know more about coffee, then you can visit http://coffeelifious.com/
How to make coffee
Basics of coffee: the proportion
One of the main steps to prepare a good coffee is to use the proper ratio of coffee and water. The universal rule that every barista knows establishes that for every 10 grams of coffee 180 milliliters of water is needed. However, people who find these coffees too concentrated should reduce their intensity by adding a little hot water in the cup itself, when the coffee is ready.
It is not usually a good idea to prepare 10 grams of coffee with less water than suggested. If we do that, we would get a coffee that is more bitter than desirable, since a small amount of water will be unable to extract all the nuances of the grains. To get a more concentrated or strong coffee the best thing is to play with the grams of coffee used or with the extraction time.
Basics of coffee: grinding
Another aspect to take into account when preparing coffee is grinding or milling. As you know, grinding is the process that turns the coffee bean into powder to facilitate the preparation of the infusion. Performing this step properly is key to preserve the flavor and original aromas of coffee, so we always recommend grinding coffee ourselves instead of buying it already ground.
The grinding of coffee beans can be fine, medium or thick. Each grind is indicated for a type of coffee machine:
Fine grinding: It is recommended grinding for espresso coffee machines. The grinding must be very fine to make this coffee because the preparation lasts around 20 seconds and the extraction of the nuances of the grain must be fast. As a result, the coffee is quite bitter.
Medium grinding: It is best for filter coffee machines. It is also perfect for coffee brewed with a Japanese siphon.
Coarse grinding: The coarse grinds are only suitable for the slow preparations of the plunger coffee machines. In this type of coffee machine, the grains rest for a long time, unhurriedly releasing all their properties and oils. As a result, coffee is softer.
As we told you in a previous post, there are coffee makers that require grinding halfway between fine grinding and medium grinding or halfway between medium grinding and coarse grinding. The V60 coffee maker is one of them.
Basics of coffee: water
Sometimes we try very hard to have the best coffee beans and we repair very little in the water we use in each infusion. To get a good coffee we must use quality water, so it is not advisable to resort to too chlorinated or flavored iron or sulfur waters.
In order for tap water to not taste chlorine, some people use a filter jug. Others let it rest for a few hours.
The most experienced baristas insist too much on choosing the water well: a cup or a cup of coffee is 98% water, so it must be fresh and clean.
But to get a good coffee, not only must the water be fresh, but it must also be the coffee itself. Coffee (grain or ground) should be stored in an opaque and watertight container at room temperature. Light, heat or humidity could interfere with its taste and properties. Anyway, you are looking for freshness and not cold, so in no case should we store the coffee in the fridge or freezer.
Ground coffee is conserved worse than coffee beans, so it is preferable that it does not take more than a week to consume.
Cleaning, the extra foundation
While it is true that the correct proportion, grinding, water and freshness conditions is very important, so is the cleaning of the utensils with which we prepare our coffees.
The coffee machines must be very clean. Otherwise, the oils of the grains will become rancid inside and this will affect the flavor of the drinks.
Filter coffee makers should also be cleaned regularly. A solution of white vinegar and water will be enough to keep it in good condition.
Utensils such as thermos or jars should also be washed frequently using white vinegar, water, and even baking soda. Other tools such as grinders need a somewhat more complex cleaning that should be weekly and in which specific cleaning tablets should be used (a dirty grinder can contaminate the coffee and cause it to lose quality).
How important are these basics to achieve good coffee! Do you agree that cleanliness is the extra foundation? In addition, the baristas pay attention to other aspects such as time, temperature, filtration and turbulence … We will leave them for another time!
