Brewing a Perfect Cup of Coffee

For coffee lovers, there's little better than starting the day with a perfect cup of coffee. The act of making coffee may seem simple, but really, brewing your perfect cup of coffee is more of an art. Start by investing in quality equipment, knowing your palate and how to select, store and brew your favorite beans.

Invest in Quality Equipment
Like many things in life, you get what you pay for when it comes to coffee making equipment. Try to find a balance between coffeemakers and grinders that fit your budget and deliver the goods. Let quality be your guide first and buy the best you can afford, otherwise you'll be brewing coffee with a poor grind or worse, be in the position to replace your coffeemaker more often.

You'll also want to spend some time learning about coffee beans and which growing regions and roasts please your palate. Although pre-ground coffee is good in a pinch, the best cup of coffee comes from freshly roasted beans that you grind as you need them. If you like flavored coffees, consider extending your research to well-known brands of flavored syrups you order at your favorite café.

Choose Quality Coffee Beans
The best tasting coffee comes from freshly ground beans, especially top-quality beans. If you grind your own beans, you'll achieve high-end coffee flavor without ever having to leave home. Store coffee beans in an airtight container in a cool, dark place (the ideal temperature for coffee beans is between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit).

Although it may be tempting, don't purchase coffee beans in bulk. The closer to the roasting date you grind them, the better their flavor. Purchase coffee beans in small quantities based on the amount of coffee you drink in a week (two weeks at the most). For the best results, grind the beans each time you make coffee.

Grocery store coffee beans may save you a few dollars, but you can never really be sure of their freshness. You'll find the best quality coffee beans from local coffee roasters sold at their stores or in local cafés. If you want to make things even easier, some coffee roasters have mail-order programs that deliver freshly roasted coffee beans to your door on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.

Know Your Grinds
Even if it smells like the best cup of coffee you've ever made, if you used the wrong grind for your coffeemaker, the flavor will be affected. If you buy pre-ground coffee and the package says the grind is good for all coffeemakers, don't believe it.

Today's coffee grinders give you precise control over the level of grind, but as a general rule, keep the following in mind:

• Medium grind is best for automatic drip coffeemakers
• Fine grind is best for espresso makers
• Coarse grind is best for French press or other press coffeemakers as well as percolators

Brewing Best Practices
Always brew your coffee with fresh, cold water. If your tap water has a taste to it, consider using filtered or bottled water for top-notch flavor. Next, you'll want to use the right ratio of water to coffee. A good place to start is to use six ounces of water for every two tablespoons. Depending on what makes your perfect cup of coffee, you may want to experiment a bit.

Use quality coffee filters-discount brands actually do affect the taste of coffee. Ideally, you'll use eco-friendly mesh or gold filters instead of paper filters. But whatever kind of filters you use, it's critical that they're the right size for your coffeemaker. Read the instruction manual carefully before stocking up. If you must use paper filters, consider unbleached versions which, unlike bleached filters, won't affect the flavor of your coffee.

Mesh filter users may want to play around with their coffee grind a bit more, experimenting with medium-fine to medium grinds. Paper filter users will always brew the best coffee with a fine grind.

Keep It Clean
Several things can ruin a good hot cup of coffee and not caring for your coffee-making equipment is one of them. Always dispose of or compost your coffee grounds soon after brewing and clean your coffeemaker regularly. Water deposits and oils from coffee can build up over time and result in coffee with flavor that's off.