Tips for Brewing with a Regular Coffee Maker

By: Marie Lorraine

If you brew coffee at home, you may find that you're disappointed with the flavor compared to what you might get at your favorite coffee shop or restaurant. Some simple tips for brewing with a regular coffee maker can improve the quality of your homemade coffee.

Grind your own beans

If you don't already grind your own coffee just prior to brewing it, you might find there is a vast improvement in flavor if you do. In fact, grinding fresh coffee is a major factor in what makes the coffee at popular coffee shops taste so good. Next time you buy coffee, look for packaging that says "whole beans," and invest in a grinder you can use at home.

Use the right water

The best coffee starts with cold, fresh water. Hot water tends to take on a flavor that is flat and stale. In fact, the taste of the water you use going in makes a big difference in the taste of the coffee that results. If you don't like the taste of your tap water at home, try using filtered or bottled water instead.

Learn the magic temperature

Test the temperature of your coffee as soon as it drips into the pot. Quality coffee should be brewed at as close to 200 degrees F as possible, but some at-home coffee makers fall significantly short of that. If your coffee is being brewed at 100 or 140 degrees, that could be a major reason the flavor is falling short.

Clean your coffee maker

A coffee maker should be clean and "de-limed" often, especially if mineral-rich tap water is used. Many coffee pots have self-cleaning cycles you can run, making the process a breeze. Ensure the server, the pot, and the inner workings of the coffee maker are all free of residue and mineral crystals to brew the best coffee.

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