How to improve the taste of my coffee
How to improve the taste of my coffee
Surprisingly there are a lot of elements that go into making a great coffee. Today we will go over some of the basic elements that you can check to ensure that you are getting the best possible brew!
Water cleanliness and pressure
This is basic but also very important. There are two elements with water that you should check. The most important thing to look at is the cleanliness of the water. This especially applies in a workplace environment where the water source may not be the cleanest, therefore it is important to ensure that your coffee machine has a water filter to get rid of any nasty chemicals or unclean water. This can have a major effect on the taste of the coffee but also effects the durability of your coffee machine as well.
The second element to check is the water pressure. This is a fundamental factor in making an espresso as it determines the force with which the water is pushed through the coffee grounds. Pressure has a specific measurement called bar. The optimal pressure may vary depending on the machine type.
Extraction pressure
The Extraction pressure in a coffee machine refers to the pressure used to force hot water through the coffee grounds to brew the coffee. The extraction pressure plays a vital role in extracting the aromas and flavours from the coffee powder and is generated by a pump that forces the water through the coffee under pressure. The optimal extraction pressure depends on the coffee brewing method, a higher pressure is usually required to prepare espresso, typically between 9 and 15 bar. This high pressure enables rapid extraction in a short time, resulting in a concentrated and intense espresso
Coffee quantity and pour
Depending on the type of coffee beans your using, you may need to adjust the level of coffee that is going into each cup. If you are finding your coffee is too strong, try adjusting the grams per coffee down or alternatively you could also try reducing the quantity of espresso going into each cup ie. Go from 40ml to 30ml.
This works in reverse if you find that the coffee beans is too mild/weak. Try increasing the coffee grammage per shot or increasing the volume of coffee in comparison to the amount of milk.
The other variant to check would also be the coffee pour. When dropping into your cup, the espresso should drip down slowly and consistently. It should almost look like a rats tail. By getting a nice constant slow drip you will ensure that the machine is extracting the coffee flavour and aroma into the cup. This can really help improve the taste of the coffee.
Coffee Beans
Another thing to check would be the coffee beans you’re using.
|
Age of coffee beans |
The ideal time you want to use the coffee beans would be between a week to a month after the coffee beans have been roasted. A fresh bag of coffee beans can make the world of a difference to your coffee.
|
|
Storage of coffee beans |
Ideally, all coffee beans are designed to be stored in a cool, dry and dark room. If your coffee is exposed to sunlight, rain or heat, this will have a negative effect on your coffee beans and can result in a very bitter or flavourless coffee. When coffee bags are opened, it should then be stored in an airtight container to hold its freshness.
|
|
Type of coffee beans |
The type of coffee beans you purchase has a big effect on the result of your coffee. Depending on the grade of the coffee beans you are using or the type whether it be arabica, robusta or a combination of both can make a difference in taste and flavour profiles.
|
|
Type of machines you are using |
The type of machine that you are using to make your coffee will have a major difference to the taste. Remember there is a huge difference between filtered coffee, homemade residential coffee machine, commercial automatic machine and an espresso machine. Depending on what you are using, you will need to adjust your receipe, type of beans and preparation method accordingly.
|
Servicing of your coffee machine
It is important to service your coffee machine on regular intervals to ensure your machine is producing the best coffee. The servicing of your coffee machine should be done on a yearly or half yearly basis depending on the machine and the volume of usage it goes through.
On top of regular services, it is also important that milk lines are cleaned daily after use to ensure you are getting a clean coffee. This will effect your machine and quality of coffee dramatically if milk lines are not being cleaned daily.
If you are having trouble with your coffee quality coming out of your machine, don’t hesitate to give us a call! We are always here and happy to help 😊
