Avoid 9 Common Mistakes That New Coffee Enthusiast Usually Make…
You love the aroma of fresh coffee, but it is a hit or miss on how your coffee turns out. Sometimes it is great and other times it sucks! When you’re just beginning this happens, you’re likely to make some mistakes that will affect the taste of your coffee.
Don’t give up; every new coffee enthusiast makes these mistakes. Becoming an expert overnight isn’t going to happen. Give yourself time, and your skills will significantly improve. Be aware of these coffee brewing mistakes, and you’ll be one-step closer to becoming an actual coffee-brewing snob aka connoisseur.
“You’re all addicted to an unregulated, psychoactive drug. Hot, brown bean juice. bngeni.us/29rriMJ #coffee”- @BeanGenius
Does your coffee always have an awful taste? Is it always weak, watery, over-reacted and with a strong taste? If that’s the case, continue reading below we’re going to discuss how to fix these issues by fixing common mistakes done by a new coffee enthusiast.
Mistake #1: Brewing With Unfresh Beans
This right here is the number one reason why your coffee would taste awful. Top connoisseurs advocate for freshly roasted, grounded, and brewed coffee. Beans have a limited shelf life with their flavor and aroma quickly vanishes by the evil villain of oxidation.
How To Fix This?
- For ultimate freshness, buy only a quantity of beans you are likely to use within 14 days.
- Buy only coffee that has a ‘roast on’ date. You should dispose of coffee that is more than two weeks old.
- Don’t purchase prepackaged coffee from large grocery chains.
Mistake #2: Brewing With Low-Quality Beans
It’s similar to mistake #1 but slightly different. Brewing fresh low-quality beans still will cause your coffee to taste… not good! Using pre-ground coffee is just a bad idea. Don’t do it. It’s a TRAP! Pre-ground coffee has already lost a good deal of flavor.
“How to Pick The Best Bag of #Coffee Beans That You’ll Love: [How to Pick The Best Bag of Coffee Beans That You’ll Love].”- @roastycoffee
How To Fix This?
- Never buy pre-grounded coffee. It’s just not a good idea! Raise your right hand and repeat after me, “I, insert your name here, promise never to use pre-grounded coffee ever again.” Feel better? I know I do. This means that you’ll need to purchase a coffee grinder. I recommend the Secura SCG-903B Burr Coffee Grinder. It is worth the cost.
- Buy coffee beans from your local coffee shop.
You can download my free ebook, The Ultimate Coffee Gear Guide if you need help selecting your coffee gear.
Mistake #3: Slacking On Your Brewing Technique
Don’t be a slacker! Take time working on your brewing techniques. Even if you use the best ingredients – beans, water, filter, etc – you can still have bad tasting coffee if your technique is lacking. Develop your skills, and your coffee will improve immensely. This mistake isn’t very easy to fix because you’ll always be improving on your brewing techniques. But everyone has to start somewhere.
How To Fix This?
- Ditch the automatic drip feed coffee maker and embrace the pour over or Aeropress brewers. Even though drip feed brewing is convenient and straightforward, it doesn’t allow you to have full control over the brewing process
- Toss the measuring scoops and use a scale for your beans
- Brew coffee at the recommended optimal temperature, which is 92˚C-96˚C.
Mistake #4: Using Sh** Water
Water is 95% coffee. I mean coffee is 95% water. Why in the world would someone use sh** ingredients especially seeing that it is 90% of the recipe? When you use sh** water your coffee will taste like sh**. Okay, are you tired of me saying, sh**? Just trying to get my point across. Mistake #3 is a biggie!
How To Fix This?
- Never use tap (aka sh**) water for brewing your coffee. It has odors and elements that cause your coffee to taste awful. No real coffee snob would accept that taste. With that being said, the solution isn’t to go to the extreme by using distilled water, which has no minerals. The solution is to use filtered or purified water, which will make marvelous coffee.
Mistake #5: Storing Your Beans The Wrong Way
How you ask? Are you storing them in the freezer? That would be considered a wrong way. Storing them in the freezer robs the beans of important gasses and oils. Are you storing them in a non-airtight container? This is another wrong way.
How To Fix This?
- Don’t store them in your freezer
- Buy an airtight container and keep your beans in it.
Mistake #6: Using Unclean or Old Equipment
Using an old coffee brewer from a relative or friend might sound cool especially if you replace the word “old” with “classic.” Brewing with your classic coffee maker might seem retro; however, parts can become old and warned down causing insufficient tasting coffee. Another mistake that you might make is not cleaning your equipment. You got to keep it clean!
“Got a new French Press and have no idea how to use it? This article is for you [How To Make French Press Coffee]. #coffee #coffeeaddict”- @MarkLovesCoffee
How To Fix This?
- Replacing old parts/equipment after some time has passed.
- Always clean your equipment. Unclean equipment will negatively affect the flavor of your coffee and thoroughly rinse the filter in clean water after brewing coffee, to remove old leftover brewed coffee.
Mistake #7: Using the wrong grinder
Using a cheap or broken grinder will make your life, not so happy. You might be surprised, but the biggest investment that you make getting started brewing coffee at home is a grinder. An adequate grinder will make your life, very so happy. Mistake #7 should be #1, but I placed it here for you, the ones who are truly interested in upping their game in brewing coffee.
““Got a new French Press and have no idea how to use it? This article is for you. #coffee #coffeeaddict” – @MarkLovesCoffee, How To Make French Press Coffee
How To Fix This?
- Simple fix on this one, purchase a good grinder. The Secura SCG-903B Burr Coffee Grinder will get you on the right path.
Mistake #8: Using Low-Quality Sweeteners And Creamers
Gotcha! If you’re making good coffee, you shouldn’t need any sweeteners or creamers. Ditch that extra crud.
“PSA: the new Starbucks Unicorn Frapp contains many things (including 410 cal and 59g of sugar), but it does not contain caffeine or coffee.” – @BoiseCoffee boisecoffee.org
How To Fix This?
- So easy! Brew GOOD coffee.
Mistake #9: After Brewing Coffee Sitting to Long
When coffee sits and cools down, it gets bitterer (lol. Wasn’t sure if that was a real word).
How To Fix This?
- Brew smaller amounts of coffee at a time.
Goodbye Mistakes: You Will Not Be Missed
Wow! We made it through all nine mistakes that most new coffee enthusiasts have made. You might be asking, “How does this ‘cat’ know what mistakes noobs make.” I’ve made these mistakes myself and had to get through them too. It’s tough beginning in a new craft and working on becoming a snob.
Thus, is with any craft, it takes time and effort to perfect skills. With regular practice, you and I will become good at coffee brewing. Each day offers you an opportunity to improve your coffee brewing techniques. I don’t know about you, but I like my coffee to have a beautiful taste. 😉
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