There are specific and significant components to making good coffee, and to all coffee lovers out there, this should be taken seriously. Okay, its just coffee, but people, Americans especially, are drinking a lot of it, so why not brew coffee to the best of its potential? People all over the world are simply doing it wrong! The steps to brewing a better cup of coffee are so simple that theres no reason why you shouldnt try them out and see if youre satisfied with the results. All you have to lose is one pot of coffee, and thats only if you decide you dont like it and end up pouring it down the drain.

The factors of coffee making that you need to consider are the grind of your beans versus the type of coffee maker you are using, the water, the measurements of coffee versus measurements of water, and the freshness of your coffee bean. You may wonder what could be so important about any of these things, but they are simply the fundamentals of coffee making.

What type of coffee maker you are using will determine how coarse or fine your grind needs to be. The coarsest grind is used with French presses, and the finest grind is used with espresso makers. When grinding your coffee, simply follow the guide on the grinder or in the manual, or ask someone who would know how coarse or fine of a grind you need for your specific coffee maker.

Since brewed coffee is 98% water, then you should use clean and fresh purified water. Also, the water should be no less than 190 degrees and no more than 205 degrees for the brewing. Between those temperatures, the water will better extract the full flavor of the bean. Water that is too hot will result in coffee that has a burnt taste.

It is very important that you accurately measure the amount of coffee and water that you use. Normally you can be sure to do this correctly by simply reading the directions on your container of coffee. Generally, though, good coffee is brewed with two tablespoons of coffee per every six ounces of water. If this produces coffee that is too strong for your liking, then the best thing to do is add hot water (between 190-205 degrees) after it is brewed. This way you maintain the invigorating flavor, but at a milder strength.

The last, but not least, important factor to brewing great coffee is the freshness of your coffee bean. Grinding your beans right before you brew them truly helps make a fresher cup of coffee. Even if you dont do that, though, you can keep your coffee fresher by storing it in the refrigerator or freezer.

Maybe you didnt know that your coffee could taste better, but now you do. If coffee is what you wake up to every morning, or if you drink it throughout the day, you owe it to yourself to make it as good as it can be.