Making the perfect pot of coffee depends on a lot of factors, but it's not difficult. With a little practice you can be making the perfect pot of coffee in no time at all. The first step when making a perfect pot of coffee is to ensure that your coffee pot is spotless. This includes the basket, water tank and most important, the carafe or thermos. If you don't keep everything clean, making the perfect pot of coffee is nearly impossible. The left over oils and sediment will continue to ruin your cup of coffee. When making the perfect pot of coffee, fresh beans are also essential. While supermarket coffees can deliver a pretty decent cup of coffee, you don't know how old the coffee is that you are buying.
Gourmet and specialty beans, particularly Arabica beans, are best when fresh and getting the freshest beans available will go a long way when making the perfect pot of coffee. That said, you also don't want to stock up on your favorites. When making the perfect pot of coffee, beans in a bag will continue to lose their flavor over time, just like the coffee in the supermarket. Buy just enough beans to keep you in coffee between shopping trips.
Water is another important ingredient when making the perfect pot of coffee. After all, coffee is 98%+ water, so good water is necessary. The best choice when making the perfect pot of coffee is filtered water or a water service. Tap water can be a risky choice, since it can contain minerals and compounds that will thwart your chance of making the perfect pot of coffee. If you must use tap water, run it for a while, then let it sit to settle the air and anything else that may be in the water.
Coffee choices are sometimes difficult. Get the right grind. Each type of coffee machine requires a different grind. And sometimes, even specific coffee makers within a category require a grind that is different from other models. Check the instructions and get the grind that is right for your coffee maker or making the perfect pot of coffee will be elusive to you. When making the perfect cup of coffee, the proper amount of coffee is important. Every six-ounce cup needs two tablespoons of ground coffee. No more, no less.
Even if you like to wing it in the kitchen, resist the urge when making the perfect pot of coffee. Using a coffee maker that heats the water to 180 to 200 degrees F is important to you when making the perfect pot of coffee. This is the level where the most oils and flavor is released from the coffee beans. Probably 99% of all problems in home brewing and certainly in making the perfect pot of coffee can be traced to the water not heating to a high enough temperature.
Finally, be sure to give your pot of coffee a stir. This will mix the coffee up more, since the initial coffee brewed is usually stronger than the last. If you've gone to all this trouble in making the perfect pot of coffee, resist the temptation to steal a cup early in the brewing process. It's not fair to the rest of the pot. Making the perfect pot of coffee is easy if you keep your equipment clean, use fresh beans and the right grind of fresh beans, fresh, cold water and a coffee maker that can heat the water to the perfect temperature, 180 to 200 degrees F.
