Coffee brewing may seem like a straightforward process, but there are many pitfalls that can be avoided to get a better brew of coffee regardless of the beans you are using or your brewing method.
My coffee tastes weird
Does your coffee have a musty taste? Use better water – well and sink water can give coffee a slightly musty unpleasant tang.
Lingering coffee oils can also impart a similar musty or rancid taste – make sure your brewing and grinding equipment is clean.
Does your coffee taste papery? Make sure you rinse your filter before brewing, especially if you use natural kraft filters. I recommend using bleached filters for this reason.
Does your coffee taste soapy? If you wash your coffee brewing equipment with soap it can take a few brews to get the soap taste completely out. I notice this especially with Aeropress, likely because the plastic materials and the long immersion time (especially if you use the inverted brewing method).
My coffee tastes flat
Are you using an electric drip coffeemaker? Regardless of the beans you use you’ll lose some flavor with this method.
Try using more coffee or less water.
If you are brewing via pour over, use a shorter bloom period and make sure to never let the water go completely through until the final pour.
My coffee tastes bitter and bland
Assuming you are using a good coffee like Noted’s coffee, bitterness is usually a sign of too much extraction. Try shortening your brew time or using a coarser grind.
You may also need a lighter roast coffee, or less water in your coffee brew.
My coffee tastes acidic and tart
Acidity and tartness could be a quality of the coffee itself, so you may need to try a darker roast coffee.
You can also end up with acidity and tartness if you grind too coarse or brew too fast (like using a Bunn brewer, or use too little time in a French press or Aeropress). Try using a finer grind or a slower brew, or try a different brewing method than the one you use now.
Other coffee brewing tips
Use a manual coffee brewing method if you are currently using electric drip to brew your coffee. Or get a better electric drip coffeemaker that simulates the pour-over method.
Grind your coffee fresh using a burr grinder, not a blade grinder to avoid an uneven grind.
If you are stuck with an electric drip maker, keep an eye on the brew and make sure all of the ground get saturated. You may want to stir them with a spoon after they first get wet to make sure all grounds get water around the same time.
Test different water temperatures. I currently brew via Hario v60 pour over at 204 degrees for most coffees but you can achieve different results with different water temperatures.
Comment or reach out via our contact form for any other coffee brewing questions. Let us know what you think!