How to Brew the Perfect Cup of Coffee - Infographic

Coffee Beans

The specific type (blend/roast) of coffee beans that you choose is entirely a personal preference choice. A lot of factors go into the beans that you purchase; as such, each bag of beans, each cup brewed from that bag of beans can result in a slightly different taste. You may have a completely different experience than someone who swears by a particular blend and insists it is the best tasting coffee they have ever tried. So when it comes to choosing a blend/roast of coffee beans, you may need to experiment a bit before you find one that you enjoy the most.

If you have never seen how the fruit of a coffee plant is harvested and ultimately ends up in as a bag of coffee beans, I encourage you to check out; 10 Steps from Seed to Cup

Water

Filtered or Not?

The water used in your brewing method can have a profound impact on the overall taste & quality of your coffee. If you’ve ever had a “bad” cup of coffee, the water that was used to make it, could have been the reason for the poor taste. Many coffee aficionados will tell you to not use tap water with any brew. But for many purchasing bottled water or filtered water can get expensive over time. You can get yourself a water pitcher that will filters out many of the elements found within tap water that can affect the taste of your coffee. They are relatively inexpensive and be found almost anywhere you shop. Just make sure you swap out the filter as needed to maintain your water quality.

How Hot?

Water temperature is also important if your are trying to brew the perfect cup of coffee. 195 to 205 degrees Fahrenheit is the recommended temperature range your water should be in order to ensure optimal extraction of the flavor contained within those precious beans. If you have the means, either via thermometer or electronic setting, to control the temperature of the water you are brewing with, stick to this range.

How Much?

A general guideline is called the “Golden Ratio” – one to two tablespoons of ground coffee for every six ounces of water. Be sure to check the directions for your preferred blend and the equipment you use.

Equipment

There are a number of ways to brew a cup of coffee; so depending on your preferred method, you will need different coffee brewing equipment. You can spend quite a bit of money of coffee brewing equipment, but you don’t have to in order to get a great tasting cup of coffee. In fact, sometimes the best cup of coffee can be made with equipment that is less that $20.

While I won’t provide specific recommendations on equipment that you must have in order to brew the perfect cup of coffee, I’ll give you some options to consider. The key with any equipment is that is clean prior to brewing your coffee!

- Drip or Percolator Brewers – Pros: make large qualities of coffee, often programmable – Cons: require paper filters, can burn coffee
  
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- French Press (my preferred) – Pros: consistent coffee taste, keeps coffee hot – Cons: clean-up, metal filters need replaced after prolonged usage
  
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- Single Serve – Pros: convenient, less coffee wasted – Cons: k-cups create tons of trash (get a reusable cup), electronic component failures, expensive
  
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Caffeine in Coffee

The amount of caffeine in your coffee can vary from blend to blend. Caffeine sensitivity can vary from person to person, so keep this in mind when choosing your blend.

The common ingredient that you will find in the majority of the most popular pre-workout supplements on the market today is; Caffeine.

The reason: it works! Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant. It can temporarily make you feel more awake and energetic, but it can also give you the jitters depending on your sensitivity to it. Of course, what do you think of when you think of caffeine? Coffee!

Think coffee can replace your pre-workout supplement? Read more about that here: Can Coffee Replace Your Pre-workout?

Coffee gives you energy through the caffeine found within, you get that. But here are some other benefits that may not be on your radar:

Fat Loss
Performance
Focus

How to Brew the Perfect Cup of Coffee – An Infographic

Want a quick recap of everything mentioned above? Check out the infographic I’ve created for!

Additional Resources:

Have a favorite blend that you think I should try? Share in the comment section below!

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