What’s worse than having a stale coffee on a busy Monday morning? It’s finding out that you are the culprit of your own coffee snag. Here are the things you do that ruin your coffee:
Using the Wrong Container
Using the Wrong ContainerChoosing the best coffee containers is how to keep coffee fresh. Thus, poor storage choice can affect the taste of the coffee. If you put the coffee in a non-airtight container following the removal from its original packaging, the coffee will absorb the moisture from the air as coffee beans are porous. Exposure to oxygen makes a stale coffee.
Improper Coffee Storage
Keeping the coffee near hot areas such as stoves and ovens will compromise the taste of the coffee. This also happens when you leave the coffee near windows or anywhere that it can catch direct sunlight.
Keeping Coffee in the Fridge
People always be asking “Should I store coffee in the fridge?” and this would spark the pantry vs fridge debate. To answer, coffee is hygroscopic; meaning it can soak up moisture from the air. Therefore, by keeping your coffee in the fridge or freezer, it will absorb the smell and taste of the other food you keep with the coffee.
Burning Your Coffee
Temperature has a great influence when it comes to coffee, and by that, it is important to know the exact brewing temperature if you do not want a burnt coffee. It is ideal to brew coffee within 195°F to 205°F. Go below that, you will not extract the right flavor of the coffee, by going beyond that, you will burn the coffee grounds.
Buying Too Much Coffee
Stocking coffee is not bad especially if you hate buying another pack every now and then. However, this beats the 3 week rule of coffee. After roasting, coffee should be consumed within the ideal span of time for optimal freshness. When coffee stays longer in bags, especially when not sealed properly, it loses its fresh and strong flavors.
Dirty Coffee Machine
All machines and equipments need regular cleaning, particularly your coffee machine. After brewing, some machine may leave coffee residue inside the pipes that will lead to spoilage and bacteria build up. Habitual descaling is necessary to avoid bad tasting coffee, and also keeping yourself safe from anything that may be caused by spoiled coffee.
Adding Too Much Ingredients
Others enjoy plain black coffee, and some may like cappuccino or latte. But as they say: “too much of anything is bad” and by adding too many ingredients to your coffee, it defeats the authentic flavor of coffee or sometimes will diminish the taste of it. Make your coffee the way you like it, but just do not add too much especially artificial flavors.
Leaving Coffee to Cool
Coffee is best when it is freshly brewed, but it may hurt your mouth when it is too hot. However, leaving your coffee too long and drinking it when it is already cold, will make it too bitter and will taste different. Sometimes it can even lose its flavor.
Using the Wrong Cup
Yes, the cup you use can change the flavor of the coffee. You’d like to avoid using plastic cups when brewing your coffee. Some plastics contain BPA (Bisphenol A), a harmful compound which will lead to serious health issues. Instead, use ceramic or stainless steel cups or tumblers for your coffee, it will not only keep your coffee fresh but also won’t alter its taste.