Bitter coffee? Here’s why

How to Make Coffee Less bitter

Now that you know what could be causing your coffee troubles, it’s time to discover a solution for each of the culprits. Have a look at these tips on how to make coffee taste good:
 

1. Clean your equipment

There are two factors that influence how bitter your coffee is.  

First, the type. The most popular beans are:

• Arabica beans: Arabica beans are grown at higher altitudes and have a wider range of flavour profiles that connoisseurs describe as sweet and fruity. 
• Robusta beans: Robusta beans are grown at lower altitudes and have higher caffeine content. Connoisseurs appreciate Robusta beans for their fuller body and powerful flavour.

Choose Arabica beans if you want a smoother cup of coffee. If you like your coffee with a bold taste and like some bitterness in the flavour profile, choose Robusta beans. 
 

2. Choose beans roasted in the right way
Before the coffee you buy reaches the shops, the coffee beans are roasted.   

They’re roasted to develop their flavours and aromas. The process transforms the dense, flavourless raw coffee beans picked from the coffee plants into the beans we brew our coffee with.

During roasting, chlorogenic acids in the beans break down into bitter compounds like phenylindanes, quinic acid, and caffeic acids. 

The longer and hotter the beans are roasted, the more bitter they become. Darker roasts taste more bitter because they have more of these compounds. 

When choosing coffee beans, check the roast level: 

• Light roast: These beans have a milder flavour with higher acidity and less bitterness. Light roasting keeps more of the coffee beans’ original flavours. 
• Medium roast: Medium-roasted beans have a more balanced and well-rounded flavour than light-roasted beans. They are moderately acidic and bitter.
• Dark roast: Beans that have been dark-roasted have a strong, smokey and bold flavour. They have higher levels of bitterness but are less acidic.

You can usually find this information on the package or by asking your coffee supplier. Knowing the roast level helps you choose a coffee that suits your taste. 

3. Clean your coffee machine
If you don’t clean your coffee machine regularly, the residue from one brew builds up and affects the way your next coffee tastes.  

Maintaining clean equipment is also essential to prolong the life and smooth operation of your coffee maker.

Buy an easy-to-clean coffee machine to save time. You could also use a descaling solution even now and again to remove any mineral buildup.

4. Coffee bean storage
Store your coffee beans in a tightly sealed container that’s placed away from direct sunlight and heat.  

Don’t put your coffee beans in the refrigerator or freezer because the moisture can ruin the beans and affect the flavour of your coffee.  

For the most effective coffee storage, consider using vacuum-sealed containers or coffee canisters with CO2 valves so that you keep your beans fresher for longer.  

Grinding your beans just before you start brewing can also help them keep their flavour.

5. Ensure the correct size of coffee grounds
Make sure that you’re not grinding your beans too finely as this can result in over-extraction.

Be sure that you are using the correct grind level for the specific brewing technique that you’re using. 

Consider a machine that comes with durable ceramic grinders that can turn beans into anything from ultra-fine powder to coarse grindings.  

This also means that your machine will be able to make more types of coffee. 

6. Why pressure is particularly important for espresso

The best espressos rely on rapid extraction under consistently high pressure.  

By forcing water at high pressure through your coffee grinds, you extra the best flavours and oils and keep bitterness to a minimum.  

The best pressure for an espresso machine is around nine bars.   

At this setting, you’ll balance the flavours well and crema (the creamy foam on top of espressos) will form. 

7. Getting the coffee-to-water ratio right
Coffee's “Golden Ratio” is 17g of coffee to 34g of water for espresso and 15g of coffee to 240g of water for coffee.*

This is a general standard and a great target to aim for when you’re learning how to make your coffee taste better.   

Using a digital scale can help you make sure you’re getting the ratios just right. 

8. Check the brewing time and water temperature 
The water temperature should be 90-96°C when brewing coffee. Anything colder may result in sour, under-extracted coffee.  

Brewing times vary depending on the method you use. To make coffee less acidic with a cafetiere, for example, the brewing time is about two to four minutes.   

If you’re not going to drink it straight after brewing, pour it into a jug.   

Espresso, on the other hand, brews for only 20 to 30 seconds. And a regular coffee machine takes about five minutes.