Coffee is one of the world’s favourite drinks. However, there are varying qualities of coffee around and it takes a bit of knowledge to stop yourself accidentally ruining what could have been a perfectly good cup of coffee.

Coffee beans are very sensitive to moisture, temperature and acidity levels. They contain volatile organic compounds which react when these different elements change. If these elements change out of the acceptable range for decent coffee, you can end up not getting the flavour out, burning it, or getting additional flavours that you don’t want.

The first part of getting a good coffee involves getting good beans. Of course everyone has their own preferences but you need to make sure the beans are from a good supplier. Buying freshly roasted beans is ideal but if you are buying pre-packaged beans, make sure that the roast date is no less than 6 months before the date you want to use them. They should also be vacuum packed to stop the air getting to them.

Pre-ground coffee isn’t ideal so try to get beans and a grinder.

The next thing to consider is storage. It is best to keep the beans whole because as soon as they are ground they are exposed to air and they start drying out. If the beans start to dry out they will lose some of their flavoursome oils which will evaporate off. Store beans in a cool, airtight jar to protect them.

When it comes to making the coffee, grind the beans just before you brew. It is OK to grind a few hours before you want to drink but don’t do it too early. The way the coffee is ground will have an effect on the taste. If the coffee tastes bitter, it may be ground too fine and therefore be over extracted (where the undesirable flavours have also come out of the beans). If it tastes flat, the grind may be too coarse, meaning that not enough of the flavours have been extracted.

The best water to use in the brew is filtered. Filtering will take out chlorine which isn’t a good taste, and it filters out sediments too. Distilled water removes too many trace elements and leaves the water lacking in character. Tap water is OK if you have a good tap water supply in your area. Run it a bit through the pipes first though.

Adding a tiny pinch of salt to the grounds is worth a try because it helps disperse the oils and enhances the perception of flavours for your taste buds.

Brewing should be done between 195 and 205 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything colder will mean that your coffee is under extracted, but anything too hot will mean that your coffee flavours will degrade. Do not pour boiling water directly onto the coffee.

Your brewed coffee should then be poured into a warmed mug. Using a cold mug will mean that the temperature is lost too quickly. The optimum flavour is lost very quickly after brewing so your drink should be consumed as soon as possible.

If you follow a few guidelines for buying, storing and making coffee you can then start to experiment a bit. Keep notes on what changes you make and what effect they have. By doing this you will be able to make yourself the best cup of coffee in the world. Enjoy!

By Rebecca G Wishford.