Gourmet coffee makers are only as good as the water you use. This article is about water quality, temperature, and other helpful tips to brew a great cup of coffee. Should you use bottled water for brewing? It is okay to brew coffee with tap water that tastes good straight from the faucet.

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Beware of tap water that has a strong odor or taste such as iron or chlorine. Remember to let your tap run a few seconds (or more) until it cools to its lowest temperature. That gives fresher taste. Only use cold water and never used distilled or softened water. Using the hot water faucet is a sure way to ruin your coffee's flavor. If your tap water is not nearly perfect, you should filter it or buy bottled. Some more expensive makers actually include a built-in filter. An economical alternative is to use a filtered pitcher.

The proper proportion of water to coffee is 2 tablespoons (perhaps a little less if you prefer) of ground beans for every 6 ounces of water. Remember that the typical "coffee cup" is only six ounces, and that is how your carafe will be marked. Be careful not to get confused by a "measuring cup" that is 8 ounces.

The right temperature for brewing is just below boiling. If you are heating water on the stove, you can let it start to boil, then allow it set for a minute before pouring it over the grounds in your cone filter or press pot. If it is too cool, your beans will not release their full flavors. Water that is too hot extracts bitter flavor oils from the beans.

The best temperature for brewing coffee is between 195 to 205 degrees Fahrenheit. You should serve it at a cooler temperature, between 145 to 175 degrees although most people prefer the top end of that range. If the flavor seems too mild and thin and you never get the full, rich gourmet taste you want, then pay attention to brewing temperature.

The brewing time depends on the method you use. Drip makers spray hot water over the grounds that seeps through in a minute or two. A press pot (or French Press) brews between 3 to 4 minutes. For an espresso machine, the hot water is quickly forced through the espresso grind in 20-30 seconds. An Aeropress also brews in the 20 seconds it takes to depress the plunger and push the water through the filtered grounds.

Remember that period of time the hot water stays in contact with the grounds is directly related to the type of grind used for the particular coffee maker. A French press requires the coursest grind. An espresso machine and an Aeropress use finely ground beans. A medium grind works best for a drip coffee maker.

If your coffee is too strong check the brew temperature. Then make sure you are using the right grind and brewing it for the right period of time. Try varying the brew time that the hot water remains in contact with your ground coffee, until you make the perfect cup. Timing the brew cycle is best, instead of guessing.

A break through in brewing technology is the Keurig single serve brewer, with a revolutionary process of controlling the pressure, brew time and temperature. The Keurig coffee system can be a great way for a beginner to learn how great gourmet coffee should taste, with a simple and tasty brew time after time. Now you know this tip for beginning coffee makers: Pay attention to the water you're using to brew great tasting coffee.

DJ Toman is a lawyer and coffee enthusiast living in Greensboro, North Carolina. He is the author of http://www.CoffeeDaydreams.com a site dedicated to gourmet coffee and choosing the best coffee makers. If you want the simplest way to make great coffee, one of these Keurig single serve coffee makers will fit your lifestyle and budget.

Coffee Daydreams provides beginners helpful tips about how to brew and enjoy the coffee of their dreams, for a lifelong adventure exploring specialty coffee. You'll also find great coffee gift ideas, to find just the right gift or to place on your own wish list.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

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