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Baked, Brewed, Beautiful

16 of the Most Common Coffee Brewing Mistakes to Avoid

in Brewed on 01/08/21

Minor coffee brewing mistakes can completely ruin a final brew. Avoid 16 of the most common mistakes by reading on below.

Origami pour over turquoise color
  • It’s easy to make a bad batch of coffee by making one of many common coffee brewing mistakes.
  • Buying coffee grounds instead of whole beans is a mistake that too many make.
  • Bad water quality is also a variable that can completely ruin your brew.

Brewing coffee is a process that must be learned. Though it may seem simple, it takes time and requires attention to detail. But if you avoid the following most common coffee brewing mistakes, you’ll be on your way to mastering the craft.

From bad beans and water to a lack of precision and cleanliness, these are just a few of the ways you can go wrong when coffee brewing. Here are 16 of the most common coffee brewing mistakes to absolutely avoid.

Note: I may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through some of the below links. Read my disclosure policy to learn more.

You’re buying coffee grounds instead of whole beans.

For starters, you’re buying coffee grounds instead of whole beans. This is a mistake because there is a considerable difference in shelf life between whole beans and ground coffee when left exposed to oxygen. Coffee grounds begin to get stale as soon as 24 hours after grinding them. Whole beans on the other hand degrade 10 to 14 days after roasting. 

a group head filled with coffee grounds with coffee beans in the background on pavement

You’re buying old or over-roasted whole beans.

Now that you’ve learned to stop buying coffee grounds, it’s as equally important to not just buy any kind of whole coffee beans you can find. If the beans are not properly roasted or they are sold way too long after their original roast date, then you’re not really in a better position than when buying coffee grounds. 

One solution is to buy only from vetted coffee companies that offer roast-to-order coffee beans. This list I’ve compiled below is of coffee beans that I think are well worth purchasing. I have tried every single brand on this list, so they have my personal stamp of approval. 

  • Go Get ‘Em Tiger
  • Blue Bottle
  • Revel Coffee
  • Intelligentsia
  • Dean’s Beans
  • Ciel
  • Ruby Colorful Coffees

You’re not storing your beans properly. 

There are many ways you can ruin your coffee in improperly storing your beans. Some common storage mistakes are storing beans in glass containers, canisters that are not airtight, or storing beans near heat, moisture, or odor. For proper coffee bean storage, it’s best to buy a container specifically meant for coffee bean storage. These kinds of canisters are designed to provide your coffee beans with the right protective environment. 

whole coffee beans on pavement

If you’re not yet ready to splurge on a coffee storage container, store your beans at room temperature inside of an airtight, opaque container away from the oven, windows, and far away from your fridge or freezer. 

Your brew method is giving you bad coffee. 

The next thing to do to achieve better coffee at home is to choose the right brewing method. There are a number of brewing methods to choose from, but only a handful offer quality results.

My top recommendations are pour over, AeroPress, or brewing via an espresso machine. Each of these methods will help you to achieve the perfect morning cuppa, assuming you know what you’re doing. Coffee brewing methods you should stay away from include brewing from a basic coffee machine, a French press, or using instant coffee. 

Pour over is arguably the most highly-recommended brewing method by coffee industry experts. Some may be familiar with the pour over method, while others may be new to the term. If you’re totally unfamiliar, grab a copy of my free pour over brewing guide to get started today by signing up below.

 

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You’re just eyeballing it. 

If you’re merely using a spoon scoop and intuition to measure, this could very well be the cause of your bad coffee. A very necessary component to the previous brewing methods mentioned are measurements. For a good brew, it’s essential to know exactly how much water you need as well as how many grams of coffee grounds you need which brings me to my next point.

Origami pour over turquoise color on a wood table with a thermometer in background

You’re using the wrong tools or don’t have any altogether.  

Like other hobbies brewing good, specialty coffee is an investment of both time and resources. You wouldn’t sign up for a knitting class without first buying needles and yarn. In the same vein, there are certain necessary instruments that you need to brew quality coffee. 

To set yourself up for success, it’s important to get the proper tools for brewing craft coffee. The most basic coffee tools include a burr grinder, a scale, a thermometer, a gooseneck kettle, and your choice of a brewing instrument. Each brew method I’ve listed previously in this article requires each of these items except the espresso machine.

the Fellow gooseneck kettle in matte black with christmas lights in the background and a succulent

Note: If brewing with an espresso machine, these listed items are not necessary. You’ll need only an espresso machine for this brew method. See my article on espresso-making for a step-by-step tutorial on how to pull an espresso shot. 

You’re using tap water. 

Since coffee is 98 percent water, the type of water you use will have a significant impact on the final brewed result. So if you aren’t a huge fan of your home’s tap water, go out and get yourself some fresh spring water if it’s available. Or find another source of water that you do enjoy.

You’re grinding more beans than you are planning to use. 

Another mistake is grinding more beans than you need for your brewing session. You should only grind the exact amount of coffee that you need for your brew (this is where the scale comes in handy, so you can precisely measure the amount of beans you need before grinding). The reason for doing this is that ground coffee starts to get stale a lot quicker than whole beans as previously mentioned.

Origami pour over turquoise color on a wood table with a thermometer in background

If you grind more than you are going to use in your preferred brewing method, you’ll be left with extra grounds that will quickly get stale (as soon as 24 hours after grinding!).  

Your water to coffee ratio is off base. 

With that said, you need some sort of guide to help you figure out that perfect exact amount of grounds (and water) for your brewing session. A good rule of thumb is a 1:12 coffee to water ratio. It’s easiest to think of this in terms of grams. If you use 100 grams of coffee, you would need 1200 grams of water. Ultimately, this ratio can change based on personal preference. 

If you’re just learning to brew craft coffee at home, this 1:12 ratio is definitely a good starting point. 

Origami pour over turquoise color on a hario scale on a wooden table

You’re not grinding according to your brew method. 

Each brew method requires a specific grind size to properly extract the coffee’s best flavors. Therefore, you need to grind your beans in accordance with your preferred brew method. 

In general, pour over requires a medium-coarse grind. Espresso requires a very fine grind. AeroPress calls for varying grind sizes depending on the AeroPress brew method you choose. See AeroPress post here for which grind size to use.

 

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AeroPress Brew Guide

 

You’re forgetting to rinse your paper coffee filter. 

Another common mistake is forgetting to rinse your paper filter before starting the brewing process. Whether using AeroPress, Chemex, or another form of pour over, before adding coffee grounds to your coffee filter, always rinse the paper filter with water. This will prevent the filter from imparting a papery taste into your coffee. 

You’re not stirring. 

As a general rule, it’s important to stir your coffee grounds once combined with your heated water. This will help to evenly saturate all of the coffee grounds and bring the best and most flavor out of your coffee beans.

Origami pour over turquoise color on a wooden table

This stirring typically happens after the first pouring of heated water.

You’re using the wrong temperature. 

Another variable that you need to be very precise with is temperature. If you have a kitchen thermometer, it’s a good idea to use one in whichever brewing method you choose to get the best results. 

The most desirable brew temperature ranges between 195°F and 205°F. If your water reaches over 205°F, you could very well burn your coffee. This could have a great effect on the flavor of your resulting coffee. 

You’re using the wrong kind of cup. 

As silly as it sounds, the wrong mug can negatively impact how your coffee tastes. If you drink your java out of a tumbler or a thermos, it’s likely made of stainless steel. This can impart a metallic taste on your coffee, which no one wants. 

Ideally, you want to use a ceramic mug, as it’s the most neutral material and won’t leave any icky flavors on your drink. 

a white and pink and blue ceramic watercolor mug on a wooden table

If you want to splurge on a mug, I love using my Ember Mug. It keeps your cup of Joe warm for up to an hour and a half, as it has a built-in battery to heat your drink. My favorite aspect of the mug is that it has a ceramic coating, so no metal taste. It’s definitely a big purchase, but worth it if you love to keep your coffee hot throughout the morning. See my full review of the Ember Mug on The Spruce.

You’re not cleaning your coffee brewing instrument and accessories. 

Another mistake many people make is failing to thoroughly clean their coffee brewing instrument and/or accessories. Keeping your coffee tools clean not only maintains them for long-term usage, but also prevents old coffee buildup (or even bacteria) from sneaking into your coffee. 

Make sure you have the proper cleaning instruments to wash your brewing device. For instance, you may need an extra long brush to reach inside of a Chemex or a tiny brush to reach into the crevices of a siphon coffee maker. 

a chemex close up

You’re not tracking and refining your brews. 

Lastly, you’re making a big mistake by not writing down what works well and what doesn’t in your brewing endeavors. Since every brew method is different (as well as are the instruments that prepare your coffee), there is, therefore, no one-size-fits-all method.

In tracking your ratios, grind size, water temperature, and final results, you’ll be able to continually refine your brew. For instance, if one brew ends up tasting too strong, you can look back at your ratio/measurements to see how you can adjust your ratio for the next time. Or maybe a brew ends up tasting too bitter, and perhaps you notice that the water temperature you used was on the higher end. Having this information written down in one place (such as a coffee log) or stored in your phone can help you to track what variables may need to be changed in the next brew.

With every brew, see it as an opportunity to continually refine your cup of craft coffee!

If you need a head start when it comes to specialty coffee brewing, download my FREE guide for bonus tips by signing on to my mailing list below!

 

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I'm Cheyenne — freelance writer & coffee lover. On this blog, you'll find coffee hacks, how-to’s, common mistakes, espresso dessert & drink recipes, home coffee bar design ideas, and reviews on the latest coffee machines, grinders, and other coffee-related products.

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A fun way to spice up your coffee routine is by li A fun way to spice up your coffee routine is by literally adding spice to it. A dirty chai is just a latte with a splash of chai concentrate.  

Chai concentrate consists of a number of spices including ginger, cardamom, nutmeg, star anise, black peppercorns, and cinnamon (with a few other ingredients as well). To make this dirty chai recipe much simpler, I recommend just buying some high-quality chai concentrate from the store. Swipe right to see my choice of store-bought chai. It works just as well as making your own, and saves you loads of time because it’s a fairly intensive process to DIY! 

Another tip I have for this recipe is to feel free to replace the espresso with a strong coffee concentrate, if you don’t have a way to make espresso at home. You can either reduce your coffee to water ratio in your usual brew method or use an AeroPress or Moka pot to get a strong enough coffee concentrate for this dirty chai. 

After you’ve gotten a hold of these ingredients, you’re ready for a new take on your coffee. In combining the chai concentrate with a normal latte, you’re left with a warm and spicy espresso drink that is sure to keep you perked up all throughout the day. Read on to make this super easy 3-ingredient dirty chai latte. 

𝑇ℎ𝑟𝑒𝑒-𝐼𝑛𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝐷𝑖𝑟𝑡𝑦 𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑖 𝐿𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑒 𝑅𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑝𝑒

Ingredients: 
•¼ cup chai concentrate (store-bought or homemade)
 
•2 shots of espresso or 4 ounces of highly-concentrated coffee
 
•¾ cup milk of your choice

Instructions: 

1. For a warm chai, foam your milk first and have it on deck. 

2. Next, pull your espresso or coffee-concentrate and pour into a server. Add chai concentrate to espresso and stir gently.

3. Pour foamed milk over chai-espresso mixture. Serve immediately. 

4. For an iced chai, combine all three ingredients in a tall glass. Add more concentrate if desired.

5. Finish the drink off with a couple of ice cubes (or even better — throw in a few cold brew coffee ice cubes!).
An affogato is an Italian dessert consisting of va An affogato is an Italian dessert consisting of vanilla ice cream that is covered by freshly prepared espresso. Enjoy it for breakfast or as an after-dinner dessert.

Though it seems pretty basic in theory, there are a few things to know before going about it to save yourself a few easy-to-make mistakes. Read on for the best affogato-making secrets.

1. The quality of the espresso doesn’t have to be top-tier.

2. The vanilla bean ice cream, on the other hand, does need to taste good…REALLY good. Since an affogato is mostly ice cream, it needs to be high-quality ice cream. It will make or break your final result.
(Try Salt & Straw if you haven’t already!) 

3. Pour the espresso over the scooped ice cream as soon as you can after the shot has been pulled.

4. Garnish the finished product with chocolate shavings and a one-inch square of prepared salted brownies.

Full recipe on the blog. Click the link in bio to view in full🍦
Coffee Pairing of the Week: Wisconsin’s Famous K Coffee Pairing of the Week: Wisconsin’s Famous Kringle with Gesha Coffee 

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Do you have a favorite Gesha coffee? I’ve shared my favorite in the comments below!
A day without coffee leaves a latte to be desired. A day without coffee leaves a latte to be desired...apologies — couldn’t resist the double pun here🙈

Dulce de Leche Latte Recipe just went up on the blog today — link in bio ☕️
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