The Java Jive | the delicate dance to finding that best cup of coffee

Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Molly Long.

Have you ever experienced that delightful moment where you took a sip of coffee and it hit you: this is the best cup in the world? In college, I’m not sure what planets aligned at the time, but I enjoyed that experience every morning. It did not get old.

Since moving to Boston’s North Shore, (ironically Bean Town?), I have not been able to make a good cup of coffee! Frustrated and stumped, that blissful cup has been eluding me for two years. I know it exists because I’ve had it. I have been on a quest to seek the advice of those I consider to be coffee connoisseurs. Now I want to share with you each tip I’ve received from them, as well as the things I’ve discovered along the way. Mind you, some are good, but only one have I found to be down right magical.

May the fruit of my labor bless you and your percolator. Elements that go into making a good cup o’ Joe:

WATER

- Use COLD water to brew your coffee. Don’t use warm and never use hot.
- Try your tap water – but if you’re still experiencing a bad taste, you need to try to filter your water first.
- Use cold, filtered water

The funny thing is, I don’t mind the taste of my tap water at all. However, water can do crazy things when used in recipes and for coffee/tea. Not everyone can live off the springs of Vermont’s Green Mountains. So if you think your tap water might at all be translating into a sad excuse for coffee, get a filter.

BEANS & GRINDS

- Freshly ground beans will definitely give you a good chance for success.
- Keep your beans/grinds in the refrigerator! This is how to keep them the most fresh.

Right now, I’m using and enjoying Folgers Gourmet Columbian (Medium Dark Roast – ground). These are “challenging economic times” are they not? We can’t all buy a pound of specialty beans every week. I think Columbian flavor is bold without being burned. I still like the Starbucks flavor though which is reminiscent of French roast and the darkness of that. It’s all about preference and should not make or break your brewing success.

CLEAN YOUR MAKER

- You should clean your maker if you think it has a build-up of anything that might taint your flavor. Run through it some white distilled vinegar. I cut the vinegar with a little water. Run that through. Then approximately three more times, run through a full pot of just water. This will clear out any leftover vinegar and just do a little more cleaning. You can do this however frequently you think it is needed.

I will resist the urge to go into which coffee makers are better. The best cup I ever had came from my grandmother’s old tower style maker. It was a Bunn I believe, but regardless, it was not considered top of the line by any means and it still made a great cup.

TASTE ENHANCEMENT

-Maybe you just need an extra “something” in your coffee to make it a little different. Try putting a dash of one of these in your grinds prior to brewing:

Nutmeg
Cinnamon

Each really gives the coffee a nice aroma and subtle flavor. I know it is common practice to put cinnamon in your cup, but try putting it in the grinds before the brew. It makes a nice difference!

Okay, so you’ve cleaned your coffee maker, you’re using your bean/grind of choice, you’ve filtered the water…and it still tastes bad? Never fear. The last miracle tip is what totally transformed my coffee. I’m not sure if it’s the culmination of all the tips I’ve discovered over the last two years, or this final tip is THE ONE that made all the difference.

THE MIRACLE OF SALT

Put a pinch of salt in your grinds before you brew – TAH DAH! That’s it. Use a pinch regardless of how much coffee you’re brewing.

The salt takes out the iron/metallic/bitter flavor in your coffee. I think it’s a matter of chemistry, but don’t ask me. I just know this is what transformed my coffee from a flavor that made me gag, to a cup reminiscent of that heavenly brew from my college days! Try it! It works!

This secret came to me just this month. Now I can say that I have as good a cup of coffee as I can hope for in this coastal suburb! Maybe there are other city dwellers who know what I mean?

Coffee, as well as tea is my favorite. If you’re like me, you’d take a warm cup of goodness over any cookie, any day of the week. Might as well get it right, eh? I’m a New Englander and coffee flows in my veins. I’m sure I’ve only begun to discover the mysteries of good coffee, as numerous as the secrets that go into wine making I’m sure. Please share if you have any other tips we coffee gurus should know!

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