Infrequent coffee drinkers and customers who haven’t tasted varieties of coffee tend to ask the question, “why do all coffee taste the same?” Well, right answer is “They don’t”. Different coffees do not have the same taste as they are brewed with different qualities of coffee beans. The quality of coffee beans is just one of several possible reasons. This article will enlighten you better on the taste of coffee beverages.
Does All Coffee Taste the Same?
As stated earlier, No, all coffees do not taste the same. Based on many criteria like the climate the beans were grown in or the way they were roasted, coffee produces different tastes.
Is All Coffee Made the Same Way?
Of course not. What fun would that be? The entire idea of having so many types of coffee is based on the fact that they’re made using different methods. Some are made as easy as just pouring boiled water over coffee grounds, while many others take a lot of finesse to prepare. Toppings like cream, milk, sugar, powdered chocolates or cocoa make a difference also.
Why Does Your Coffee Taste Different Every Time You Make It?
If you’re not actively trying to make your coffee taste different, there are several reasons why it tastes differently from last time.
- Temperature
Alternating between cold and hot water will cause a difference in taste. Not only that, but using boiling water to brew your coffee ground will also give a different taste. Some believe that the water used to brew coffee must boil at 100°C. The truth is that it’s not necessary. A fairly boiled temp water or room temp water is good enough.
- Time
Time is also as important as the temperature to brew coffee the right way. The amount of time your coffee spends in the water could determine the taste. Leaving your coffee for too long in the water will make it bitter. Respectively, if you leave your coffee not long enough, it’ll make the beverage taste shallow. The perfect brewing time differs from one method to another also. Be sure to check the different methods and the most favourable time frame for brewing perfection.
- Quality
The coffee beans you buy will definitely determine the taste of the beverage. You can’t probably hope that the taste of cheap coffee equals a relatively costly and well-rated coffee. Cheap coffee usually ends up tasting burnt. This is because the beans are baked till burnt to cover all faults in them. The next time you buy coffee, remember this to get a better product.
- Ratio
It’s understandable that every time you brew a new cup of coffee, you might not always get the ratio right. This inconsistency could be responsible for the different tastes you experience. Adding either too many coffee beans or ground in respect to the water or vice versa will make a less than perfect coffee beverage.
- Different Coffee Grounds
This is an easily overlooked cause of inconsistent taste in coffee. Grinding your coffee beans too finely will cause overexertion and overexposure. Research on correct grinding levels to use to attain moderation.
- Dirt
Most people use coffee brewing machines at home. If you’re one of those and experience inconsistency in your coffee taste, consider this. If your machine hasn’t been kept clean since the last time you brewed, it could alter the taste. Your coffee will taste stale and bitter as a result of residual coffee beans.
Why Your Coffee Tastes Burnt
Coffee could taste burnt as a result of over roasting. If you prepare your coffee yourself from scratch, you might want to consider reducing the heat. In cases where the coffee grounds are bought, it might’ve been over-roasted before you buy it. This is why it’s important to buy quality coffee grounds or beans.
Another reason your coffee could taste burnt is when you brew your coffee with water that’s too hot. It could also be a result of boiling your coffee for a very long time.
The coffee beans could be another reason. Quality coffee beans are important if coffee beverages taste great. Sometimes, the beans lose their shelf life when they get exposed to air at room temp. It’s advisable to dispose of the exposed coffee beans. Try to store your beans better. Burnt coffee taste could also be a result of low-quality coffee.
Does All Coffee Taste Bitter?
Despite the bitter compound found in all coffee called “caffeine”, the method of brewing and processing makes the bitterness vary significantly. Coffees could incorporate fruits, flavours and toppings. Examples include fruits like bananas and strawberries. Flavours like mint, chocolate and vanilla. Other toppings include milk, cream, pistachio, brown sugar, honey, chocolate or cocoa powder, cinnamon and nutmeg.
Besides these, preparing coffee with cold water instead of warm makes a less bitter coffee. This is because the warm water easily breaks down the beans more to release their bitter content. Unlike the warm water, the cold water keeps most of the content in.
How to Get Rid of the Bitter Taste in Coffee
Here are some of the ways to get rid of the bitter taste in coffee.
- Grind Coarser
When the coffee is very bitter, sometimes it’s a result of the coffee beans having been ground too fine. The finer the beans, the more of them get dissolved. As a result, the coffee gets very bitter since it’s dissolved all the caffeine content. Conversely, when grinding, grind coarsely and in slightly bigger chunks. The rate of dissolution would be slower and the coffee won’t be as bitter. In fine coffee form, dissolving too much bitter compound than you’d like is called overexertion. While
- Shorter Brewing Time
The shorter the time spent brewing, the lesser the extraction that occurs. This works hand in hand with grinding. It takes a longer time to drain water from a finely ground coffee than the coarsely ground.
- Better Quality Water
Coffee is mostly water, about 98%. Using better quality water will reflect your coffee taste. This will get rid of any odd taste that had been due to the water quality before.
- Cold Water
As stated earlier on, if you don’t mind trying out a cold brew coffee, try cold water instead when preparing.
How To Make Coffee Taste Good
There are a lot of recipes to incorporate into coffee to make it taste good.
- Spices
Spices are easily procured and inexpensive. In powdered form, you could sprinkle to taste all over the coffee. Examples of spices you can use are nutmeg, cardamom, ginger, star anise, cloves, and dried lavender leaf.
- Citrus
A slice of lemon or lime goes wonderfully with iced coffee. Lemon juice or lemon soda could also improve the taste of cold brew coffee.
- Chocolate
Chocolate goes great with coffee also. They’re usually said to have similar tastes. Add melted chocolate to your coffee or chocolate syrup to improve the taste.
- Milk and Cream
These two are either used apart or together. The milk could be frothy sometimes or condensed. Coconut milk is an example of a popular sort of milk used with coffee. An example of cream is whipped cream usually laced at the top of an espresso macchiato.
- Honey
Honey sweetens a lot of beverages. You can indulge yourself in a spoonful or two into your coffee to improve the taste.
Conclusion
Coffee is a globally enjoyed beverage. It has been around for centuries. As a result, it had the time to upgrade and become better. There are several variations of coffee. Some are bitter than others but with their peculiar features and taste. All coffee does not taste the same nor are they all bitter. Explore the world of coffee and see which ones you enjoy savouring.
