Tasting a bitter cup of coffee is one of the quickest ways to ruin your morning. Fortunately, avoiding bitterness is possible; however, you’ll first need to understand why coffee your coffee has a bitter taste.
So, why does your coffee taste bitter? The bitterness of your coffee depends on several factors:
- The temperature of the water
- The amount of time that the grounds steep
- The size of the grind
- The type of coffee bean
- Preparation technique
- The cleanliness of your coffee machine/French press
The rest of this article will answer some essential questions regarding bitter coffee:
- What are the reasons for bitter coffee?
- Is there a way to take the bitterness out of a cup of coffee?
- What exactly is bitter coffee?
- Is there a specific region that is known for producing a less bitter blend?
What are the reasons for bitter coffee?
As mentioned above, several factors can contribute to a bitter cup of coffee:
- Water temperature
- The amount of time the grounds steep
- The size of the grind
- The type of coffee bean
- Preparation technique
- The cleanliness of your coffee machine/French press
Water temperature
The temperature of the water that you use to brew the coffee affects how quickly the coffee is extracted from the beans.
The ideal water temperature is 195 degrees to 205 degrees Fahrenheit. If the water is hotter than that, the beans will be over-extracted and produce a bitter taste. And if the water is not hot enough, the beans will be under-extracted and produce a weak and somewhat salty cup of joe.
The amount of time the coffee steeps
The amount of time that the coffee steeps for makes a difference as well. While there are only a handful of devices that put you in charge of the steeping time, coffee aficionados should still know how long their coffee should steep.
When using a french press, the ideal steeping time is three to five minutes.
It’s a common misconception that an extended time steeping produces a better cup of coffee. While it may lend more caffeine to the drink, it will also over-extract the acids in the coffee, leaving you with a bitter taste.
Grind size
Another factor that impacts the bitterness of your coffee is the size of the grind.
For each coffee-making device, the ideal grind size is different.
The coffee from a finely ground bean will be extracted more quickly and therefore requires less brewing time. It’s also easy to over-extract a finely ground bean, which can result in a more bitter taste.
On the flip side, a more coarse grind size will require more time brewing in the water to extract the flavors. Coffee that is too coarsely ground is also at risk of under-extraction, which can make your coffee taste sour.
The type of coffee bean
The type of coffee bean you use will have a large impact on the bitterness of your drink.
Beans that are light or medium roasted are typically less inherently bitter. A dark or Italian roast is more likely to have bitter qualities.
Preparation technique
The way the coffee is prepared can either over-extract the bitter flavors or keep them in line, creating a well-balanced and delicious brew.
One of the most important preparation factors is the balance of the quantity of coffee in comparison with the water.
Professional baristas typically say that the ideal ratio is one gram of coffee to every sixteen millimeters of water. If you throw off this ratio, you run the risk of brewing a cup of coffee that is weak, bitter, or acidic.
The cleanliness of your coffee machine/French press
If you make coffee using a pour over method, this tip won’t be as relevant. However, if you’re using a standard coffee machine or a French press, you should pay attention.
If you notice your coffee is bitter but have not changed your routine or ingredients, it may be time to deep-clean your standard machine or French press.
With each successive brew, residual grinds accumulate and eventually begin to alter the brewing process and overall taste of your coffee. Regular cleaning can prevent this taste altering from occurring and leave you with consistently non-bitter coffee.
Is there a way to take the bitterness out of a cup of coffee?
If the grogginess of the morning stops you from perfecting your cup of joe, don’t worry; the resulting bitterness can be fixed.
Here are a few different methods you can use to alter the taste of your coffee and counteract the bitter flavor.
Add salt
Believe it or not, one of the most effective ways to reduce the bitterness of coffee is to add a pinch of salt.
If you’re brewing a batch that you know will be bitter ahead of time, you can add the salt to the ground beans before brewing. And if you end up with a surprise batch of bitter coffee, you can always add the salt directly to your coffee.
As wild as this may sound, it’s an old trick that originated in Eastern European countries like Turkey, Hungary, and Siberia. People from these countries are known to brew their coffee with salty water to prevent any potential bitterness.
Add milk and sugar
If you are someone who enjoys a sweet treat, you most likely already practice add sugar and milk to your coffee.
While some coffee aficionados would argue that this ruins the coffee and masks the delicate flavors, it is still a practical way to reduce the bitterness.
What exactly is bitter coffee?
Bitterness occurs naturally in each cup of coffee. However, the intensity of this flavor depends on the brewing process, as different methods release different amounts of acid.
There are many different types of acid in each cup of coffee. The specific acids that lend themselves to bitter flavors are chlorogenic acids. The two specific acids that we are referring to are caffeoylquinic acid and chlorogenic acid.
When these acids are heated, reheated, or overly heated, they release a bitter flavor. Preventing bitterness in coffee comes down to either preventing the release of these acids or masking their taste if you do release them.
The caffeine in a cup of coffee also plays a role in the bitterness. However, the taste of caffeine is minor when compared to the other ingredients; it usually isn’t enough to consider it the main culprit for the bitterness of a cup.
Is there a specific region that is known for producing a less bitter blend?
Similar to wine, the region that coffee is grown in plays a role in the overall flavor. The soil, climate, weather, bean types, and growing methods seen in different regions all play a part in determining a coffee’s taste.
To find a less bitter coffee, you’ll need to recognize the difference between the two primary types of coffee beans: Robusta and Arabica.
- Robusta is known for being more bitter and full-bodied than its counterpart.
- Arabica, the more expensive of the two, is weaker, smoother, and sweeter.
If you’re searching for the less bitter Arabica coffee, you should look to Latin America, Africa, and Asia. All three regions are known for their high-quality Arabica exports.
Final thoughts
If you want to drink less bitter coffee, you can start by investing a lighter roast of coffee from a region known for its Arabica beans.
After you’ve selected a less bitter bean, there are a variety of ways you can reduce the bitterness of your coffee:
- Use water at a temperature from 195°F (90°C) to 205°F (96°C).
- Steep your coffee for three to five minutes.
- Ensure your beans are not ground too.
- Use Arabica beans instead of Robusta beans.
- Add milk, sugar, or salt.
- Clean your coffee machine or French press regularly.
What happens next is in the hands of the brewer. Once you’ve mastered the ratios and methods, brewing a deliciously non-bitter cup of coffee will be second nature.
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