What Are 5 Factors That Affect Coffee Quality?

If you’re like most coffee lovers, you’re probably still on the hunt for that perfect cup of coffee. You might have even wondered what exactly it is that determines the perfect quality of coffee. While some might argue that it is fresh coffee beans, others argue that the temperature of the water is what matters the most. The truth is that there’s no single answer. There are many different factors that affect the quality of coffee.

To truly understand what it takes to have a quality cup of coffee, here are 5 factors to take into consideration:

1). Freshness Of The Coffee Beans

One of the most important factors that determine the quality of coffee is the coffee bean itself. Since coffee degrades upon roasting due to oxidation, fresher coffee beans mean that you get better quality coffee.

Other factors such as moisture, heat, and light can also affect the quality of the coffee bean. This is why storing your coffee beans properly is recommended to ensure you get a quality cup of coffee every time. For example, coffee roasters prevent oxidation by keeping coffee beans in airtight containers.

2). Water Quality

Water quality is often an ignored and overlooked factor. However, it plays an important role in determining the quality of coffee After all, water makes up to 98 per cent of a cup of coffee, which is why it’s such an important consideration.

Ideally, you should use filtered water to help you achieve that ideal, untainted coffee taste. Using filtered water will also keep your coffee machine in better condition since any mineral build-up will not only affect your coffee but also the lifespan of your machine.

3). Temperature

If you use water that’s too hot, you risk “burning” the coffee and extracting unwanted compounds, thus making the coffee bitter. Professional baristas usually brew coffee at 195°F-205°F/ 90.5°C-96°C for the best results. If the temperature rises beyond 96°C, the texture of coffee can become a bit powdery.

When it’s at the lower range, it’s usually not sweet enough. The sweet spot you should aim for is around or just over 94°C/201°F. After brewing, you should make sure that you drink the coffee within 30 minutes. Make sure to not let coffee sit in the brewer all day long. This not only ensures freshness but also a perfect cup of coffee each time.

4). Freshness Of The Coffee Grind

It’s important to remember that the grind of your coffee affects the coffee taste. Coffee is usually at its peak freshness for the first hour immediately after grinding. Once this period has lapsed, it usually starts to degrade slowly, becomes increasingly stale and eventually completely unusable.

Always keep in mind that grinding coffee beans increases their vulnerability to natural elements that cause them to spoil rather quickly. If you want to consume quality coffee, make sure that you only grind coffee as and when you need it.

5). Coffee Machine Cleanliness

You might be surprised to learn that the cleanliness of your coffee machine plays a far more important role in the quality of your coffee than you might realise. Your coffee machine is producing a consumable product, so you should clean it daily for health and safety reasons. Not only that, but you will also produce the best quality coffee that’s free from any old coffee, residual milk, or other spillages likely to contaminate the end product.

Final Thoughts

If you want to have a great cup of coffee each time, taking these five factors into consideration is the best start. If you are looking for a wide variety of top-quality coffee machines to help you brew the ultimate quality cup of coffee for you, then get in touch with us at Pesado!