Seven simple tips for delicious filter coffee at home!

Filter coffee is considered by many as tasteless and lacking aroma, but a few simple it will make it better.

Although espresso is most likely the most popular coffee in Greece, there are several coffee lovers who enjoy filter coffee, especially in the winter months and most commonly at home. Although the filter coffee - or "French Coffee", as we usually call it in Greece - does not have the concentrated, dense flavor of espresso or its characteristic crema, it remains a popular brewing method, which particularly highlights certain flavors of coffee. Given the fact, of course, that it is properly done!

There are many coffee lovers who avoid filter coffee, complaining about flat taste and lack of aroma. Usually, these complaints are an example that coffee extraction has not been done properly, since with some simple tips we can greatly improve the quality of the coffee we prepare at home, transforming a simple, ordinary filter coffee cup into a delicious, aromatic coffee that keeps its delicious profile! The tips we get are simple, easy and inexpensive and can be easily followed by any coffee lover who wants to upgrade his daily cup.

Pay certain attention to the coffee you use

Coffee for commercial coffee machines are usually pre-ground, which inevitably makes them lose their freshness, as ground coffee loses its characteristics significantly faster than coffee beans. While there are clearly qualitative choices in ground "French" coffee, it is better to invest a little money in a home coffee grinder to get more control over the coffee you buy. Generally prefer coffee in beans, grind the amount you want to use each time and store your coffee properly in order to maintain its freshness.

Learn more about coffee grinding

Buying coffee in beans and having our own coffee grinder, you gain more control over another key factor in the success of our coffee: grinding. The success of the extraction is based, among other things, on the right combination of the degree of grinding and the temperature of the water. Depending on the brewing method we use, a different degree of grinding is required. Given the fact that there are a variety of methods and devices, such as classic filter coffee machines, hand-held French Press, Aeropress, or even simple Pour-Over devices, each of which requires a different grinding deegree for optimal results, we understand the usefulness of having a coffee grinder.

Be careful about the amount of coffee used

When preparing filter coffee, we often follow empirical methods to determine how much coffee we use or rely on dubious capacity dosers. In order to be sure of the end result, it is good to get used to measuring the coffee we use with precision: 7.5g of ground coffee per 150ml of water give a fairly strong and tasty coffee mug. From then on, and depending on our tastes, we can experiment to find the proportion that suits us, but the stability in the amount of coffee will allow us to improve the rest of the factors if we see that something is wrong.

Don't forget the "pre-infusion" step

Most household coffee makers tend to omit an important step that strengthens the taste of coffee, the 'pre-infusion' stage. The initial "soaking" of coffee in hot water removes the last residue of carbon dioxide, making the taste of the cup stronger. To add this step to our extraction, after putting our coffee on the paper filter, just add 50ml of water at a temperature of 85-90 degrees Celsius and wait 45 '' before turning the machine on. As simple as it may seem, the result will be seen in your cup.

Keep an eye on the water temperature

Water temperature is critical to the success of our coffee. Unfortunately, most simple coffee makers offer no choice but also no indication of the temperature of the water they use. If we want to have an idea of ​​the temperature used by our coffee maker (to adjust grinding, if necessary), we can put it into operation without coffee and measure the temperature of the water with a thermometer. If the result does not satisfy us, we can think of purchasing a coffee maker that gives more control over this area or using methods that allow us to control the temperature, such as pour-over or Aeropress.

Use the right water

We must not forget that a very large percentage of our final cup is just water, so its quality is of course of particular importance. If your area has "hard" water,  avoid using it, both because our coffee will not be extracted properly, and because it will burden your coffee maker. On the other hand, it is wrong to use deionized water, as the water  used in coffee maker should have some minerals to achieve a proper extraction. The best solution is to use a water filter for your tap or use bottled water.

Prepare only the amount of coffee you are going to consume

Filter coffee can be delicious and aromatic if we have the right raw materials and take the right steps, but should be consumed immediately. Most household coffee makers have a heated plate, allowing large quantities of extracted coffee to keep warm for a long time. But the coffee that stays in the jug for over half an hour  starts to stagnate, and things get even worse if the coffee is constantly warming up. Prepare only as much coffee as you intend to consume, and  do not prepare coffee "for the whole day", as not only will it not be tasty, but it may also annoy your stomach.

Filter coffee is an extraction method that can give us a delicious and aromatic cup - as long as we follow the right steps and give it the attention it deserves. The results will be felt in our cup!