When I first got my automatic coffee maker, I thought that from then on, I would be able to brew the perfect cup of coffee without any effort from my side at all. My automatic drip coffee maker would be able to handle the details. All what I would have to do was to buy coffee.
And it was close to that. Really, a coffee maker was doing it’s work. Coffee was pretty good, but I felt with a little bit of my knowledge about the process it could be a little bit better. But I wasn’t able to realize what really means good coffee from automatic home coffee maker, until I went over to a friends house to have a cup of his.
Tasting his coffee was a perfect idea, as we had the same automatic coffee makers, but the results after brewing were quite different. I realized that the first reason was what kind of coffee we put in the automatic coffee maker. His was a slightly higher grade blend, so I checked what coffee he uses and next day I immediately bought the same coffee for my coffee maker.
I put it in my automatic coffee maker, and waited for the magic to happen. The result was different and I noticed that it was better, but is this the one and only reason? Actually it still wasn’t the same as the one from my friend. Is it possible, that fault is in my coffee maker?
I didn’t want to ask my friend what his secret was. So I started to experiment. First with some different settings. I set the automatic coffeemaker to drip more slowly, to drip faster, and to use hotter and cooler water. I also tried with different add-ons to the coffee. I added cardamom and chocolate. But it wasn’t the magic difference. My automatic coffee maker still didn’t make so good coffee as I had had at my friend’s house.
After 20 or so different test variations I was quite frustrated, so I asked him what it was that he did differently. His answer was strangely simple. He roasted his own coffee! That was all! It was strange to me, that so simple difference in process made so big difference in taste, but this was it.
His advice was just: Start at the very beginning. It not a machine, but coffee which makes a difference. And you do not need to buy the most expensive coffee. Just don’t buy roasted coffee, instead roast it by yourself. Simply, fresh roasted coffee always tastes better.
Next day I really tried it. And it was better, really better.
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