Making the perfect cup of black coffee is an art. Although it takes some time to be able to enjoy it without sugar, milk or cream, sipping on pure coffee allows you to focus on the full flavor of freshly roasted beans. Typically, it is prepared in a pot, although experts currently insist that to get the best possible aroma you need to master the percolation technique.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: with the Percolation Technique
Step 1. Purchase freshly roasted whole bean coffee
If you can't get them directly from a roasting company within a week or so of processing, opt for a high quality product sold in vacuum packs.
Step 2. Buy a coffee grinder or grind the beans directly in the store where you buy them
If possible, choose a grinder appliance instead of a normal blade food processor; For best results, you should only grind the amount you need each day.
- Experiment with different grain levels. Although finely ground beans are generally preferred, the result may be a little bit more bitter than the drink made with coarser ones.
- Many people recommend a consistency similar to that of sugar.
Step 3. Use good water
If you like the taste of tap water, chances are you like the resulting coffee as well. Never use the distilled or sweetened one; alternatively, you can opt for filtered water with activated carbon, which has a lower chemical aftertaste than tap water.
The minerals present in the water are valuable for the preparation of coffee
Step 4. Purchase a kettle, coffee funnel and unbleached filters to brew coffee by percolation
Most lovers of this drink believe that this method, from which only one cup is made, produces the best and richest black coffee.
Step 5. Place the funnel in a cup large enough to hold all the drink you want to make
Put about three tablespoons of ground coffee inside the filter just before proceeding with preparation.
Experts pay attention to the weight of the ground more than to the volume; in this case, use 60-70 g of coffee for every liter of water; change the doses according to the size of the cup
Step 6. Boil the water
Wait for it to cool for 30-60 seconds or turn off the kettle just before it reaches a boil. The ideal temperature for making coffee is 93 ° C.
Generally, the darker the roast, the less hot the water should be. For only lightly toasted beans, bring the water to 97 ° C; if you are using the darker ones, limit yourself to 90 ° C
Step 7. Set the timer to four minutes
The first time, wet the ground coffee with 60 ml of water; wait thirty seconds and add more, repeating the procedure until you have used up all the liquid.
- Try the three-minute draw; be careful not to overfill the filter. This technique could produce a more palatable drink.
- If you are using only lightly toasted beans, opt for extended extraction times, instead proceed to the opposite for the darker ones.
Method 2 of 2: with a coffee machine
Step 1. Purchase small quantities of freshly roasted beans
Those that are exposed to air or sunlight become rancid.
Step 2. Buy untreated filters suitable for your machine
If you think it hasn't been cleaned in a while, take some time to clean it so you get the best coffee possible. Select the self-cleaning function or start a normal extraction after filling the tank with one part of vinegar and one part of water.
- Then, start the machine twice empty (with water only), to eliminate any vinegar residue.
- If you live in an area where the water is very rich in limestone, you can increase the dose of vinegar; do this cleaning every month.
Step 3. Grind the beans every day, before extraction, using a coffee grinder or a blade food processor
The first tool offers consistent results, but is typically more expensive than bladed models. If you opt for the regular food processor, shake it several times during the process, to obtain a product with a homogeneous consistency.
Try different grind levels; the less coarse the powder, the more aroma you can extract, but the coffee could be more bitter
Step 4. Use about 2 and three-quarter tablespoons of ground coffee for 250ml of water
Over time, you learn how many beans you need to grind to get this dose; however feel free to modify the quantities according to your personal taste.
Step 5. Consider turning off the machine's automatic heating function
Most models are programmed to brew coffee at just 93 ° C, but this feature can bring the drink to a boil, making it bitter. To enjoy the best coffee, drink it immediately after making it.
