Enjoying a single cup of coffee each morning can elevate your whole day. Many people prefer purchasing their coffee from coffee shops since the baristas skillfully create the perfect cup of coffee enhanced with an optimal mix of flavors.
But when the coffee shops close, you cannot wait for them to open. At that moment, you have to brew a cup by yourself with good taste and flavor. Drinking a coffee cup at home also saves your money.
By just following simple steps, you can easily make a perfect cup of coffee for yourself. It is not that difficult. Simple steps like storing beans correctly and using the filters that are best give you the best results.
It will bring the perfect flavor to your cup that you love the most. No matter what you use in making coffee, you can get what you want by simple steps.
Why Do Ratios Matter While Brewing Coffee?
The brewing process is critical in making coffee. It is the base of the recipe. Many baristas or coffee experts consider the ratio between 1:15 to 1:17 to be the perfect one.
This ratio is considered to be perfect while making the perfect coffee. Adjustment of this ratio also has some effect on the other variables.
To avoid this drastic effect, you have to find the measure that you like the most. When you find your suitable measurement and remain attached to it, then you make perfect coffee. You can also do experiments according to your choice.
Coffee to Water Ratio
Different coffee beans have different masses. Coffee beans have some amount of moisture in them. When you roast these coffee beans, then their moisture level gets reduced.
This moisture level reduces from 3% to 5%. This happens when you roast the beans and the water in them is released. After releasing this water, turn it to steam.
After this, the weight of the beans gets 15% to 20% less than their actual weight before roasting. Different coffee experts claim that the starting point of the ratio should be 60 grams of coffee in 1L of water. Speciality Coffee Association of America SCAA also agrees to this ratio.
To overcome this problem, choose the range between 1:15 to 1:18. In this way, you will get some extra water. Make sure to keep the accurate coffee to water ratio to get the best outcome.
What Does the Ratio Mean?
Many different people get confused with the different amounts of ratios. The brew ratio of 1:15 means that you have to take 1 part of coffee and 15 parts of water.
It will be 20g of coffee in grams and brewed this coffee with 300g of water. You will get the resulting product of 300ml of a coffee cup. Some people prefer the Golden Ratio of 1:18.
But for some people, it gets down to their taste. If you use spoons rather than measuring coffee by grams, then you have to take these measurements. Take 1 tablespoon of coffee and brew it with 4 ounces of water.
Brewing Strength of Coffee
In coffee, only 30 percent of coffee solids are dissolved in water. The 18 percent to 22 percent of these dissolved solids give desirable flavors. For finding the perfect flavors, you have to master this skill.
When you become a master, you will find the perfect balance between sweet, acidic, spicy, and aromatic flavors. If you find out your coffee tastes to be bitter or woody, then your coffee is over-extracted.
If you find it too sour, then your coffee is under extraction. Some more extraction will give you some sweetness in the coffee. Depending on your choice, you can adjust the grind. By adjusting it, you can easily find your perfect flavors. Always try to find the flavors within the Golden Ratio range.
Tricky Terms in Brewing Coffee
Two tricky terms are necessary for your understanding. By understanding them, you will get what you find. These two terms include;
- Percentage Extraction
- Coffee Brewing Control Chart
1. Percentage Extraction
When you brew coffee, you will get some coffee particles. These coffee particles extract from the dry grounds that are original coffee.
The amount of these coffee particles is known as percentage extraction. The percentage of coffee solids in a single cup of coffee is the percentage of total dissolved solids. This is also known as brew strength.
2. Coffee Brewing Control Chart
Correlate the coffee solids with the total dissolved solids. By doing this, you will get a target area. This target area is in the center, and it highlights the optimal brew strength of coffee. This is known as the coffee brewing control chart.
Refined Flavor with Right Ratio
To get the refined flavor according to your choice, get the following ratios. First, start with the Golden Ratio. Start with 17.42 units of water and take 1 unit of coffee. This Golden Ratio gives you the optimal zone.
You can also use grams, ounces, pounds, and stones for measurements. It is not always necessary to strictly attach with the Golden Ratio. You can adjust it according to your taste and flavor. When you get the desired flavor, you will then stick to it.
You can also make these things easier for you with a good scale. A good scale helps you to adjust and find things easily. You can then easily enjoy your favorite flavor every morning without any problem.
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Golden Ratio by Speciality Coffee Association of America
The golden ratio is the ratio of coffee and water that gives perfect balance. This ratio is developed by SCAA, which is the Speciality Coffee Association of America.
The perfect balance is essential for every coffee lover and barista. It is also the confirmation that you have got skills in making the perfect coffee. For achieving skills, you need some hard work, patience, and some love for coffee.
Under the golden ratio, the sweet sugar is refreshing and pleasant. To some extent, acids and bitterness are also important. The complete taste of coffee is balanced with all these elements.
If you want the Golden ratio in tbsp, you have to take 2 tablespoons of ground coffee. Mix these 2 tablespoons with 6 oz of water. All this combines to make 1/8 cup of coffee.
According to SCAA the 10 grams of coffee with 6 oz of water is best for brewed coffee. This is a golden ratio according to the standards of America. 10 grams of coffee in 180ml water is also good.
Choose the equipment according to your way by which you can easily understand the scale. Once you understand the scales, you will then get the perfect taste.
Measuring Coffee with Instruments
Measuring the coffee ground beans is difficult for making the perfect ratio. Measuring the coffee ground beans can be done in several ways with different tools.
For this, you have to do different measurements. Once you find the exact measurements, then you will find out the exact measurement.
You will then find the method that suits you best. For this, you have to practice until you get the exact coffee ratio. It will help you make coffee accurately.
Measuring with Liquid Measuring Cup
Using a liquid measuring cup is easy. You can use it simply and in an easy way. For this, you have to consider that 1 gram of water is exactly 1 ml of water.
Two units of measurement, 1 gram and 1 ml, are based on each other. By using this fact, you can easily do your brew calculations. These calculations give you the exact result.
Measuring with Tablespoon
4 to 7 g of coffee beans is about a level tbsp. To keep it simple, consider each level of tbsp around 5g of coffee. Make sure to choose the correct measurement so that you can prepare the correct amount of coffee.
For such types of measurements, the biggest flaw is that it is imprecise. Beans of coffee come in different sizes. In some parts of the world, the beans can be tiny.
But in another part of the world, the size of the coffee bean can be twice the size. So while making a cup of coffee, you have to take all these things in mind. The size can greatly affect the taste of the coffee. Along with size, density also matters a lot.
If coffee has large beans, then one tbsp can be 7 grams of coffee. If the coffee has small beans, then one tbsp can be 4 grams of coffee. This can happen even when the beans of coffee look the same size. Just the 2 grams of difference make your coffee out of the way.
Measuring with Scale
Scale is like a lifesaver for many people. Different people find measuring very difficult. For them, scale is easy and important. Scales can change everything.
It easily facilitates the process and makes the coffee brewing method easy. With the help of a scale, different things get very easy. These things include;
Accuracy
Coffee beans are different in different places. They can be more or less dense. Due to this, the coffee beans make the measurements inaccurate and make weighted measurements inaccurate.
By using a scale, you can easily measure with precision. This precision will help you in finding the right ratio. You can make perfect coffee with perfect skills.
Repeat With Same Measurements
You will take some measurements for mixing coffee and water. When you have exact measurements of the coffee and water, then note those measurements.
With the help of a scale, you can repeat the process with the same measurements. These same measurements will give you the same result every time. There is no need to do too many tests, and you will get your perfect recipe.
Waste Coffee
Many times, when we use a grinder, we often grind coffee too much. Too much grinding is not the actual requirement of coffee. Due to which it will get wasted.
When you weigh it with a scale, then it will reduce your waste completely. Your coffee beans will then remain in the mug, not away from it.
Experiment
Different coffees have different scales of measurement. By using the scale, you can easily find the brew ratio of different coffees. Scales will help you to find the perfect shot. You will get the right and perfect flavors of your coffee.
You can use scales with all different coffee. Also, try these scale measurements with all different methods of coffee. The different methods include French press or immersion, pour overs, iced coffee Aeropress and much more.
By doing the experiments, you can find the exact golden ratio of different coffees. You can also find this ratio in different methods. Once you find this ratio, you will get perfect results every time and enjoy it a lot.
Factors to Keep in Mind While Making Coffee
Different factors have an important role in making coffee. Whether you are making a shot of espresso or a cold brew coffee, you should keep these factors in mind. These important factors include;
Temperature of Water
During making the coffee, the temperature of the water is very important. The temperature of the water should not be too high or not too low. Make the water temperature be 93°C.
When it comes in contact with coffee, the plus-minus 5°C variation takes place. If the water is too cold, then your coffee will remain under-extracted.
If the water is too hot, then the flavor will ruin. Under both these conditions, you will get the right flavors of coffee. Also, make sure to use the correct amount of water.
Brewing Time of Coffee
Brewing time depends on the type of coffee. Different coffee has different brewing times. The drip brew coffee requires about 5 minutes.
After 5 minutes, you will get the right taste and flavors of your coffee. On the other hand, the best brewing time for the French press is about 2 to 4 minutes. While other coffees have different brewing times.
Grinding Time of Coffee Beans
Grinding coffee beans is also a crucial part. If you grind your beans correctly, then after the brewing process, you will get every single flavor. Grounding beans will require some love and attention.
By this, you can extract fresh flavors and minimal air contact. However, you can also use a coffee maker or coffee machine to make delicious coffee easily.
