Many coffee makers come with their own mesh filter. If it is available, it’s usually the easiest and most environmentally friendly choice. Use a coffee maker’s specialized filter rather than a paper filter.
Special coffee blends may have special coffee/water ratios - most coffee blends will have instructions on the package. Make sure that you are using a tablespoon. Most coffee makers come with a scoop. Read the instructions to see how many scoops you need.
For first-time coffee maker users, the inclination is to pour the water directly into the filter basket. Do not do this. Pour into the compartment intended to hold the water before brewing. After pouring, put the coffee pot back on the warming plate.
If you used a mesh filter, simply throw the coffee grounds in the garbage (or recycle them) and wash the filter.
If your coffee machine has a noticeable odor or visible sediment when not in use, or if you simply can’t remember the last time you’ve cleaned your coffee machine, it’s probably time to clean it.
Be sure to store your coffee beans in an air-tight container. [5] X Expert Source Rich LeeCoffee & Food Program Director, Spro Coffee Lab Expert Interview. 22 November 2019. Coffee has odor-absorbing properties - that’s why coffee grounds can be used as a substitute for baking soda in the fridge. Unfortunately, this also means that, if your coffee isn’t kept sealed in an air-tight container, you may have other tastes in your coffee. Coffee aficionados disagree on whether to store coffee beans at low temperatures. Some recommend keeping coffee beans in the fridge if they will be used within a week and transferring any beans that won’t be used within a few weeks to the freezer. Others prefer simply to keep them in a cool, dark place. [6] X Research source
For normal “drip” coffee makers as described in Part One above, a medium grind (like you’ll find for most pre-ground coffee) is usually fine. If you’re using a more exotic brewing method like a french press or an Aeropress, consider consulting a coarseness chart like the one available here: http://www. coffeeconfidential. org/grinding/ground-coffee/ .
If you are boiling your own water for your coffee, allow the water to come to a boil, then remove from the heat source for about 1 minute before pouring it over the grounds. If you keep your coffee grounds in the refrigerator, most brewing processes won’t be negatively affected by the cooler beans. However, if you’re making espresso, you should allow your beans to reach room temperature before brewing. [9] X Research source Because espresso brewing uses a relatively small amount of water that comes in contact with the coffee for a relatively short time, cold beans can actually affect the extraction process.
Also consider the possibility of errors when storing/handling the coffee. Make sure the coffee has not been left in the open or in contact with any contaminating ingredients - coffee absorbs flavors and aromas from other sources very well.
If you’d still like to attempt to fix an electrical issue with your coffee maker, be sure to unplug and power-off the machine before proceeding. [11] X Research source DIY guides for many common electrical issues are available via a quick internet search.
