Things You'll Need:
- Coffee pot
- Filter
- Ground coffee beans or
- Coffee beans and grinder or
- Store-bought coffee gounds
- Filtered water
- Sweetener and creamer (optional)
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Step 1
Buy a coffee pot that meets your budget and quality demands. Select a paper filter model to reduce coffee bean oils and chemicals, which can irritate the stomach and are prone to bitterness. Alternatively, opt for a permanent filter model primarily to save money on filters and coffee (less may be used) and to be more environmentally conscious. Note that dedicated coffee makers, such as Krups, Bunn and the like, reach sufficient temperatures to brew coffee properly; and, may include other features, such as water filters, to improve taste.
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Step 2
Make coffee with a clean coffee pot. Follow the manufacturers instructions for first time use which may include brewing a pot of vinegar and water. Replace any water filters as needed on used models.
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Step 3
Buy coffee beans from a local coffee establishment to maximize taste and freshness. Let them grind the beans if you plan to make the coffee within a couple of weeks. Otherwise, grind your own beans as needed for optimum freshness. If you desire store-bought grounds you can obtain a suitable cup of coffee if it is relatively fresh and vacuum packed. Look for coffee that meets your taste preference. Many cannisters are labeled on a scale from mild to bold. Brand is a personal preference and flavored coffees sold in packages, rather than cannisters, are a big hit.
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Step 4
Investigate the difference in coffee grinding methods before purchasing a grinder -- if ground unevenly, too fine or too course your coffee will suffer. Seek a coarser ground when you make coffee using paper filters.Also note, the drawback of using a blade chopper is uneven grounds, which brew improperly, and fine powder which may clog your coffee pot.
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Step 5
Use cold, filtered water, or equivalent,for best results. Good quality water is a requisite for good tasting coffee. Some enthusiasts will add a little spice to their coffee grounds prior to brewing, such as 1/2-teaspoon of cinnamon, to reduce bitterness.
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Step 6
Measure the coffee based in part on the principle that each 6-ounce cup takes 2 Tablespoons. However, this lends to a very strong coffee when translated to a 10 to 12-cup pot of automatic drip coffee. Start with 3/4 cup of coffee and work your way up or down in 1/4 cup increments to taste,fine tunning as necessary. Many coffee drinkers, especially those who use store-bought grounds, are content to make coffee with 1/2 cup grounds per 10-cup pot.
