Why Does Your Coffee Taste Bitter & How to Fix It
Have you ever gone into a cosy café expecting a delicious cup of coffee only to be disappointed by its bitter taste? What causes coffee to taste bitter?
1. Wrong Grind Size
One of the most common reasons for a bitter taste in coffee is due to the wrong grind being used leading to an over-extraction. If the grind is too fine it will extract more of the bitter compounds from the coffee beans, resulting in a sour or bitter flavour. To fix this, try using a coarser grind.
2. Too Much Coffee
If you are using too much coffee in relation to the amount of water, the result will be more bitter flavour. Make sure to weight your ground coffee correctly for your brewing method.
3. Old Coffee Beans
The freshness of your coffee beans can also have an impact on the flavour. If your beans are old, they will become stale and lose their flavour resulting in a bitter taste. You should always buy freshly roasted coffee beans directly from a roaster (like us) and keep them in an airtight container. To get the most out of your coffee, try to use your coffee within 4 weeks from the roasting date.
4. The Brewing Temperature is Too Hot
If you are using water that is too hot for your brewing method, the coffee grounds will get burnt, resulting in a bitter cup of coffee. Use water between 92-96C for cafetiere & V60, for AeroPress use much lower temperatures - 80°C for dark roasts and 85°C for light roasts. This temperature range allows for the coffee grounds to slowly and evenly extract the flavour.
To fix this, use a lower temperature when brewing your coffee. You can also add a few ice cubes to your cup before pouring in the coffee to cool it down.
5. Hard Water
The water you use to brew your coffee can also affect the taste.
Hard water contains high levels of minerals such as calcium and magnesium which can react with the compounds in the coffee causing them to break down and release bitter flavours. This can also lead to the build-up of scale in coffee making machines, leading to a poor tasting cup of coffee. To fix this, try using filtered or distilled water when brewing your coffee.
6. Dirty Equipment
Lastly, dirty equipment can also lead to a bitter cup of coffee.
If your coffee equipment is not thoroughly cleaned, oils and residues from previous coffees can be left behind and affect the flavour of the new coffee, resulting in a bitter, rancid, and acidic flavour. To fix this, make sure you clean all of your coffee equipment regularly.
By understanding why your coffee tastes bitter, you can take steps to fix the issue and enjoy a flavourful cup of coffee. From adjusting the grind size to using filtered water, there are many ways to improve the taste of your coffee.