Plenty of folks love to start their day with a cup of coffee while they wake up and get ready. Brewing up the perfect cup takes time, practice and patience -- regardless of whether you prepare your coffee with a percolator, French press, pour over, espresso or cold brew.
I pressed Sarina Prabasi, founder of the Buunni roastery and trio of coffeehouses in northern Manhattan, to root out simple mistakes people overlook when brewing coffee at home.
Buunni specializes in ethically sourced beans from growing regions across Ethiopia. As a micro-roaster who serves on the board of the Specialty Coffee Association, Prabasi offered some insight into how to make simple adjustments for a better cup of coffee.
Here are seven common coffee mistakes we're all guilty of from time to time. With these tips we'll help you take your morning brew experience from utilitarian to euphoric.
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1. Washing your coffee maker too often with detergent
Even the slightest film of soap residue can taint your next cup. Brian Bennett/CNET
Ditching the soap for your coffee pot and pour-over immersion brewer might seem like dubious advice. In reality, your coffee equipment doesn't need a scrub down every time you use it. Even small layers of residue from fragrant dish soap or washing detergent will leave you with a sudsy and subpar pot of coffee.
"It really stays in there; it can mess with the flavor, and so, usually, a good rinse with super hot water is enough for black coffee," Prabasi said. Oils from the beans may build up over time, so a fragrance-free dish soap comes in handy for the occasional deep clean. A simple rinse with hot water will more than suffice for daily use, however. Save yourself time and avoid any unwanted essence of "soap scum" interrupting the notes of your single-origin Sidama natural roast.
2. Buying more coffee than you can brew fresh
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