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Key Takeaways
- Brewing coffee at the right water temperature enhances its flavor and balance.
- A temperature range of 195° to 205°F works for all brewing methods, from drip to French press.
- Too-hot water causes bitterness, while too-cool water results in weak, sour coffee.
Coffee has fueled my mornings for over 20 years. What started out as a habit to quickly caffeinate my tired college mind has become a delightful daily ritual. I drink cold brew mostly but enjoy a good pour-over from my local coffee spots when I feel like treating myself. It always tastes so much better when my barista makes it, but why?
What is it about those pour-overs, French presses, or brewed coffees at my favorite coffee shop? I found out that it wasn’t necessarily the beans or roast. Instead, it’s the temperature of the water that can make or break your next cup. Here’s why using water that is the right temperature is the one little trick you need to know for brewing better coffee at home.
What’s the Perfect Water Temperature for Coffee?
While I was focused on beans and how coarse or fine to grind them, I totally disregarded the water component. Turns out that was a big mistake, says Asher Markworth, General Manager at Heritage Bikes in Chicago, Illinois.
He says that in order to brew a great cup of coffee, your water temperature should stay between 195° to 205°F. That goes for all types of coffee, including drip, pour-over, French press and Aeropress. Markworth notes that most home brewers have a set temperature within that range, but if you want more control, consider an electric kettle that allows you to set the water temperature and use the pour-over method or a French press.
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Why Does Water Temperature Matter?
Markworth says that shooting for that 195° to 205°F temperature range ensures you’ll bring out the best flavors in the coffee you’re brewing.
A temperature higher than that, says Markworth, leads to over-extraction and results in too-bitter coffee. Water below that temperature is also a problem, leading to under-extraction, producing “a cup of coffee that is light in body (weak) and that could possibly taste sour.”
Markworth says It’s a fine balance but one that can be learned with practice. If you’re intent on figuring out how to brew your ideal cup of coffee, he recommends keeping notes on grind size, total brew time, and temperature and making adjustments as you go. Most importantly, he advises, have fun! “You know what you like, and the more time you spend trying new things the more confident you will get with tasting the nuances of the coffee and finding the exact right cup for you!”
