How to Make Coffee Less Bitter

It does matter to some extent what brand and kind of coffee maker or brewing system you use. I like the Hamilton Beach Brew Station personally that makes 12 cups. Some people prefer the single serve units like you find with Keurig and I happen to know that is a really good option as well. I just like to be able to grab my coffee and go about my business over having to make a single cup every time even though it is pretty fast at brewing it. I tend to drink a lot throughout the day so single cup brewers are not going to suffice.

No matter what kind of coffee maker you use you need to keep it clean. I know, I know. You have been told not to clean it out because it makes the coffee taste better. Wrong. It tastes better, cleaner, less bitter and purer when you rinse out the grounds and residue with warm or hot water and at least wipe it clean with a paper towel or some kind of towel. The yummiest coffee comes from clean brewers.

I have heard it said that a French press (as pictured) is the best way to make great-tasting coffee. However, I have yet to give that a try. I can see why it would be better and I have been considering giving it a try. Perhaps that will come up in another writing. I would have to learn how to use a French press first, but I am sure I can manage that.

First of all you have to realize that cheap coffee is going to taste like cheap coffee. There is no way around this fact. There are some things you can do to take the edge off the poor quality, but it is best to buy good quality coffee. One of my favorites is 100% Arabica by Eight O'Clock coffee. It is good quality and seldom do I get a bitter batch. If I could have it all the time I would drink coffee with chicory which is the coffee blend of choice in New Orleans. However, my stomach cannot always handle it so I digress.

Other good coffee brands in my opinion include 100% Great Value at Walmart, Barnie's (when I can find it), World Market (I get that online) and Dunkin Donuts. Overall I believe that the one method for how to make coffee less bitter is the right blend and brand. I cannot say there is a coffee brand I dislike, I just know what I prefer. If you cannot afford (sometimes I cannot) to spend that money on the higher end brands and you buy the discounted cheap stuff then I am including some tips on how to take the edge off the bitter taste a few paragraphs down.

You can buy most brands in whole bean or already ground. I prefer to buy it in whole bean style and grind it as needed. This is not to say that ground coffee is not as good, but it is not exactly as fresh. It is totally up to you. I use both and am happy with the final product. It just stands to reason that whole bean ground just before brewing will have more flavor.

I prepare coffee differently depending on the initial flavor I get out of the first put I make of it and whether it is ground or whole bean. I commonly use an extra tablespoon of ground coffee to get a richer flavor out of it or combine it with a dash of salt which I have found to make a smoother cup of coffee. It tends to take some bitterness out of the coffee so you can enjoy a richer flavor.

Salt is one way to make a smoother cup of coffee, but so is nutmeg. Be very careful using nutmeg. It is stong flavored and can ruin a pot of coffee as much as it can enhance it. It only takes a pinch of nutmeg to take the bitter out of your coffee. Please take heed to the pinch and know that it is literally a pinch. I would dare say less than 1/8 of a teaspoon or at least no more than that.

I know for a fact that the addition of salt or nutmeg to the coffee grounds prior to brewing is how to make coffee less bitter. I have tried it and it works. Some people prefer salt which works, but I also like the idea of nutmeg. Both of these options work just fine. Salt is a more commonly kept spice which makes it a better choice for most users. This is the method I use for making coffee taste less bitter when I use the cheap brands.

I have to admit that when I want a cup of coffee after my Brew Station has turned off and the coffee has gone cold I will nuke a cup in the microwave and/or turn the coffee maker back on to heat the rest. Technically this is a no-no if you want a cup of coffee that is less bitter. It is much better to drink your coffee as soon as it is brewed within the first 20 minutes. That is when it is the freshest and least bitter.

Coffee that sits in the pot for more than 30 minutes starts to get a scorched taste and smell. Even when I do the no-no of turning it on to warm the coffee hours later it scorches it. I just love my coffee enough not to care. However, I do like a good, smooth cup of coffee much better just like the rest of you.

I like to use the brown, natural filters or if the coffee comes with one of those permanent filters I like those as well. I don't mind the white filters, but they are bleached and I guess I figure natural is better. I also like to buy organic coffee whenever possible which brews up very smoothly and organic coffee tends to taste less bitter to me. This concludes what I know about how to make coffee less bitter. Feel free to comment or add your own information so I can try it and write about it. I will include your name/nickname if you like in the post. I like to give credit where it is due.