Anonymous wrote:I’m curious if it’s really possible to make good coffee at home, and if so, how?

Mine always tastes weak and weird.

Probably the main issue is which beans. If too weak, then either add more ground coffee or switch to a darker roast. If light roast too weak, then try medium roast. If medium roast too weak, then try a dark roast.

We are not super picky. We buy dark roast from either Peets or Starbucks — whichever is on sale. We put the grounds in a reusable K-cup thingy and make sure it is full, then we make coffee one cup at a time in the K-cup machine.

If you insist on filling pods experiment with grinds.

We have a Moccamaster coffee maker.

As everyone said, use a little more bean to coffee ratio, buy high quality whole beans and grind them just before use. I'm happy with our coffee and the Moccamaster is very easy and fast to use once you get the hang of it.

The pour overs are the best but too time consuming except weekends.

After many trying many different coffees prepared many different ways, I have decided that coffee can be the most subjective thing in the world. There are so many variables like coffee, brew method, grind size, ground to water ratio that it all comes down to personal taste. You’ll have to do a LOT of experimenting to find what you like.

Coffee- Start with what you think you like. Decide on which beans you prefer. I found that robusta beans don’t work for me. I stick with Arabica. Buying whole beans is better as fresh ground tastes better IMO.

Grind - Get a decent burr grinder. It doesn’t have to break the bank. Find the grind size that is suggested for your brew method. Experiment with grind sizes. Too fine and coffee is thicker and stronger. Too coarse and you get bean water.

Ratio - The recommended grounds to water ratio is 2TBS ground coffee to 8oz water. You can play with this a little to suit your taste.

Water - I think this is the ONE critical piece. You want clean water. Some boil theirs and that works. You can also use filtered water or spring water. When I use tap water, especially in DMV area, I can tell difference big time.

Have fun with this as it is wonderful. It is coffee. I just think it’s different for each of us plus, for me, it tastes subtly different every time I make it. Maybe I’m too sensitive to tastes, maybe I can make it better.

Good luck!!

Experiment with grinds, water, amount of ground coffee.
I use a simple Mr Coffee, grind beans. Only want one big mug, about 4 cups according to Mr Coffee remember they think a coffee cup is 5 oz

Agree grinding your own beans makes a big difference. We like Peets. Having used some pricey grind n brew machines that had issues, we finally found a very simple machine that makes hot, delicious coffee. We also make our coffee hours apart so prefer single cup machines. Takes ground coffee or K cups.
Ninja Pods & Grounds Specialty Single-Serve Coffee Maker

I grind my own beans in a little hand crank German coffee grinder, and use a French press. The aroma is wonderful.

I order freshly roasted and ground coffee online. Doesn't cost much more than non-basic coffee in a supermarket, and it's fresher. These days I'm buying from Happy Mug, because they have a nice rotating selection of flavored coffees which I like...but they also have an excellent selection of quality non-flavored coffees which I also buy from them.

I brew it in an OXO Brew Single Serve Pour-Over Coffee Maker, using water boiled in a kettle on the stove. The coffee maker and cup sit on top of a scale that reads to 0.1 gram, and I use that both to measure out the ground coffee and to know how much boiling water to pour in. Inexpensive coffee scales generally read to 0.1 gram at least in the lower range and are probably good enough. Personally I have an Ohaus Gold Series scale that has a prominent place on the kitchen counter and that I use for "everything" food-related.

I roast the beans myself. So much better.

My H is a coffee expert (former job) and here’s how he makes it:

1. You have to start with good beans. He gets his from the bulk section at fancier health food grocery stores. Usually he gets a couple types and mixes them (I believe French and Costa Rica)

2. Get whole beans and grind them just before you make coffee.

3. Use way more beans that you think you need. I swear he uses an entire cup.

4. Boil your water in a kettle. I don’t know why, but it tastes better.

5. Add the ground beans to the French Press.

6. Pour the boiling water over gently in a circular motion.

7. Do not stir. You want the grounds to form a crust at the top.

8. Let sit for 4 minutes.

9. Do not press the French press all the way down. Leave it at the top and pour.

I swear this makes the best coffee I’ve ever tasted. However, it is extremely complicated so I will never do it myself. But when H makes it for me, I am extremely grateful. It also makes the best iced coffee if you refrigerate it overnight.

We use Dunkin Donuts coffee 5 to 4 with Maxwell House.

So that's 9 scoops to 12 cups of water in a simple drip coffee machine.

It is the best. I would go all Dunkin, but it is $$.

If you do drip coffee, start by buying better coffee. Grinding the beans yourself is the best way to have it taste good. Add in an extra scoop or 2 if it's weak.

Start there and report back.

Yes, nespresso vertuo.

Tell us what you’re doing to make it. How are you brewing it? What beans are you using?

Our coffee is very good. We buy whole beans from a local roaster, grind them as needed, and hand pour the water over the grinds each morning.

I’m curious if it’s really possible to make good coffee at home, and if so, how?

Mine always tastes weak and weird.