If you love coffee, there is nothing like waking up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee. Not to sound overeffusive but the aroma of coffee is so distinct, so delicious. It tickles your senses awake even before you take a single sip from your cup. The coffee then slides down your throat and warms your inside. The caffeine now starts playing pinball inside you until your whole body is alive, alert and awake.
That is absolutely great for those who love that jolt of energy. Unfortunately, not everyone is a fan of caffeine. Some of us love the taste of coffee but dislike the can’t sleep effect. The solution created for this group of coffee lovers: decaffeinated coffee.
“That vile brew! That’s not coffee” is a commonly heard comment about decafs. The poor maligned decaf. Coffee drinkers complain of its weak taste, or that it is too bitter. The sad truth, it’s not the fault of the beans. You just need to learn the perfect way to brew decaf so that its full potential is awakened.
The first and most important rule in making coffee is making sure that your coffeemaker is thoroughly clean. Any residue from your previous batch will spoil the flavor of your latest brew. The last thing you want is the bitter taste of the old coffee mixing and spoiling your new batch.
Next comes the fun part. You get too experiment on the proper proportion of water and coffee to match your taste. This can’t be dictated. Taste is individual. As soon as you find your perfect proportion, note that down.
Don’t let your brew sit too long. 15 minutes on a warmer and decaf begins to turn bitter. By making smaller amounts, you won’t have to let your brew sit too long. It will be better, not bitter.
Originally posted on June 21, 2006 @ 2:07 pm