7 Things You’re Doing Wrong When Brewing Coffee at Home

To celebrate National Coffee Day we asked John Ferrara, the owner of Bad Ass Coffee in Wappingers Falls, to teach us how to make coffee at home that tastes just as good as it does at the coffee shop.

According to Ferrara, it all comes down to the details. While making coffee isn't rocket science, there are some simple mistakes you can make that will destroy that cup of morning Joe.

Buying cheap beans
Don't scrimp on the quality of your coffee beans. According to Ferrara, the best coffee is grown in higher elevations. Bad Ass coffee is grown in volcanic soil in the mountains of Hawaii. Ferrara says these optimal conditions create a bean that has just the right properties that lend itself to roasting.

Keeping your coffee in the refrigerator
An air-tight container with a gasket to let out the air and keep out the light is the best way to store your coffee. Putting your coffee in the freezer or refrigerator will not prolong its shelf life. Instead, the coffee will work like that brick of baking soda, absorbing all of the nasty odors and flavors of that leftover tuna casserole.

Not grinding your own beans
The thought of waking up early to grind your own beans before making that cup of coffee may seem ridiculous. Who has the time? Well, if you make the extra effort Ferrara says that it will totally be worth it. As soon as the beans are ground they begin to lose their flavor. If you can't grind them every morning, consider grinding enough beans each weekend so they'll last throughout the week.

Using tap water
Your cup of coffee is mostly water, so if your tap puts out water that's too soft or you have hard water full of minerals you're probably destroying that cup of coffee. If you don't usually drink water from your tap, don't use it for coffee. Water that's been filtered in one of those Brita jugs is best. If you love to throw away money you can also buy jugs of bottled water to make your morning coffee.

Buying paper filters
Those white paper filters can transfer unwanted flavors into your cup. Some claim the bleached white filters give their coffee an "off" flavor. You can use natural brown filters or, as Ferrara suggests, purchase a reusable gold plated filter. Just make sure to keep it clean. Running vinegar through the machine will get rid of any buildup.

Using not enough grounds
Trying to make your coffee budget stretch by holding back on the amount you use to brew is a mistake. The proper cup of coffee is made with one tablespoon per six ounces of water. No more, no less.

Not getting your water hot enough
If you have an old coffee maker that's not putting out enough heat throw it away. Ferrara says that you shouldn't think about brewing coffee at any temperature less than 200 degrees. And make sure you drink it while it's still warm. Once it gets cold don't even bother reheating it in the microwave, you'll zap out all of the flavor.