Table of Contents
Introduction
what coffee mistakes beginners always make? This is a very normal query that usually generates in a very beginner’s mind but most of them don’t give importance to that query and then experience their first self-made coffee as a disaster. So, if you are going to explore that query before going towards your first coffee-making journey, you take your first right step.
Experts know every step of coffee making very deeply and because of that, they don’t make any kind of mistake. But when we talk about beginners, that case is slightly different. Usually, new coffee makers don’t even know the basic rules and they will be making some silly mistakes and just because they don’t even know the consequences, their coffee profile will end up as a disaster.
So, let’s explore what coffee mistakes beginners always make…
what coffee mistakes beginners always make
The list of common mistakes that usually make by beginners are given as follows:
Mistake 1: what coffee mistakes beginners always make regarding quality of coffee beans
Usually new coffee makers just take those coffee beans, which they can get immediately without considering their condition and quality. This mistake is commonly done by beginners unintentionally because they don’t even know the qualities of good fresh coffee beans. The qualities of a good coffee bean for making coffee are as follows:
Freshness: Coffee beans have many natural compounds that contribute to taste, texture and aroma. These compounds change over time and after a certain time period, the coffee beans become stale. Hence, it will not give you that kind of best result.
How long do coffee beans stay fresh?
The freshness of coffee beans can be judged by their physical condition, as well as the fact that you can find either fresh or old coffee beans by checking their expiry date or best before date that are mentioned on their packaging. Also, if a roasted date is mentioned in it, then consider it because recent roasting indicates it has still contained essential natural compounds.
How to identify fresh coffee vs stale coffee
This is another tricky factor for coffee beginners, it is not so complicated.
| Fresh coffee beans | Stale coffee beans |
| Fresh coffee beans with recent roasted has fresh dark outer shell | Dull or dry condition then it is sign of old or stale coffee |
| Fresh coffee beans have natural substance that produce delightful aroma (As per coffee bean and roasting type). | Coffee beans have no aroma or very light aroma then it’s definitely means it is stale. |
| Fresh coffee beans have dynamic bright and nuanced taste. | If it tastes like dull or papery then it is stale beans |
Mistake 2: what coffee mistakes beginners always make regarding selection of Whole coffee beans OR Pre-ground coffee confusion
Usually new coffee makers think there is no such major difference between both but there are some hidden factors that must be considered. Whole coffee beans and pre ground coffee are both good but whole coffee beans have one advantage. Because it is not ground for so long, natural elements are still present inside it, which will be directly extracted at the time of brewing.
In the case of pre ground coffee, natural elements are lost over time because it allows more surface area to react with exposed air and oxygen. But this does not mean that this will completely destroy the importance of pre ground coffee, if the pre-ground coffee is recently ground with proper packaging, then it is also providing a valuable profile. And if you don’t want to go for grinding by yourself, then it is an acceptable option for you.
But as an expert opinion, we advised going for fresh coffee beans and grinding them by yourself just before brewing to get maximum extraction.
Mistake 3: what coffee mistakes beginners always make regarding Storing coffee beans
This is also a common and unnoticeable mistake that new people usually make. As we discussed in the above section, exposure to air can ruin the freshness of coffee beans but not just air, it should be preventing oxygen, moisture, heat and excessive light. These all elements can damage the profile of coffee beans.
It is necessary to store it properly in a way that has no contact with heat, light, air or moisture. In common cases people do not properly close the mouth of the jar or seal the packed coffee beans where they are stored, they don’t give attention towards it and then it will end as a ruin to your coffee beans.
Mistake 4: what coffee mistakes beginners always make regarding water quality
Water is also an important factor that must be considered, all coffee bean compounds extract in water and it is necessary for perfect coffee that the quality and temperature of water should be accurate. For a beginner, you have to take clean fresh water with a temperature of approx. 90 to 96°C (195–205°F). This temperature is ideal to extract maximum coffee flavor.
Never try to go for too hot because it will burn the coffee elements or cause compound extraction to be too aggressive, resulting in over extraction of the coffee, which creates bitterness.
Mistake 5: what coffee mistakes beginners always make regarding wrong grind size
The three standard grind sizes are coarse, medium and fine. Remember, every brewing method has its own preferred grind size. As a coffee beginner, you must know the required coffee grind size as per your brewing method. Let’s take a go through it…
| Coarse grind size | Large particle like sea salt | Immersion type brew like French press & Cold brew etc |
| Medium grind size | Little bit smaller then coarse like granulated sugar | Flat bottom type brew like drip coffee or pour over coffee etc |
| Fine grind size | Smaller particle like fine sand | Stovetop type brew like expresso |
Mistake 6: what coffee mistakes beginners always make regarding coffee to water ratio
This is another common mistake that coffee beginners make. People who are going to make coffee for the first time don’t know the amount of coffee and water they should take. This measurement is extremely important. This will not just depend on the brewing type but it is also necessary to make the extract coffee profile you want.
Each brewing type has its own coffee to water ratio but for an idea, the ideal ratio is 1:15 or 1:17, meaning 1 gm of coffee with 255 gm of water or 20 gm of coffee with 340 gm of water. This ratio will provide you good strength with a delightful aroma. But remember, you must have to follow the steps of your brewing type properly.