5 tips for making good filter coffee

The basics of coffee brewing are theoretically the same for both espresso and filter coffee. Hot water is poured over ground coffee, which then seeps through the ground beans and a filter, falling into a pot or cup.

The main difference is that gravity does the work with filter coffee. Because there's no pressure used for this type of coffee, unlike with espresso, the brewing time for filter coffee is slightly longer. The time the water has to draw out the flavours allows you to better taste the nuances in the coffee. See here for the best filter coffee machines.

1. Keep your coffee beans fresh

Store your coffee beans away from sunlight, heat sources, and in an airtight container to preserve their fresh aromas for as long as possible. Light, air, and heat cause coffee to stale. Also, don't store your coffee beans in the kitchen cupboard next to your spices, as coffee quickly absorbs flavours.

2: Use the correct grind size

For most filter coffee brewing methods, you need a slightly coarser-than-average grind, similar to the coarseness of table salt. If the coffee is ground too coarsely, the water will drain through too quickly, resulting in weak coffee. If it's ground too finely, the water will drain through too slowly, resulting in too bitter coffee. Each filter coffee brewing method has its own grind size.

Ideally, choose whole beans instead of ground coffee, and grind it yourself with your own coffee grinder just before making your cup. Ground coffee loses its flavour faster than whole beans.

3: Choose the right amount of coffee

To determine the strength of your coffee, you can use more or less ground coffee. The most common ratio is 1:15 (one part coffee to 15 parts water, or about 60 grams per liter of water). It's up to you to add more or less to make your coffee stronger or weaker. Use a scale to measure the correct amount instead of a scoop, which is less consistent.

4: Prepare the coffee

Most automatic coffee machines immediately start pouring water onto the coffee grounds. Making coffee manually requires a pre-infusion, or "bloom." Pouring a small amount of water onto the ground coffee allows any remaining carbon dioxide to escape, preventing this gas from blocking the water during brewing, resulting in weaker coffee. Also, wet the filter before adding the coffee grounds to remove any papery taste.

5: Use the correct water temperature

The ideal water temperature for coffee is between 90 and 96 degrees Celsius. Water that's too hot will burn the coffee, and water that's too cold won't extract enough flavour from the ground coffee. The Sage Smart Kettle has five different settings for the ideal temperature.

Water quality is often overlooked. Using a filter and descaling your machine ensures the best flavour. Hard water, full of minerals, doesn't bind well with the soluble particles in coffee, resulting in a weaker flavour. Limescale also causes buildup and clogs your machine.