There's nothing worse than looking forward to a freshly brewed cup of coffee only to find it tastes bitter or sour. However, there are several causes of this undesirable taste, and we'll show you how to avoid them.

1. Grinding degree

If the grind is too coarse, coffee can taste sour or watery due to under-extraction. Under-extraction results in the coffee extracting primarily the acids rather than the bitter components. A grind that is too fine, on the other hand, results in the coffee being extracted for too long. This, in turn, releases unwanted bitter components. The correct grind size depends entirely on the preparation method (portafilter , filter , or fully automatic) .

2. Brewing temperature

The ideal water temperature for most brewing methods is between 92°C and 96°C. If the water is hotter, the coffee will taste bitter. If the water is colder than 85°C, the coffee will taste watery or sour. The water temperature has a significant influence on which and how many aroma compounds are released from the coffee. Depending on the water temperature, different aromas are released from the coffee.

3. Water

As you've probably already noticed, the water you use to brew your coffee has a significant impact on the taste of your cup of coffee. Using soft water (well below pH 7.0) can make your coffee taste sour, while hard water with a high mineral content can lead to a bitter taste. We therefore recommend a practical and affordable Brita water filter .

4. Roasting

For financial reasons, coffees in the industry are often "shock roasted" for a very short time and at high temperatures. This burns the coffee bean on the outside, resulting in a bitter taste, while the inside is still almost raw. As a result, the natural fruit acids are not fully broken down and escape to the outside during brewing, which in turn can lead to a sour taste. Therefore, we roast all our coffees using the slow and gentle drum roasting process, resulting in a wonderfully mild and balanced taste.

5. Bean

Robusta coffee has a darker and more bitter flavor than Arabica beans. Arabica varieties, on the other hand, have a fruitier and more complex flavor. Therefore, pay attention to the type of bean when choosing your coffee. Depending on your preference, you can choose a roast with a higher or lower Robusta content.