Coffee is a brewed drink, that is prepared from roasted seeds or coffee beans. The caffeine content in coffee has a stimulating effect, due to which it has become one of the most popular beverages across the globe. To make coffee, ripe coffee berries are picked, processed, and dried. After which the seeds are roasted to varying degrees, to give rise to different flavors of coffee. The seeds are then ground. Ground coffee is then brewed to create the perfect cup of coffee! Let's take a look at how brewing is done. Brewing Coffee Instructions There are three main methods that are used to brew coffee, namely boiling, stepping, or pressure brewing, of which the boiling method was the oldest method employed. These days drip brewing has also become very popular. You can use any one of the methods to brew coffee at home, but there are some factors, that are common to all the methods. The quality of coffee used plays an important role in the quality of the coffee prepared. Freshly-roasted coffee is the secret to a flavorful and aromatic cup of coffee. Never purchase your coffee in bulk. It is always better to purchase small amounts of coffee grounds, so that it lasts for only 1 to 2 weeks. Moreover, the size of the grind also has an important role to play in the coffee. If the coffee taste bitter, it's probably because the coffee has been over-extracted or ground very fine. On the other hand, if the coffee tastes flat, it means it has been under-extracted. The water you use to prepare the coffee, also plays a significant role in the quality of coffee prepared. Always use filtered or bottled water, but do not use distilled or softened water. Moreover, if you are going to use tap water, let the water run for a few seconds, before you fill the coffee pot. The next in the line is the ratio of coffee to water. As a general rule, 1 to 2 tablespoons of ground coffee is used for every 6 ounces of water. You can make changes to these proportions according to your taste preferences. Maintaining appropriate water temperature between 195 to 205 degrees Fahrenheit, is required for optimal extraction of coffee. If the water is colder, then you will have flat under-extracted coffee. On the other hand, if the water is too hot, then it will result in flavor loss. While brewing coffee without a coffee machine, make sure you let the water come to a full boil, but this does not mean you allow the water to continue boiling. Once the water has come to a boil, turn off the heat and let the water rest for a minute, before you add coffee powder to it. Another important factor that affects the flavor of the coffee is the brewing time. Brewing time is the amount of time the water is in contact with the coffee grounds. If you are going to use the drip coffee brewing method, then the brewing time is 5 minutes. When making coffee using the espresso method, the brewing time is the shortest: 20 to 30 seconds. If you realize that the flavor of your coffee is not up to the mark, you're either over-extracting the coffee or under-extracting it. After brewing coffee, pour it into a warm mug or coffee cup, so that the temperature is maintained for a longer period of time. Brewed coffee starts losing its taste moments after it is brewed, hence it is recommended you brew only that much coffee, as required for immediate consumption. In case you do make extra coffee store it in a flask, but not store it for more than 45 minutes. Moreover, it's important not to reheat the coffee once it's made. If you are going to use the coffee machine to brew coffee, it's recommended you avoid brewing milk coffee in it. You can brew milk coffee in a pot instead, using one part coffee and one part milk. Boil the milk before you use it to prepare the coffee.