Alton Brown performing at Whitney Hall
FOOD NEWS
Make A Better Cup Of Coffee With Alton Brown's Tricks
BY Amy Bell
Water
Brown uses a simple plastic filter pitcher like a Brita Metro Water Filter Pitcher to remove the chlorinated taste from tap water.
You could also use bottled water if it's nice-tasting and isn't too alkaline/hard. For the best flavor, consider whether your water for brewing coffee is hard or soft.
Beans & Grinder
Brown never buys pre-ground coffee; instead, he buys a week's supply of whole beans to always have the freshest-tasting cup of coffee.
He stores the beans away from factors like heat that can change the flavor. You should also grind them right before you brew to take advantage of all the flavor in the oils.
Grind
Another factor to consider is the grind level. If your coffee is too sour, too bitter, or isn't as strong as you want, then the grind level may be to blame.
A finer grind can help if it's under-extracted and tastes weak or sour; a coarser grind might be the solution if your coffee is over-extracted and tastes more bitter.
Salt
Brown adds salt to make the coffee taste less bitter. This can work even after you've brewed your coffee by adding just a sprinkle to it to try to get that perfect balance.
Adding salt either before or after works because the salt taste suppresses the bitterness while enhancing any sweet flavor in the coffee.
Paper Filters
According to Brown, the best brew is made with a paper coffee filter. He opts for unbleached paper coffee filters like Melitta Basket Coffee Filters.
Reusable metal filters have the disadvantage of allowing more coffee grounds through. They also allow more of the oils to get through, which can change the flavor of each sip.