Mmm, your new coffee package has finally arrived – but after brewing it, the shock: your coffee tastes sour! We'll reveal the reasons why this might be and share 7 tips you need to avoid sour coffee in this week's blog post! Enjoy reading!
1. Your coffee has the wrong grind.
Coffee tastes sour if the grind is too coarse. This results in under-extraction, extracting primarily the acid rather than the bitter compounds. So check your grind size – you can find out how here.
2. Your water is too cold.
Perhaps you quickly hung up the laundry and then poured the previously boiled water over your coffee grounds. Big mistake, especially if your kettle doesn't have a temperature gauge! As a coffee lover, you know, of course, that your coffee shouldn't be brewed with boiling water and therefore let the water steep briefly. However, at a temperature below 85°C, your coffee will taste sour. To avoid a sour taste, you should aim for a water temperature of 92-96°C.
Could your water be too soft?
Yes, this can also cause your coffee to taste sour. If the pH value is below 7, it's worth considering using mineral granules. This will make the water harder and your coffee will no longer taste sour.
3. Your coffee is roasted too lightly for you.
Those who don't particularly prefer fruity coffees, but instead crave a "real" Italian espresso, won't be satisfied with a light roast. Light roasting doesn't extract all the fruit acids from the coffee, resulting in a sour taste. However, many coffee lovers enjoy this type of acidity, so it's not a matter of quality, but rather a matter of personal preference.
4. Your coffee is not gently roasted.
Especially with industrially roasted coffees, it's common for the coffee to taste sour. The rapid, high-temperature heating process chars the outer coffee bean, and the fruit acids inside aren't completely broken down – resulting in a sour taste! So, look for a gentle drum roasting method, like the one we use! You can find out more here .
5. You brewed too much coffee.
Your coffee will taste sour if you brew more than you can drink in the near future. Your coffee will be over-extracted and taste sour. So, brewing in advance is pointless. Stick to the amount of coffee you need for your consumption. A good rule of thumb is 60g per liter of water. You can easily calculate your quantities from this.
6. Your brewing pressure is too low.
For those who own a fancy espresso machine at home: Your coffee will taste sour if your brewing pressure isn't between 9 and 10 bar! Learn more about brewing with an espresso machine here .
7. The extraction time is too short.
This is another special case, for owners of portafilter machines. If your water is forced through the coffee grounds too quickly, your coffee will taste sour. Aim for a brewing time of 25-30 seconds.
As you can see, there are many reasons why your coffee might taste sour. We hope we've given you some helpful tips and tricks so you can always enjoy delicious coffee! Until next time!
Your SIMON & BEARNS Team
My coffee tastes sour - 7 insights into the perfect coffee
Mmm, your new coffee package has finally arrived – but after brewing it, the shock: your coffee tastes sour! We'll reveal the reasons why this might be and share 7 tips you need to avoid sour coffee in this week's blog post! Enjoy reading!
1. Your coffee has the wrong grind.
Coffee tastes sour if the grind is too coarse. This results in under-extraction, extracting primarily the acid rather than the bitter compounds. So check your grind size – you can find out how here.
2. Your water is too cold.
Perhaps you quickly hung up the laundry and then poured the previously boiled water over your coffee grounds. Big mistake, especially if your kettle doesn't have a temperature gauge! As a coffee lover, you know, of course, that your coffee shouldn't be brewed with boiling water and therefore let the water steep briefly. However, at a temperature below 85°C, your coffee will taste sour. To avoid a sour taste, you should aim for a water temperature of 92-96°C.
Could your water be too soft?
Yes, this can also cause your coffee to taste sour. If the pH value is below 7, it's worth considering using mineral granules. This will make the water harder and your coffee will no longer taste sour.
3. Your coffee is roasted too lightly for you.
Those who don't particularly prefer fruity coffees, but instead crave a "real" Italian espresso, won't be satisfied with a light roast. Light roasting doesn't extract all the fruit acids from the coffee, resulting in a sour taste. However, many coffee lovers enjoy this type of acidity, so it's not a matter of quality, but rather a matter of personal preference.
4. Your coffee is not gently roasted.
Especially with industrially roasted coffees, it's common for the coffee to taste sour. The rapid, high-temperature heating process chars the outer coffee bean, and the fruit acids inside aren't completely broken down – resulting in a sour taste! So, look for a gentle drum roasting method, like the one we use! You can find out more here .
5. You brewed too much coffee.
Your coffee will taste sour if you brew more than you can drink in the near future. Your coffee will be over-extracted and taste sour. So, brewing in advance is pointless. Stick to the amount of coffee you need for your consumption. A good rule of thumb is 60g per liter of water. You can easily calculate your quantities from this.
6. Your brewing pressure is too low.
For those who own a fancy espresso machine at home: Your coffee will taste sour if your brewing pressure isn't between 9 and 10 bar! Learn more about brewing with an espresso machine here .
7. The extraction time is too short.
This is another special case, for owners of portafilter machines. If your water is forced through the coffee grounds too quickly, your coffee will taste sour. Aim for a brewing time of 25-30 seconds.
As you can see, there are many reasons why your coffee might taste sour. We hope we've given you some helpful tips and tricks so you can always enjoy delicious coffee! Until next time!
Your SIMON & BEARNS Team