How To Make Office Coffee Taste Better

With just a few simple steps, you can improve the taste of the coffee in your office. Check out our five tips below on how to make office coffee taste better:

At A Glance: How to Make Office Coffee Taste Better

1. Use filtered water instead of tap water

2. Make sure your coffee maker is clean inside and out

3. Grind coffee just before brewing

4. Use the right water-to-coffee ratio and at the right temperature

5. Brew fresh coffee, or use a thermal pot

1. Use Filtered Water

This is one of the easiest ways to make office coffee taste better. Tap water has additives and sediments that affect the way coffee tastes. By using filtered or distilled water, you can eliminate unwanted flavors in your coffee. Consistently using filtered water also reduces mineral build-up on inside the machine, which also affects taste.

2. Clean the Coffee Maker

Residual coffee oils and minerals from the water build up over time and can significantly alter the taste of coffee. A clean machine will always produce a better end result. Most coffee services include equipment cleaning for this reason.

Each coffee machine has its own cleaning instructions, so be sure to follow the instructions from the manufacturer. Most manufacturers suggest three main steps to cleaning any coffee machine:

– Descale the machine. This will remove the mineral build-up inside the machine. You can descale a machine with one part vinegar and one part water, or purchase a decalcifying solution. To do this, fill the reservoir with the solution and run it like you are brewing a cup of coffee. Next, run only hot water through the machine to remove the lingering vinegar scent or decalcifying solution.

– Clean removable parts. Depending on the type of machine you have, it may have removable parts like a filter, funnel, or drip tray. Remove these parts and clean them. Tip: Use the same vinegar and water solution to get rid of the coffee grime and hard water deposits.

– Clean the exterior of the machine. Unplug and wipe down the down the exterior of the machine, including the backside, to remove spills, germs, and mineral deposits that could make their way into your cup.

3. Grind Coffee Just Before Brewing

If you are starting with whole beans, then this tip is for you. Grinding coffee releases the bean’s flavor compounds and aromas. The shorter the period of time between grinding and brewing, the fresher the coffee will taste and the more flavor is retained. The best way to capture the full aromatics of a coffee is by brewing it soon after grinding it. For the workplace that wants a streamlined, time-saving way to grind coffee, consider bean-to-cup machines, which have grinders built in to grind beans just before brewing.

4. Use the Right Water-to-Coffee Ratio and Brew at the Right Temperature

If your machine requires manual measuring and/or temperature setting, then these tips are key to making office coffee taste better:

Coffee to Water Ratio

A good rule of thumb is two tablespoons of ground coffee per 6 ounce cup of coffee. If you like your coffee strong, try increasing the ground coffee amount. It’s hard to say exactly what amount will be right for you, so start from the 2-tablespoon base and slowly add from there. Also, a truly great cup of coffee will be brewed with filtered or distilled water.

Brewing Temperature

205 degrees (Fahrenheit) is the optimal temperature for brewing coffee. Water between 195 and 205 degrees F will work the best, but the closer to 205, the better. Coffee machines are programmed to brew at these temperatures, so you likely won’t have to adjust this manually. However, if your machine displays the water temperature, then look for a reading between 195 and 205 degrees.

If you’re making iced coffee, then follow the same brewing guidelines, but chill or bring the coffee back down to room temperature before pouring over ice.

5. Brew Fresh Coffee, or Use a Thermal Pot

Coffee tastes best when it is consumed soon after being brewed. Exposure to air, as well as cooling and reheating, will detract from the coffee’s taste. It can be difficult to maintain fresh coffee for the office throughout the workday, but there are a couple of ways to maximize freshness:

– Use single serve coffee machines. These machines make individual cups brewed-to-order for guaranteed freshness.

Use an airpot machine, which uses a sealed and insulated pot to keep coffee warm and fresh.

A sealed pot keeps the coffee from going stale, and the insulation keeps it warm without burning the coffee with constant heat