You love coffee. We love coffee.
So let’s talk about how not to ruin it. ☕💀
Whether you're new to the bean scene or a home-brewer with a sacred morning ritual, these are the things you should never do to your coffee. Like ever.
🧊 #1. Never Freeze & Thaw Beans Repeatedly
Freezing is okay if you do it right. But taking the beans in and out of your freezer causes condensation, which causes the death of flavor.
If you freeze your coffee to make it last longer, make sure you put it inside an airtight container first. Coffee beans absorb smells, so the last thing you want your coffee tasting like is your months-old meatloaf.
✅ If you must freeze, portion it out and keep it in an airtight container.
✅ No back-and-forth! Put your coffee in the freezer and take it out when you're ready to use.
🧅 #2. Avoid Storing Coffee in the Fridge
Coffee is porous and absorbs odors.
Your fridge is humid. It’s full of odors.
Can you see the problem? Stinky onion is not a popular coffee flavor.
✅ Store beans in an airtight container in a cool, dark place — not your fridge.
🧽 #3. Don’t Use Dirty Equipment
When was the last time you cleaned your coffee maker?
To get the best cup of coffee, your coffee maker needs to be cleaned on a regular basis, just like everything else in your kitchen.
You should give a quick wash to the filter basket, carafe, and lid after each use. I try to make it a habit to get rid of the grounds immediately after my coffee is done brewing, instead of leaving them in the machine to start molding.
Lastly, make sure to descale your coffee machine once per month, which removes mineral buildup from all the internal components. This means running a brew cycle of equal parts vinegar and water.
✅ Clean your grinder, machine, and carafe regularly. Please.
🔥 #4. Never Use Boiling Water
Using boiling water (212°F / 100°C) scalds your grounds and wrecks your flavor. That bitter, burnt taste? Yeah, that’s the crime.
Luckily, if you use a traditional drip coffee machine, then you won't run into this problem, as the machine heats the water to the appropriate temperature.
But please be careful if you brew with a French Press or use a pour-over technique, not to accidentally use boiling water.
🥶 #5. But Make Sure The Water Isn't To Cold
Using water that isn’t hot enough is also a big problem. If your water is too cool, it will not extract the flavor from your coffee beans, leaving you with a bitter, weak cup.
✅ Use water that is near boiling — around 195–205°F.
👎 #6. Don't Drink Cheap, Mass-Produced Coffee.
When you buy cheap coffee, you are asking for it to taste terrible. To mask the defects and flavor of the inferior bean, the coffee is severely over-roasted.
In fact, we've come up with EIGHT reasons why cheap coffee tastes so bad.
✅ Opt for a bean that has ripened naturally in the shade, allowing the natural oils and flavors to develop. At Beautiful Beast Coffee Company, it's the only type of coffee we offer. :)
💀 #7. Don’t Use Old, Stale Beans
Coffee beans have a shelf life, just like any other food. Oxygen is not their friend.
If your beans have been sitting on the shelf past their expiration date, it’s time to move on.
✅ Use fresh, whole beans roasted within the last few weeks.
✅ Store your coffee in an airtight container in a cool, dry place, such as in your pantry.
📏#8. Not Using Exact Measurements
Measuring the amount of coffee and water allows you to control the strength of your brew and create YOUR perfect cup. Once you find what you enjoy, make sure you make your coffee the same way, every day.
There is nothing worse than taking that first sip and realizing your "guestimate" was off, and now you are stuck with coffee that is too weak or too strong.
✅ Find your perfect coffee-to-water ratio, then measure out before brewing.
💧 #9. Avoid Bad Water
98% of your coffee is water. If your water tastes gross, so will your coffee.
✅ Use filtered water or good-quality spring water. Your taste buds will thank you.
🌀 #10. Don’t Use the Wrong Grind Size
Too fine? Bitter sludge. Too coarse? Sour soup. Grind size matters, folks.
✅ Match grind to brew method. Typical drip coffee maker = medium. French press = coarse. Espresso = fine.
Bonus Sins (Just Don’t):
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❌ Microwaving your coffee. You need to drink it faster or put it in a stainless steel cup that keeps the temperature hot.
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🍬 Drowning your coffee in sugar and cream. If you need 12 pumps of caramel to enjoy your coffee, I think you need a new coffee. Try better beans. Lighter roast. Different brew method. Explore!