6 Reasons Your Coffee Tastes Bad (and How to Fix It)

If you love coffee, you want your morning to begin with a cup of deep, dark goodness. You may still be half asleep, but if you have your favorite coffee cup in your hand and you're inhaling that enticing aroma, you know the day is going to be ok. So, what is more disappointing than a cup of coffee where the taste doesn't meet your expectations? Here are six reasons why your coffee tastes bad and ways to improve it. 

1.    Your Coffee Beans Are Not Freshly Ground

To keep your coffee as fresh as possible, buy your beans whole and grind them yourself. Freshly ground beans will ensure the best possible taste. While this way of preparing your coffee will take a little extra time, it's going to lead to a much better cup of your favorite brew.

2.    Your Coffee Beans Aren't Fresh

With exposure to oxygen, roasted coffee beans will oxidize. Oxidization eventually makes the beans stale and is one reason why your coffee tastes bad. To ensure your beans stay fresh, store them in a cool, dry place in an airtight container.

3.    Your Coffee Beans Were Not Roasted Properly

If your coffee tastes bad because it is bitter, it may be because your beans weren't roasted well. Roasting is both a science and an art, and while a dark roast isn't bad per se, beans that are over-roasted can taste bitter or burnt. To find the right roast, experiment with different ones to see which you like the best.

4.    Your Equipment Is Not Clean

A dirty drip coffee maker, French press, or espresso machine can adversely change the taste of your drink. If your coffee tastes bad, embark on a “spring cleaning” of your coffee-making tools and keep them nice and clean in future.

5.    You Leave Your Coffee Sitting on the Warming Plate

It is probably tempting to brew a large pot of coffee in the morning and leave it on the warming plate of your coffee machine. However, if you want good-tasting coffee, it must be freshly brewed. Coffee that has been sitting around for too long will taste bitter.

6.    Your Water Quality Isn't Good Enough

Good coffee begins with good water. If water from your faucet tastes too much of chlorine, it's not going to do good things for the taste of your coffee. Use water that you enjoy drinking. This means that if you filter your drinking water, your coffee water should be filtered as well.

Your Coffee Tastes Bad: Final Thoughts

The above are the main things to pay attention to if your coffee tastes bad. To buy the best tasting, best-roasted coffee beans, check out what Operant Coffee's online store has to offer. We believe that if you love coffee, you deserve nothing less than a brew that tastes fantastic.