Why Your Coffee Tastes Different at Home (and How to Fix It)

You can buy the same beans, grind them up the same way they do at the shop, and somehow it still don’t taste right.

Ain’t nothin’ wrong with you. The trick’s in the details. Coffee’s picky, and a few small things can turn a great cup into a “what happened here?” kind of morning. Let’s go over it.

1. Grind Size
Your grind makes all the difference. If it’s too fine, your coffee turns bitter and harsh. Too coarse, and it’s weak and watery.
For drip or pour-over, aim for something that feels like coarse sand. Espresso likes it fine, French press likes it chunky.

2. Water Temperature
If your water’s too hot, you’ll burn the coffee. Too cool, and it won’t pull out the flavor.
Right around 195 to 205 degrees is perfect. Boil your water, let it sit about 30 seconds, then pour.

3. Water Quality
Your coffee’s mostly water, so if your tap tastes like a swimming pool, your coffee’s gonna taste the same.
Use filtered or spring water when you can. You’ll taste the difference the first time.

4. Brew Ratio
Don’t guess. The best coffee starts with the right balance.
Try one part coffee to sixteen parts water. That’s about 25 grams of coffee to 400 grams of water. Play with it till it hits just right for you.

5. Freshness
Old coffee’s like old cornbread. It’ll do in a pinch, but it sure ain’t the same.
Keep your beans sealed up tight and out of the sun. Grind what you need right before you brew.

Here at Howl & Bean, we roast small batches so every bag’s fresh, bold, and ready to wake you up right. But once it’s in your kitchen, that’s where the magic happens.

So take your time.
Tweak it. Taste it.
And make every cup worth the pour.

#HowlAndBean #FuelThePack #CoffeeForTheBold #SouthernBrew #BrewBetter