7 Tips For Brewing a Far Superior Cup of Coffee

Despite the common myth, storing beans in the freezer or fridge does not prolong their freshness. Rather, the change in temperature dulls the flavor. Instead, store beans in an airtight container in a cool, dark place or in the original sealed bag. Avoid buying beans in bulk — instead, consider a subscription — as coffee is at its best within two weeks of roasting.

Grind coffee fresh (as in the day of) for the best flavor, as once it's ground, it rapidly stales and loses flavor. Burr grinders are preferable to blade grinders; either are preferable to preground coffee.

Take care to grind coffee to an appropriate size for the brewing method. For espresso and espresso-based drinks like lattes and cappuccinos, go fine; for french press, use a coarse grind.

Instead of brewing coffee at a rolling boil, which will scorch it, aim to brew between 195°F and 205°F. This doesn't mean you need to break out a thermometer; instead, let the water come to a boil, cut the heat, and wait a minute or two before brewing.

To keep coffee hot longer, preheat your mug by filling it with hot water while the coffee brews. Dump it out before filling it with hot coffee.

If using a paper filter, rinse it with hot water before adding the grinds (discard the water). This gets rid of the papery taste.

If temperature or your preferences dictate iced coffee, choose cold brew over traditionally brewed coffee. Cold-brewed coffee is smoother, less bitter, and less acidic than the alternative as cold extraction is less harsh. Also, by cold brewing, you avoid diluting the coffee by chilling it down with ice cubes.