That black plastic Mr. Coffee machine on your countertop might not look like much, but it's capable of making a pretty decent cup of coffee—if you know how.
With just a little bit of effort, you can make a pot of coffee that rivals anything from your favorite coffee shop. Well, maybe not, but it'll be a hell of a lot better than what you're probably used to getting out of it—I promise.
Here's how to get the best caffeine experience possible with a regular ol’ coffee maker.
1. First things first: clean that machine.
Clean your machine. This is probably the most overlooked step in making good coffee from your boring old coffee maker. If your machine is caked with years of built-up coffee residue, it's going to significantly affect the taste of your brew. So take a few minutes to clean it out before you start brewing.
I know, I know—it's a pain in the ass and you just don't have the time. But trust me, taking five minutes to clean out your coffee maker will make a world of difference in the taste of your coffee. Just run it through a cycle with vinegar and water and call it good.
2. Cheap, pre-ground coffee just isn't going to cut it.
Just because your coffee maker is basic doesn't mean your coffee has to be. Make sure to use good quality coffee beans, and grind them fresh if possible. Freshly-ground whole beans will always produce a better cup of coffee than pre-ground coffee that's been sitting on a shelf—as long as they’re not too fresh.
This is why we offer fresh roasted whole bean with a kick of caffeine to strengthen your morning cup.
3. Use more coffee than usual.
If you're used to making weak, watery coffee, it's time to step it up and use more coffee grounds. A good rule of thumb is to use about twice as much coffee as you normally would. This will result in a stronger, more flavorful cup of coffee. Easy, right?
Tip: And if you're really looking for a bolder caffeine experience, use dark roast coffee beans.
4. Don't let the coffee sit on the heat after it's brewed.
This is a big one. Once your coffee is done brewing, remove it from the heat immediately. If you let it continue to sit on the hot plate, it will start to become bitter and burnt tasting. So pour yourself a cup and enjoy!
Or if you're not going to drink it right away, transfer it to a thermal carafe to keep it warm. But whatever you do, don't leave it sitting on the coffee maker.
Final Thoughts
With just a few little tweaks, you can brew a pot of coffee that's miles ahead of what you're used to making at home.
Again, It may not be the best coffee you've ever had—in fact, it almost certainly won't be—but it'll be a damn sight better than what you're used to getting out of a drip coffee maker. And that's really all you can ask for if you refuse to upgrade to a better brewing method, like an Espro Press, a pour over brewer, or the AeroPress—which is under $40 for crying out loud and will make coffee that's at least 5x better than what you can reasonably expect from a regular drip brewer.
But hey, if you're happy with your Mr. Coffee, more power to you. Just don't settle for making subpar coffee with it—you deserve better. Follow the steps above, and you can make drip coffee that's more than just “tolerable.” You can make drip coffee that's actually pretty damn good.
And isn't that what we all want out of life? To be able to make pretty damn good coffee without having to put in too much effort? Probably.
Now get out there and brew. Brew with abandon. And may the coffee gods smile upon your lack of effort.
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