If the world of coffee has a doorway, black coffee is the key. It helps you taste the delicate coffee flavours in all its intricacies without anything coming between you and the brew.
Around the world, many people start their day with a cup of black coffee. It is energizing, healthy and extremely delectable. It is arguably the most common kind of coffee drink.
So, let's delve deeper to understand what exactly black coffee is and how it is different from other coffee beverages.
What is Black Coffee?
Black coffee is simply coffee with no milk, cream or any other additives. Sometimes, it is referred to as plain coffee. Drinking black coffee is one of the best ways to analyse the taste and quality of the coffee beans.
The beverage has a strong and bold flavour. It is usually served hot, although it can be enjoyed over iced.
Black Coffee vs Americano
Black coffee and Americano may seem like the same drink at the first glance. However, they have distinct tastes and they differ in preparation methods.
Black Coffee
There are a few different ways to prepare black coffee. A popular method is brewing via the brew bag method. Here, hot water is poured over ground coffee beans and placed in a brew bag. The brew bag acts as a filter and lets only the brewed coffee through it. The resulting cup is called black coffee.
Other common methods to brew black coffee include French Press, Pour Over and AeroPress.
Americano
On the other hand, Americano is made by adding a shot of espresso to a cup of hot water. It results in milder coffee than black coffee.
Due to the way it is prepared, Americano is relatively heavier and has a more earthy taste than black coffee. However, the taste comes down to the coffee beans used.
How to Brew Black Coffee?
We can brew a great cup of black coffee using a French Press. A popular coffee brewer loved by beginner as well as seasoned home brewers. Here’s how we can brew black coffee:
What Do You Need?
- French Press
- Kettle
- Water
- Coffee Beans
- Grinder (manual/burr)
Steps to Brew:
- Start by boiling the water in a kettle or on your stove
- Grind your coffee beans fresh before brewing
- Check the water temperature. If you do not have a thermometer, you can let the water cool down for a minute after boiling it
- Add the ground coffee to the French Press
- Pour hot water into the French Press and stir it gently
- Then, place the lid and let the coffee steep for about 4 minutes
- Press the plunger down slowly to separate the coffee grounds and the brew
- Your black coffee will be ready to serve and enjoy
Pro Tips:
- Suitable Grind Size - Coarse
- Suitable Water Temperature - Coarse
- Suitable Coffee-to-Water Ratio - 1:12
Best Brewers for Black Coffee
To brew brilliant cups of black coffee, there are multiple brewers available for you. French Press is only one of them, the rest include:
- Brew Bags- Brew Bags are generally made of paper. We add the coffee ground in the brew bag placed on a cup and run hot water through it to brew coffee quickly. It is considered the best place to start brewing your own black coffee.
- Drip Coffee Maker- A widely used coffee maker in many western households, drip coffee makers are known for their ease of use. It comes with a paper filter and a carafe to hold the dripping brew.
- Pour Over- In this method, we pour hot water over coffee grounds through a paper filter and into a carafe below. It is popular for the mellow and complex flavours it brings out.
- AeroPress- A relatively new brewing method, AeroPress uses pressure to extract flavours from the coffee grounds. It is known for being convenient to use and carry around.
- MokaPot- It is a stovetop coffee maker that brews black coffee using a pressurized stream. The black coffee obtained through Moka Pot is thicker than other brewers.
Closing Lines
In a nutshell, black coffee has only two ingredients - water and coffee. This perfect combination helps you fully indulge in the flavours and aroma of the coffee without anything tainting your brew.
How do you like to brew your black coffee?
