Water temperature plays a crucial role in how your coffee tastes. Ever notice how cold brew coffee is so smooth? That’s because it’s never exposed to heat—avoiding bitterness caused by overheating. 

The Ideal Brewing Range 

To extract the best flavor from your beans, we recommend using water heated between 195°F and 205°F. If your brew tastes bitter, try reducing the temperature to the lower end of that range— around 195°F. 

Too hot? Water over 205°F can scorch the grounds, leading to bitterness and over-extraction. 

 

What If You Don’t Have a Temperature-Controlled Kettle? 

No kettle with a built-in thermometer? No problem. Just bring your water to a boil, then let it rest for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before pouring it over your grounds. This simple step helps keep your water within the sweet spot. 

If you're using an automatic drip or espresso machine, you may not have much temperature control—but as long as the machine is calibrated and functioning properly, you should still get great results. 

 

Still Tasting Bitterness? Check These Factors 

Water temperature isn’t the only thing affecting your cup. If adjusting it doesn’t help, consider the following: 

• Coffee Grounds Too Fine for Brewing Method 

• Brewed or Sat Too Long

• Coffee to Water Ratio

• Bean Quality

 

Fresh Beans Make a Big Difference

Even the perfect water temperature won’t fix stale beans. For the best results, always start with freshly roasted, organic coffee and grind it just before brewing.