Why does coffee in Europe tastes FRESHER than in the USA ?!
Answers: We tried to buy the freshest coffee possible to enjoy the aroma of it. Even Starbucks coffee doesn't taste as good as European coffee. We bought a pound of that desicious coffee in Germany and brewed it here in California. It tastes as bad as any other, "old" coffee. Why does the same coffee taste better in Germany than here? (Same batch, same date, same brand)
Terry T nailed it. I will answer your question further but with coffee / espresso, one needs to know all the variables before a correct answer can be given.
1 Time from harvest to 'date of roast' to grind to brew?
2 Filtered water or unfiltered?
3 Grind consistency and size?
4 Brew temp?
5 Extraction method?
6 Extraction time?
7 Origin of beans?
8 Level of roast?
9 Roasting profile?
10 Cupping notes?
Answer all questions for both coffees you had (the one in CA and the one in Germany).
Answer these and I'll be able to tell you exactly what went wrong.
Here's the coffee I had this morning for example and in the same question format as above:
1 Harvest - 09/2007, roasted - 01/07/2008 (home roaster), ground 01/15 this morning, brewed immediately
2 Filtered water
3 Grind consistency : excellent, type: coarse grind
4 Brew temp 195f
5 French Press extraction method
6 5:00 minute extraction time
7 Colombian Supremo w/ Kenya AA and Ethiopian Yirgacheffe
8 Roast level: City+, Cinnamon, Full City (respectively)
9 Roast profiles: Slow ramped 14:00, 11:00, 16:00 (respectively)
10 Caramels, cashew, bright citrus, apple winey, balanced, medium acidity, medium to big bodied. Overall I rate this cup 85 out of 100.
See? That's how you describe a cup of coffee. And guess what? I couldn't find a 'great' cup of coffee in Germany. Lots of good to very good but none great.
'Cause Europeans are awesome! Not EVERYTHING in the U.S. is the same or better than stuff in Europe!
It's all in the water that they use. The cleaner the water, the better tasting the coffee will be.
Coffee is 98% water.
If you can, try using filtered or bottled water and see how much a difference it makes.
When hi-class restaurants that use fresh roasted coffee serve their patrons, they serve fresh roasted. When most places sell bulk or bagged roasted coffee they sell the oldest stuff first.
Also, if you were using coffee from the same bag or same roast date in Germany then in California you were drinking older coffee in california. How many days difference was it from the pot you drank in Germany and the pot you drank in California?
This is one of the things people can't through their Folgers propaganda minds. Fresh ain't forever with coffee.
O.K. here is the break-down; Fresh roasted whole beans....up to 2 weeks then they start a big downhill slid in quality and taste.
Fresh roasted whole beans that have been pre-ground...they are going south as they are being put in the bag. Really. As the air begins to mingle with the grounds the flavor starts going away.
Water does have a lot to do with the coffee, but if you like the taste of your water, plain, then you will probably like your coffee unless it is really high in minerals.
Now, do you really want "Fresh" coffee????? Do what I do, roast your own. You can buy a $500 roaster or a $3.00 second hand Air pop Popcorn popper. Really it's that simple. Roast up some green coffee beans, let them rest a couple of days and grind them and brew them up...Now that is fresh.
As noted in your other question ...Temperature...If your not brewing with 200 to 205 degree F. water your wasting your time. Most US coffee makers in the home don't get past 165. I guess they are afraid your burn yourself. Stinking trial lawyers...Also put some grounds in the basket. Get it to 7 grams per 6 ounces of water. Do go cheap, put in the grounds and get the flavor you deserve.
As noted in the other Q., TECHNIVORM ..you can get it at the link below also...
well, of course your coffee won't taste good here, if you are buying starbucks coffee, that stuff is way to roasted. try getting it from a local coffee shop, that gets their coffee fresh roasted, or a local coffee roaster.
Water and temperature.