Coffee

Americans brew about 400 million cups of coffee ... every day. That's 146 billion cups per year. For many, this daily ritual borders on a religious experience.

But how many are brewing in a way that results in heavenly coffee that's rich, smooth and delicious?

"Coffee is an essential ingredient in people's lives," says Chad Turnbull, co-president of Seattle's Storyville Coffee Company, "You drink it first thing in the morning. You drink it when you're meeting with friends or on the perfect date. You serve it to your guests when you gather together for the holidays. There's just something about being rewarded with an amazing cup of coffee."

Coffee Sins

Conversely, a bad cup of coffee can be a punishing experience. According to Turnbull, the most commonly committed sins of coffee preparation are:
1) "old" coffee
2) coffee that is pre-ground.

When coffee's roasted, there are oils that are retained in the beans. Those oils provide maximum flavor, but you have to use the beans within two to 12 days. Big coffee companies get around this by roasting the oil out of the beans. That's why most brands of coffee are long on shelf life (i.e. old), but short on flavor.

"We have a culture around coffee that is based on dairy, sweeteners, flavoring ... all designed to cover up a flaw in the roasting process," says Turnbull.

If your coffee is pre-ground, you're on shaky ground, Turnbull adds. "At Storyville, we tell people to grind the beans seconds before brewing. Each bean is like a little package of its own - a freshness package. When you grind the beans, you've unpacked it."

Coffee Brewing Tips

• Buy the right beans. If you don't start with phenomenal beans, you won't have a phenomenal cup of coffee.

• Use a French press. It allows for better extraction of the coffee's flavor. The extra work is worth it.

• Use bottled or filtered water. Upgrade your water. If you put nasty water in, it's going to affect the taste.