How to Make Coffee Less Bitter

I used to hate coffee. I mean really hate it. That first sip always felt like a personal attack—bitter, burnt, and just plain awful. For years, I thought coffee and I were simply not meant to be. But then I had a revelation: I don’t actually hate coffee—I hate bad coffee.

Bitter Coffee? Here Are 8 Mistakes You Might Be Making

Here’s the thing—bitterness is part of coffee’s natural profile. The problem isn’t that coffee is bitter; it’s when that bitterness completely takes over, drowning out the rich, complex flavors that make a good cup so satisfying. The good news? It doesn’t have to be that way. There are simple ways to make sure your coffee is smooth, balanced, and actually enjoyable. Let’s fix your coffee together.

The Recipe for Perfect Coffee

Nobody likes a bitter cup of coffee—unless you enjoy disappointment first thing in the morning. This article covers 8 common mistakes that can ruin your brew, so you don’t have to suffer through another sad sip. But…… if you’d rather skip straight to making the perfect cup of coffee, I’ve got you covered!

Click here for my traditional Brazilian pour-over recipe—a foolproof method that delivers a smooth, flavorful brew every time. No fancy gadgets, no big investment—just good coffee, the way it should be. ☕✨

✅1. Choose the Right Coffee Beans

The foundation of your coffee starts with the coffee beans you choose. 

• 📌Opt for Arabica beans – They tend to be sweeter and less bitter than Robusta beans, so opting for these can help reduce the overall bitterness of your brew. My personal favorite is Carvalho Coffee, but, you can find other good ones of course.

• 📌Pick the right roast – The roast level of the beans also plays a big role in the bitterness of coffee—darker roasts will naturally have more bitter flavors because of the longer brewing time and higher heat used during the roasting process. If you’re after a more balanced coffee taste, medium roasts are a better choice. These roasts showcase the coffee’s true flavors and reduce bitter notes in the cup.

• 📌Use fresh, high-quality beans –Use fresh, high-quality beans – Stale beans can taste stale or unpleasantly bitter. When buying coffee, always check the roasting date, not the best-before date. Coffee is at its best 3-30 days after roasting. After four weeks, the beans start losing their flavor complexity.

📌🔥 Tip: Always buy whole beans with a visible roast date, store them properly, and grind them just before brewing for the best flavor.

✅ 2. Store Your Coffee Beans Properly

• 📌Coffee beans are sensitive: Once you have your coffee beans, proper storage is key to preserving their flavor. They are highly sensitive to oxygen, moisture, and strong odors, which can degrade their taste or, worse, cause them to absorb unwanted smells—leading to an unpleasant cup of coffee.

• 🔥 Tip: Store your beans in an opaque, airtight container (I just use the bag it comes in!) and keep them in a cool, dry place.
  • 🚫 Avoid:
    • The fridge—coffee absorbs odors like a sponge!
    • The spice cabinet—unless you want cinnamon-clove-flavored coffee.
    • Above the oven or near the dishwasher—heat and moisture speed up staleness.

A little storage care goes a long way in keeping your coffee tasting fresh! ☕✨

✅3. Use the Right Grind Size

• 📌The grind size you use has a direct impact on the brewing process. If your grind is too fine for your brewing method, you risk over-extracted coffee that can lead to bitter coffee. If the grind is too coarse you will probably end up with a sour tasting cup of coffee.

• 📌 Each brewing method has its ideal grind size, and using the wrong size can result in a bad cup of coffee.

🔥Tip: Experiment with grind sizes to find the best flavor balance. You can click here to see a chart that matches grind size to your preferred brewing method.

✅ 4. Brewing Temperature

The water temperature can make a huge difference in the taste of your coffee. If the water is too hot (above 194°F or about 90°C), it will extract a bitter compound in coffee. This can result in more bitter taste than you want. On the flip side, cold water or water that’s not hot enough will not extract enough flavor, leading to sour coffee/weaker coffee.

🔥Tip: Brew your coffee with filtered water at the ideal temperature—around 194°F. The best way to ensure your coffee is brewing at the right temperature is by using a coffee maker or kettle with temperature control or by boiling your water and letting it cool slightly before pouring it over your coffee grounds.

✅5. Don’t Overbrew

Overbrewing coffee leads to over-extracted coffee, which brings out those bitter, harsh compounds nobody wants in their cup. The key? Brewing for the right amount of time—it’s all about hitting that sweet spot for balanced flavor. Different brew methods require different times, so always follow the recommended brew time for your method.

🔥 Tip: Never let coffee sit in the brewer too long! Once brewed, coffee that’s exposed to air continues to oxidize and break down, making it taste stale and bitter. For the best flavor, serve fresh and enjoy immediately or at the very least use an airtight container/thermos/carafe!

✅ 6. Use the Golden Ratio

The amount of coffee and water you use has a huge impact on flavor. Too many grounds? Your coffee turns bitter. Too few? It’ll taste weak and flat. While there’s no strict rule, a great starting point is the golden ratio of 1:15—one part coffee to fifteen parts water.

💡 As described in my favorite coffee recipe, I like to use:
📌 20g of high-quality, freshly ground coffee
📌 320ml of hot water

🔥 Tip: Adjust to taste! Want a stronger cup? Add a little more coffee—but don’t go overboard. Too much can extract those bitter compounds, leaving you with a harsh brew. [Click here for my

🔥 Tip: If you prefer a weaker coffee, instead of using fewer grounds (which can lead to under-extraction and a dull taste), just add a splash of hot water after brewing. This way, you keep all the rich flavors intact without ending up with a weak, underwhelming cup! full recipe!]

✅7. Make Sure Your Equipment is Clean

Coffee equipment—whether it’s a coffee grinder, coffee maker, or espresso machine—needs to be cleaned regularly. Old coffee oils can build up and become rancid, leading to a bitter cup and an unpleasant flavor. Make sure you’re cleaning your equipment after each use to prevent stale beans from impacting your coffee’s taste.

🔥 Tip: Regularly clean your equipment with warm water and mild soap. For a deep clean, use cleaning tablets designed for espresso machines or coffee makers.

✅8. Enjoy Your Coffee Fresh

• 📌 Use fresh, high-quality beans – Stale beans can lead to unpleasant bitterness or just taste flat.
• 📌 Always check the roasting date when buying coffee—don’t confuse it with the best before date! Coffee is best enjoyed 3–30 days after roasting, as beans start losing their flavor complexity after four weeks.
• 📌 Tip: Once you open the package, brew your coffee within 1–2 weeks for the best taste. After opening, beans begin to oxidize, and each day the quality declines. Keep them sealed in an airtight container to slow this process!
• Lastly, enjoy your coffee as soon as it’s brewed. If you leave it sitting on a hot plate for too long, the coffee will continue to cook and become bitter, turning a good cup of coffee into a bad cup of coffee. The best brews are always fresh!

🔥Tip: Only brew the amount of coffee you plan to drink. If you have leftover coffee, it’s better to store it in a thermal carafe and drink it within a couple of hours, rather than letting it sit on a hot plate.

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Final Thoughts: By following these tips and paying attention to the details—from choosing the right coffee bean variety to controlling your brewing process, grind size, and brewing time—you can drastically reduce coffee’s bitterness and enjoy a more flavorful and good cup of coffee every time. Whether you’re using espresso machines, a French press, or a coffee maker, these adjustments will help you create a cup of coffee that’s not only less bitter, but also full of rich, vibrant flavors that will make you fall in love with your cup all over again.