Question:

I bought some coffee beans that made bitter tasting coffee.  Is there anything that I can do to make coffee with these beans that tastes less bitter? What do I need to know about bitter coffee?

Answer:

Exactly what makes coffee bitter is still being researched and many questions remain. Coffee has complex flavors that researchers are trying to understand.

Some coffees will taste more bitter than others, and some people experience bitter flavors more intensely and with a more unpleasant reaction. Some people actually like a bitter edge to their coffee.

Research into bitter flavors, and past experience with coffee making offer these suggestions for making coffee less bitter.

1. The roast matters. You may want to try medium roasted coffee, which has less soluble solids, a higher acid content, and a potent aroma when compared to darkly roasted coffee.  These factors all are known to reduce perceived bitterness.
2. Consider decaf. The process of decaffeination slightly reduces perceived coffee bitterness.
3. Buy beans that have been soaked. When the manufacturer allows coffee beans to soak in fresh water for approximately 24 hours after the fermentation process--as is done in Kenya--this can reduce coffee bitterness.
4. Try a different coffee maker. The least bitter coffee is probably the drip system, when compared to French press or percolation. This is likely due to the decrease in soluble solids, which correlates to bitterness.
5. Avoid finer grinds. A coarser coffee grind generally reduces coffee bitterness. Generally the faster the brewing process, the finer the grind will be needed. For example, espresso machines require finely ground coffee particles, but a French Press should use coursely ground beans.

Source: www.coffeeresearch.org/science/bittermain.htm

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