KitchenAid KCM534OB Use & Care Guide - Page 13

ENGLISH Coffee Brewing Suggestions: Advice for Great Taste Fresh Coffee Beans Truly great coffee can only come from fresh coffee beans. To preserve the freshness of your coffee beans, keep the beans in an opaque, air-tight container and store them in a cool, dry place. Refrigeration is not recommended, as condensation tends to form on the beans whenever the container is opened. Freezing can help preserve beans stored for an extended period, but it will also impair the flavor. The Right Grind The best cup of coffee comes from coffee beans that are properly ground just before brewing. Grinders like the KitchenAid® Blade Coffee Grinder, PRO LINE® Series Burr Coffee Mill, or the KitchenAid® Model A-9® Coffee Mill offer excellent results. When grinding, be sure to grind your coffee to a medium grind level - the appropriate grind for automatic drip coffee makers. The Proper Amount of Ground Coffee A good starting point is one scoop of coffee for every cup of brew water marked on the carafe or the water filter guide. Finer grinds usually require less coffee, but may also produce bitterness and clog the filter. For weaker coffee, brew using the suggested ratio of coffee grounds and water, then dilute with hot water. This maximizes flavor and minimizes bitterness. Brew Water Purity For better tasting coffee, use the ionexchange water filter that comes with your Coffee Maker. It reduces contaminants, softens the water, and enhances flavor. Be sure to replace the filter promptly every three months. Where local water is extremely poor, you may wish to use bottled water. Do not use distilled water or mineral water since they can damage your Coffee Maker. Coffee Maker Cleanliness Since the coffee oils that build up on the brew basket and carafe can go stale and impair the flavor of the brewed coffee, it's important that these two items are cleaned daily in order to make the besttasting coffee. 11