If your coffee is too bitter, try different
beans. Photo by Klaus Post | SXC.

The level of bitterness in coffee is a result of the bean variety, how it is processed and roasted, the brewing method, temperature and the chemical content of the water.

If you’d like a less bitter cup, here are some tips from the Coffee Research Institute:

• Buy a medium-roast arabica coffee, brew using a drip system and try a coarser grind.
• Don’t use distilled water. While logic might say it makes better coffee, hard and soft water have chemicals that cancel out the bitterness.

Read more about how to make better coffee, and find much more information about coffee (plus recipes) in our Gourmet Coffee Section.