Black coffee is made by brewing ground coffee beans with hot water, without any added milk, cream, or sugar. Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to making black coffee:
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Choose your coffee beans: Select your favorite coffee beans. The type of beans will affect the flavor, so choose based on your personal taste preferences.
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Grind the beans: Use a coffee grinder to grind the beans to a medium coarseness, similar to granulated sugar. Grinding right before brewing ensures the coffee is fresh and flavorful.
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Boil water: Heat water to just below boiling, around 200°F (93°C). If you don’t have a thermometer, bring the water to a boil, then let it sit for 30 seconds to cool slightly.
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Brew the coffee: Depending on your brewing method, you’ll add the ground coffee and hot water:
- Drip coffee maker: Place the ground coffee in the filter and pour water into the machine’s reservoir. Turn it on to brew.
- French press: Add about 1-2 tablespoons of ground coffee for every 6 oz of water into the press. Pour in the hot water, stir, place the lid on, and let it steep for 4 minutes. Press down the plunger to separate the grounds from the coffee.
- Pour-over: Place a coffee filter in a dripper (like a Chemex or V60), add the ground coffee, and slowly pour hot water over the grounds in a circular motion. Let the water filter through.
- Espresso: For a strong, concentrated black coffee, use an espresso machine. Add finely ground coffee to the portafilter, tamp it down, and pull a shot of espresso.
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Serve: Once brewed, pour the coffee into your mug. It’s now ready to drink as a pure, black coffee. No milk, cream, or sweeteners are added to keep it traditional.
Enjoy your coffee!
