Home Brew Mistakes That Ruin Great Coffee — And How to Fix Them

Brewing exceptional coffee at home doesn’t require high-end equipment or a barista certification. But it does call for a bit of precision. Every day, coffee lovers unknowingly ruin great beans with a few avoidable mistakes. The good news? Small tweaks can make a huge difference in taste.

Here are three of the biggest coffee brewing mistakes—and how to fix them for a consistently delicious cup.

1. Guessing Your Coffee-to-Water Ratio

Your coffee-to-water ratio is the backbone of every great cup. Yet too many home brewers rely on scoops instead of measurements, leading to inconsistent flavour, weak brews, or overpowering bitterness.

The fix? Use a digital scale. Weigh both your coffee and water for accuracy. A solid starting point is a 1:16 ratio (1 gram of coffee per 16 grams of water). From there, tweak it to match your preference and brewing method. This one step will instantly improve your home brewing game.

2. Ignoring Brew Ratios

If your coffee tastes too weak, too bitter, or just off, the culprit is often an improper brew ratio. Even premium coffee beans will taste unbalanced if the ratio is wrong. Guesswork leads to inconsistent cups and wasted coffee.

To fix this, dial in your recipe. Start with a 1:16 ratio—for instance, 18 grams of coffee with 288 grams of water. Adjust based on your brewing method and bean variety. Mastering the right coffee-to-water balance brings out clarity, sweetness, and depth of flavor in your cup.

3. Grinding Coffee Incorrectly

Grind size is one of the most overlooked factors in brewing—but it’s crucial. If your grind is too fine, your coffee will be over-extracted and taste bitter or dry. If it’s too coarse, the result will be under-extracted coffee: weak, watery, and flavourless.

The solution? Invest in a burr grinder and adjust your grind size based on your brewing method. A V60 pour-over works best with a medium-fine grind, while a French press needs a coarse grind. Mastering your grind size is one of the fastest ways to improve coffee quality at home.

Final Thoughts

When your coffee tastes off, it’s tempting to blame your beans or equipment. But most often, the issue comes down to dose, ratio, and grind size. By focusing on these three key factors, you’ll unlock the full potential of your coffee—every single morning.

Stay caffeinated!