Brewing coffee at just the right temperature creates a balanced, delicious cup of coffee, whether you are brewing grocery store brand coffee or a fine kopi luwak. If you use a standard home-brew coffee pot, it will probably set the temperature automatically and you won’t even have to think about it. However, adjusting the temperature changes the taste of the coffee, potentially improving it, so it’s worth looking into. Keep reading to learn about the best temperature for brewing kopi luwak coffee.
What Is The Ideal Temperature for Brewing Kopi Luwak Coffee?
The short answer to this question is: the ideal temperature for brewing Kopi Luwak coffee is between 195 and 205 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the temperature that causes flavour compounds to dissolve most easily in water. If your water temperature is too hot, the coffee will take on a harsh, bitter flavor. If the water is too cool, the flavours will not infuse correctly and your coffee will be weak and flavourless. Staying within the correct range is one aspect of creating the best tasting coffee.
If you are going to spend the money on a luxury coffee like kopi luwak, you will definitely want to make sure that your temperature is correct. The enhanced flavour is worth the effort.
Why Does Temperature Matter When Brewing Kopi Luwak Coffee?
The flavours of coffee are extracted by pouring water over the beans. The hotter the temperature, the faster the flavour extraction occurs. The lower the temperature, the longer it takes. When the water is too hot, over-extraction happens. Because different compounds in coffee are extracted at different rates depending on temperature, over-extraction can cause bitterness, as well as an imbalance between flavours. If the water is too cool, under-extraction will cause the coffee to lack fullness, body, and flavour in general. Sweet, spicy, fruity, and acidic notes may be missing or occur in the wrong proportions, skewing the flavour. This may not be an issue for cheaper coffees, but if you are brewing a deluxe coffee bean, you’ll want to get the most flavour bang for your buck.
While you can cold brew coffee at lower temperatures for a smoother flavour, you never want to brew coffee with boiling water because it will destroy the delicate balance of the coffee and cause you to have a harsh, bitter cup of joe.
Does Boiling Point Affect the Temperature for Extracting Coffee?
Water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit at sea level. At higher elevations, the boiling point changes. The higher the elevation, the lower the boiling point of water is. So at higher elevations, you will want to use lower temperature water to brew your coffee. You can purchase coffee brewers that adjust for elevation or temperature. You could also use a pour over or aero-press method with cooler water.
Does Brewing Method Affect the Temperature for Coffee?
If you live at sea level, you should stick to temperatures between 195 and 205 degrees Fahrenheit for brewing your kopi luwak coffee (unless you are making cold brew coffee, of course!). However, since higher elevations need a lower temperature, you can compensate with different methods such as aero-press and pour over.
Aero-press uses pressure to extract the flavour of your coffee grounds, so this is one way to use a lower water temperature without sacrificing flavour and aroma. If you are using French press, aero-press, or pour over methods, the easiest way to choose the right temperature no matter the elevation is to bring your water to a boil. Remove the water from the heat and allow the boiling to stop. As soon as the boiling has ceased, you can use it to brew your coffee. You may want to experiment with timing until you get the coffee just how you like it. Just don’t pour boiling water directly over your coffee grind because it can potentially ruin the flavour of your coffee.
But What About Cold Brew Coffee?
Indeed, you can make cold brewed kopi luwak coffee. But don’t confuse this with iced coffee. Iced coffee is brewed the regular way, the hot coffee is then poured over ice to chill it. Cold brew coffee is coffee that is brewed without heat.
You can make cold brew coffee at room temperature or in the refrigerator, depending on your preference. It takes anywhere from twelve to eighteen hours for cold brew coffee to be completely and correctly extracted. This is because with cold brewed coffee, you are using time rather than heat to dissolve flavour compounds. The lighter the roast, the longer the brewing time. The darker the roast, the shorter the brewing time. Also, the colder the water you brew with, the longer the time you’ll need as well. Coarse grinds will work better for cold brew coffee than a fine grind.
The benefits of brewing coffee using the cold brew method are that you’ll get a smoother, less bitter, less acidic tasting infusion. If you have the time to make cold brew coffee—easy enough if you just stick in the fridge overnight—it is definitely worth the wait!
Other Factors That Create a Delicious Cup of Kopi Luwak Coffee
Water temperature is just one of the factors that goes into creating a delicious cup of kopi luwak coffee. If you aren’t getting the flavours that you expect, there are a few other factors to consider: water hardness or softness, elevation, filtered and unfiltered water, the amount of coffee you use, the type of roast, and even the coarseness or fineness of the grind all can have an affect on the flavour of your coffee. If you still have trouble getting a great cup of kopi luwak coffee, you may need to clean your machine to make sure the kopi luwak’s flavour is not being adulterated by sour old coffee.
Brewing Kopi Luwak – A Final Note
Of course, when you purchase quality kopi luwak coffee beans, you’ll want to make sure you do everything you can to get the most from your java. Temperature is one important aspect. If you find your brew is too acidic or bitter, then you may want to purchase a thermometer to test the brewing temperature of your coffee maker or experiment with other brewing processes.