Why Does Restaurant Coffee Taste Better? The Secret Is Here!

Coffee comes in different styles and types, but deciding which is the best is challenging. It should depend on the preferences of consumers.

However, most people admit that they prefer to drink coffee in restaurants and bars rather than homemade styles.

If you notice, you may realize that people typically want a cup of coffee before jumping into the main course.

Most of the time, coffee at restaurants is so excellent that it may be challenging for people even to make the same mix at home.

The coffee you make at home won’t have the same flavor as that served at restaurants. You may wonder: Why does restaurant coffee taste better?

Let’s delve into this article to discover the secret of baristas!

Why Does Restaurant Coffee Taste Better?

The coffee at the restaurant generally tastes so good due to several factors, including the following:

• Bean Quality
• Roasting Process
• Water Quality
• Precision
• Barista Skills
• Brewing Time
• Equipment
• Cups
• Atmosphere

Let’s scroll down to learn more about all these elements!

#1. Bean Quality

Most restaurants invest in freshly ground coffee beans. On the other hand, people often use pre-ground types at home.

Compared to the beans in the grocery, the variants used in restaurants are often of a better grade.

That’s because they are roasted more uniformly, which results in a deeper and more robust taste.

Therefore, if you want to improve the taste of your homemade coffee, it’s a good idea to use better beans.

If it’s your time to buy beans, this video may be helpful:

#2. Roasting Process

The purpose of roasting coffee beans is to enhance their inherent tastes and smells. These beans are free from impurities after roasting.

Four commonly used roasting methods include air, drum, infrared, and convection. Each method has both pros and cons.

Air Roasting

The beans are roasted using hot air during air roasting. You will need to place the beans in a large chamber with continuous hot air flowing through them. This approach yields lighter roasts.

Drum Roasting

The most typical way to roast beans is in a drum. You will place beans in a turning drum that receives heat from an outside source. You will get even beans with consistent flavors thanks to this method.

Infrared Roasting

The roasting of the beans occurs using infrared heat. The coffee beans are positioned in a heated tank using infrared energy.

This technique has the extra advantage of allowing you to roast all kinds of beans, even green beans, and makes a very consistent roast.

Convection Roasting

Hot air heated up is circulated during convection roasting. A revolving surface holds the beans, which are surrounded by heated air—using this technique results in a very consistent and flavorful roast.

#3. Water Quality

Contrary to popular belief, water quality affects the taste of coffee. As you can see, this beverage contains up to 98 percent of water.

For this reason, while water won’t directly give your beverage its taste, the water quality still impacts your drink considerably.

You may not realize the taste of the water in your region since you are familiar with it. However, you will notice the difference if you drink water in other areas.

The pH level and mineral content in water affect the coffee. Thus, you will see filtration systems in restaurants for clean water.

#4. Precision

How you weigh the amount of water and coffee grounds determines your beverage’s texture and taste.

Most people make coffee at home by dumping a few teaspoons of coffee grounds into a standard filter and estimating how much water to add.

It indicates that not only will the coffee generally be of poor quality, but it will also taste each time differently.

On the other hand, most restaurants use bean-to-cup machines to complete the measuring task quickly and precisely.

#5. Barista Skills

Professional baristas are those who usually make coffee in restaurants. They understand how to pick the best beans, ground them properly, and make them flawlessly.

Moreover, they ensure to serve the beverage with the correct sugar and milk at the appropriate temperature.

Generally, the taste of a great cup depends on a skilled barista.

#6. Brewing Time

Coffee is among the most well-liked beverages worldwide, so you may discover numerous brewing methods.

Although some people love their coffee light and sweet, others want it robust and bitter.

All coffee connoisseurs agree that having an appropriate brewing time is essential regardless of the flavor they want.

If you brew your coffee for an extended time, it may be unpleasant and bitter to drink. However, it may get watery and weak if you don’t give your beverage enough time to brew.

In short, how long should you brew coffee? It’s challenging to answer this question directly.

It depends on several factors, like coffee beans and your preferences. That said, the rule is that you should brew this beverage for around four to five minutes.

#7. Equipment

Undoubtedly, skills are necessary to get the most exceptional taste, but good-quality equipment can create better results.

Restaurants often invest in high-end coffee machines, which may cost up to $4,000 or more.

On the other hand, people won’t get an expensive espresso machine at home.

Furthermore, you can find high-quality grinders in restaurants. These machines produce grounds more consistently for a more uniform extraction, which contributes to better coffee.

#8. Cups

Coffee lovers should know that the cup to serve your beverage affects its taste.

A cup’s texture on the lips and its shape affect how the drink is distributed throughout the mouth, impacting how you taste your coffee and your sip size.

In other words, if you serve the same beverage in different cups, each will bring a unique experience.

The cups used in restaurants are often ceramic and feature a thick wall because it’s more durable.

You may use other types of cups to enjoy your beverage at home. That’s why the taste of your homemade coffee is different.

#9. Atmosphere

Lastly, don’t underrate the influence of the atmosphere on how you perceive coffee tastes.

The restaurant ambiance is crucial to your perception and experience of the drinks.

For instance, if you have a great feast with your beloved ones, your coffee will taste better.

How To Make Your Coffee Taste Better At Home?

We believe you can identify a few adjustments you can make from the factors above. Below are suggestions you should apply to improve the quality of your coffee.

#1. Brew with filtered water

Use bottled or filtered water to brew your beverage. The transition from tap water will be a great choice.

#2. Get high-quality beans

As shared above, beans will create differences in your coffee’s flavor. Thus, buying freshly roasted coffee beans from reliable local roasters is better.

#3. Utilize a coffee grinder

It’s advisable to use freshly ground coffee beans for a better taste. While you may need more time with this machine, it’s worth your money.

#4. Use better equipment

Do you only have traditional coffee makers? You can consider investing in high-end equipment for better coffee.

Your budget will affect the quality of your equipment, but it’s better to invest more to improve the taste of your beverage.

#5. Measure

Baristas recommend learning about the amount of coffee and water you use for your brewing method.

#6. Improve your skills

Unless you purchase bean-to-cup machines, improving your barista abilities and tools will be beneficial.

#7. Use different cups

Try drinking from cups or mugs with thicker or thinner walls to see which yields the best results.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

Why does restaurant coffee taste better? It depends on several factors, like bean quality, roasting process, water quality, precision, barista skills, brewing time, equipment, cups, and atmosphere.

It’s advisable to consider these elements and adjust your recipe to have a cup of better taste.

Hopefully, our post will be helpful. If you have other questions, please feel free to contact us. Thank you for reading!