QUESTION:

What is the optimum temp for brewing coffee?

Julie

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ANSWER:

Julie,

This is a very common question and one that is not as easy as just saying this is the temp and you’re done.

The answer to this question always comes with an explanation.  So bear with me, here we go.

The tank temperature in a coffee brewer must be set to compensate for heat loss from the tank to the spray head, so tank temperature alone is not what we are looking for because a 5-10°F (3-5°C) tank temperature differential can exist from one brewer to another brewer based on manufacture and model. What we are aiming for is the temperature of the water coming from the spray head or the “spray over temperature”.

To answer your question “the optimum temperature for brewing coffee” (spray over temperature) is actually a range of 197.6-204.8°F (92-96°C) over 90% of the brew. To determine if your coffee brewer has the correct spray over temperature you have to take the temperature of the water coming from the spray head. I recommend using a thermometer with a thermal couple for its accuracy and ease of use. If the spray over temperature needs to be adjusted up or down then you adjust the tank temperature and run the test again.

As long as your spray over temperature is in the range mentioned above, you will always be brewing at the optimum temperature. 

This may have been more than you needed ,but I have found this covers pretty much everyone’s follow up questions as well.

Shane Blais
Director Of Corporate Training & Logistics