How to Make Your Coffee Less Bitter: Simple Fixes
If your coffee tastes harsh or unpleasant, you’re not alone.
Many people struggle to reduce coffee bitterness, even when using good beans.
The good news? A few small changes can dramatically improve your cup.
Why Is Coffee Bitter?
Bitterness usually comes from over-extraction, water that’s too hot, or stale beans.
To reduce coffee bitterness, you need to balance grind size, brew time, and water quality.
Use Fresh, High-Quality Coffee Beans
Old or low-quality beans release harsh flavours.
Fresh beans are essential if you want to reduce coffee bitterness at home.
At 1961 Coffee Roasters, we roast in small batches in Melbourne to preserve natural sweetness.
This makes it easier to make coffee less bitter without adding sugar.
Shop fresh coffee beans directly from our Melbourne roastery.
Adjust Your Grind Size
Grind size plays a huge role in flavour.
If your grind is too fine, your coffee extracts too much bitterness.
To reduce coffee bitterness, adjust your grind based on your brew method.
General guide:
- Coarse grind: French press
- Medium grind: Drip coffee
- Fine grind: Espresso
This simple tweak is one of the most effective coffee brewing tips you can apply.
Control Brew Time Carefully
Leaving coffee in contact with water too long creates harsh flavours.
Shorter, controlled brew times help reduce coffee bitterness instantly.
If you’re trying to make coffee less bitter, follow recommended brew times and avoid “extra strong” brews.
Watch Your Water Temperature
Water that’s too hot pulls out unwanted compounds.
Ideal brewing temperature is between 90-96°C.
Staying within this range helps reduce coffee bitterness while enhancing aroma.
This is one of the most overlooked coffee brewing tips among home brewers.
Improve Your Water Quality
Tap water with high mineral content or chlorine can ruin flavour.
Filtered water helps reduce coffee bitterness and creates a cleaner cup.
If you want to make coffee less bitter, this is an easy upgrade with big impact.
Measure Your Coffee Properly
Too much coffee in too little water leads to bitterness.
Balanced ratios help reduce coffee bitterness and improve consistency.
Basic ratio to start with:
- 1:15 (1g coffee to 15ml water)
Choose the Right Roast Profile
Darker roasts often taste more bitter.
If you want to reduce coffee bitterness, try medium or lighter roasts.
At 1961 Coffee Roasters, our carefully developed profiles highlight sweetness and balance.
This makes it easier to make coffee less bitter without sacrificing strength.
Bitterness doesn’t mean bad coffee -it means something needs adjusting.
By following these simple steps, you can consistently reduce coffee bitterness and enjoy smoother cups at home.
Whether it’s grind size, water, or bean quality, small changes create big flavour improvements.
