Why Does My Coffee Taste Watery? How To Fix Weak Coffee

We all have bad days, right? And occasionally, those awful days manifest themselves in the form of watery coffee. You come anticipating a flavorful and robust cup of coffee only to take the first sip of weak, watery coffee. And that’s how it kills the morning buzz.

And it’s completely fine if it happens once or twice. But nothing is more irritating than making the same mistake over and over again. And we are left there wondering ‘why is weak coffee being made? And how to fix the issue of weak coffee being made?’.

The first step to fix a weak coffee is to find out what is causing it to be weak in the first place. After that, you can easily fix it. This article will explain why your coffee may be tasting watery and show you how to fix it, and make your coffee tastes excellent once again.

Why Does My Coffee Taste Watery?

1. You Are Using Too Much Water

There are various types of coffee, and every coffee drinker has their preferences. But a cup of coffee that tastes like water is not pleasing at all. One of the most important factors for a perfect cup of coffee is the coffee to water ratio. Following the correct water to coffee ratio means you get a flavorful and smooth cup of coffee. 

Using too much water dilutes the coffee granules, which makes the coffee weak and watery. According to coffee experts, the perfect coffee has 6 ounces of water for every 1 - 2 tablespoons of ground coffee. 

2. You Are Not Using Fresh Beans

Using high-quality coffee beans also makes a difference in the taste and consistency of the coffee. Air, moisture, heat, and light ruins the quality of the coffee beans. Coffee beans contain volatile oils, which evaporate as soon as they come in touch with the air.

Coffee beans are roasted, then grounded, and packed into cans or packets after cooling. It is a concern because coffee beans lose their flavor when they come out of the packaging. The coffee beans might look fresh, but it does become stale affecting the flavor and strength. The few months old coffee beans from their manufactured date can make the coffee taste like water.

3. You Are Not Brewing It Long Enough 

You only need two ingredients to make coffee and all of the flavors of each brew we get from the interaction of heating time, the ratio of water, and ground coffee. Coffee, especially lighter roast coffee, needs a restricted parameter for a perfect brew. If these requirements are not met, you might end up making a watered-down coffee. 

There is not much that can be done if your coffee maker is not brewing the coffee long enough or is not heating the coffee to the required temperature. Under-steeping causes coffee to taste like water as it does not get enough time to interact with and water, and the coffee’s extraction remains incomplete. You can learn more about brewing coffee in our article - The Art Of Coffee Extraction. In this article, we will explain everything you need to know about getting the best out of the coffee beans.

4. Your Coffee Beans Aren’t Roasted As Per Your Liking

Many people complain that light roast coffee isn’t “strong” or “bold” enough for them. You may find your coffee bland or watery as you may not be familiar with the coffee brand you are using. If you are new to the art of coffee making, you might not realize that there are so many different types of coffee beans.

A medium or dark roast might be a much better fit if you wish for more chocolatey and roasted flavors. Experimenting with a variety of coffee beans and tasting them to see which one you prefer can be a fun way to start developing your coffee palate.

5. Your Water Temperature Is Off

When it comes to extracting flavor from the coffee beans, the temperature of the water is crucial. If your water isn’t at the right temperature, you will end up with weak or watery coffee. When the water is boiling, it burns the coffee beans, leaving a bitter, tangy and unpleasant taste.

The temperature of the water makes a significant impact on how bitter or weak the coffee will taste. Just like boiling water, chilled water is also not a good option. There are many opinions on what temperature coffee should be served. Still, a reasonable starting point is 25 degrees Fahrenheit, about 95 to 96 degrees Celsius.

Also Read: Best BPA-Free Coffee Makers In 2021 – Reviews And Buying Guide

How To Fix Weak Coffee

1. Use More Coffee

More coffee grounds in the brewing basket means more opportunities for hot water to suck out and extract oils and tastes from beans, resulting in a more concentrated cup of coffee. Regardless of grind size or roast intensity, adding more grinds to any brewing process will make the coffee stronger.

If you have any instant coffee, you may add a pinch to the coffee to enhance the flavor. We recommend using a full 2 tbsp for every 6 oz of water when using methods like the french press. Use closer to 1 or 1.5 tbsp if you are using an automatic drip brewer. 

We use less coffee in an automatic drip brewer since they make the coffee at a higher temperature. 

2. Try Different Grind Textures

Consider the coarseness of the coffee grinds you’re using. It is more likely that you’ll get a weak cup of coffee if the grinds you choose are too coarse for your brewing process.

Fine to extremely fine ground beans should be used in espresso machines, Moka pots, and Aeropress coffee makers. Medium grinds should be used in brewing methods like the french press.

3. Switch To A Lighter Roast

Light roast beans are usually lighter than dark roasted bean brown color. They don’t have any oil on their surface because they haven’t been roasted long enough for the oils to reach the surface. On every level, light roast coffee is superior. Fresh beans that are roasted lighter will have more’ origin flavors,’ depending on factors such as the type of bean, the place where it was harvested, and the method used to roast it.

4. Assess Your Coffee Maker For Malfunction

A malfunctioning coffee maker or brewing machine makes the coffee weak. That does not allow the coffee to brew long enough or heat the water to the necessary brewing temperature. A dirty coffee maker affects the quality of the coffee. It dilutes the coffee’s unique flavor.To solve this problem, get your coffee maker serviced or buy a new coffee maker.

Also Read: Hamilton Beach FlexBrew 49976 Review

Final Thoughts

The truth is, drip coffee machines will not produce the most excellent tasting cup of coffee possible. You can always make some changes if a coffee maker is brewing cups of watery coffee.

I hope that one or more of the suggestions in this article can help you discover why your coffee tastes watery. And, of course, how to add more flavor and thickness to it the next time you prepare it.

Even if you don’t have time to fix your weak coffee, there are still several environmentally beneficial ways to use it without wasting it.

We hope this article will assist you the next time you need to fix a weak coffee. It will ultimately prevent it from happening again, saving you money and enhancing your specialty coffee adventure.