Coffee tastes terrible!

[woodlandelf]

This is my first post. I drink coffee from time to time. I've cut back considerably. However, lately my coffee has been tasting terrible! I'm using a Melita filter on top of my coffee mug. I'm using filtered water. I just bought brand new coffee last night that was freshly ground and I poured water into my Melita filter. And the coffee tastes terrible! It's only started to do that lately. The only thing I can think is that the filters are old. Can that be the problem? Or the plastic Melita filter which I wash regularly. Any insight would be very much appreciated. :???:

 

[smalltowngirl13]

Hello and welcome to the forum!

I hope you are able to pinpoint what is causing your coffee to taste terrible...

 

[CoffeeJunky]

try this. put the filter over a another cup without the coffee... make sure water flush whatever it is on your filter by pouring maybe 1/2 cup and pour the water out.. now brew the coffee as usual and see if that changes anything.

 

[PinkRose]

Hello "woodlandelf"

Welcome to the Coffee Forums website.

What are you using to boil the water for your coffee? Is it an old tea kettle? Does it need a good cleaning?

Have you started taking any type of new medication that may be making things taste funny? Do the other things that you eat and drink taste okay?

Have you been using the same type of coffee each time you try using the filter? Is it always roasted and ground the same?

I guess you've already thought about these and other questions to try to figure out what's different. . . . there's gotta be a logical reason why this is happening to you!

Rose

 

[woodlandelf]

Thanks Rose!
When I go to Trader Joe's I always have a small cup of their coffee and it tastes great. I'm not taking any medication.
Thought it might be the electric kettle, but I drink tea most every day and it tastes very good.
I've tried numerous coffees and they all tasted horrible.

I thought it might be the plastic Melitta cone filter or the paper filters that are pretty old since I only drink coffee from time to time.
So, today, I used a paper towel to filter the coffee and it tasted much better, but still not perfect. The paper towel was a bit flimsy and it started to overflow (yikes) on the counter so I removed the cone. I think it may have tasted better if it could have dripped through fully.

I'm thinking now that it may be the paper filters. I'm going to buy new ones and see if that makes a difference. I'm drinking the cup I just made and it's pretty good. I'll buy some new filters and check in again.

Thanks so much for your help! It's such a mystery!
Wendy

Hello "woodlandelf"

Welcome to the Coffee Forums website.

What are you using to boil the water for your coffee? Is it an old tea kettle? Does it need a good cleaning?

Have you started taking any type of new medication that may be making things taste funny? Do the other things that you eat and drink taste okay?

Have you been using the same type of coffee each time you try using the filter? Is it always roasted and ground the same?

I guess you've already thought about these and other questions to try to figure out what's different. . . . there's gotta be a logical reason why this is happening to you!

Rose

 

[woodlandelf]

Thank you Coffee Junky,
I like this idea. I'm going to try this and see if it makes a difference.
I'm thinking it could be the paper filters.
Wendy

 

[PinkRose]

Hi again Wendy,

Thanks for the update. It sounds like you're getting closer to solving the mystery.

Rose

 

[CoffeeJunky]

Also sometimes the Chloride from the paper bleaching process, would make the coffee taste very weird.... That is the one of the way to get the bad taste out from your filter.... Good luck

 

[woodlandelf]

I'm thinking it may be the paper or the plastic cone. In all the many many years that I have been drinking coffee, this had never happened. But now since I'm not drinking it as often my supplies are sitting around for a long time. I think I might go and buy new filters and a new cone. Hopefully that will do it.
Thank you!

Also sometimes the Chloride from the paper bleaching process, would make the coffee taste very weird.... That is the one of the way to get the bad taste out from your filter.... Good luck

 

[CoffeeJunky]

Please let us know ...

Good luck

 

[woodlandelf]

I found the solution!

It was the plastic Melitta cone that I was using. Apparently it was contributing to the horrible taste.
I ordered a Cuissential SlickDrip which is a silicone cone. It does not absorb odors like the plastic ones and it's collapsible!
My coffee tastes great again!

Thank you everyone!

 

[CoffeeJunky]

awesome!!!!! maybe you should try French Press this time... No need for filters and no plastics or silicone to mess with... But I am glad you found the source of problem.....

 

[woodlandelf]

Yes, that's a good idea too! Glass is probably better.

 

[CoffeeJunky]

I don't think french press is the best way to brew your coffee but it sure beats in convenience and preparation time. I would never trade my french press for any other brewing devices......

 

[PinkRose]

I'm glad you found the answer to your mystery, Wendy!

Thanks for letting us know!

Rose