Coffee tastes flat or dull
The cup lacks aroma and lively flavour even though strength and ratio seem correct.
Likely causes and adjustments
Try one adjustment at a time so you know what actually changed the result. Start with the first cause below — if it doesn't help, reveal the next.
Cause 1 of 2 · Commonly the cause
Beans are stale (roasted too long ago, or exposed to air/light/heat)
Do you know the roast date, and how the beans have been stored?
Use beans within a few weeks of roast date and store them in an airtight, opaque container.
What to change
Specific adjustments for this symptom, with what each one trades off.
Work it out
Interactive tools that take you through this one change at a time.
Learn the technique
Step-by-step guides to the skills this problem comes from.
- Blooming coffeeWet the whole coffee bed and let it release its carbon dioxide before the main pour begins.
- Storing and freezing coffeeSlow staling for coffee you will drink soon, and stop it almost entirely for coffee you will not.
- Resting roasted coffeeLet a fresh roast settle to the point where it brews predictably, without waiting until it has gone flat.