Why Is My Coffee Sour? The Most Common Brewing Mistake

Sour coffee is one of the biggest complaints among home brewers. The good news? It’s usually easy to fix.

What Causes Sour Coffee?

The most common cause is under-extraction. This happens when water doesn’t pull enough flavor from the grounds.

Common Reasons

Water that’s too cool, a grind that’s too coarse, brew time that’s too short, or too little coffee used can all cause sourness.

How to Fix It

Try a finer grind size, slightly hotter water, or a longer extraction time. Small adjustments often solve the problem immediately.

Final Thought

Sour coffee isn’t always bad coffee. It’s often just unfinished extraction.