Hot take: People who brew with boiling water are RUINING their coffee

Julia Nguyen · 2026-03-16T14:25:18.693725+00:00

I watched a friend in Chicago pour a full kettle boil over grounds and the bitterness was unreal. Anyone have a specific kettle they use to nail that 200 degree sweet spot?

oscarc537mo ago

My old roommate used to do that and I swear it made the whole apartment smell like burnt toast. I finally got a variable temp kettle last year, which basically just means I can set a number and forget it. It's one of those things that feels silly until you taste the difference.

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lunar217mo ago

My kettle just guesses, much like my life choices.

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veraj537mo ago

My old Mr. Coffee machine broke about three years ago and I switched to a pour over. I used boiling water for months because I figured hot was hot, right? Totally wrong. It makes everything taste sharp and burnt, just like lunar21 said, a total guess. Getting a simple gooseneck kettle with a built in thermometer was a game changer for me. I aim for around 205 now and the coffee is just smoother, no more of that harsh bite.

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