Why Your Coffee Tastes Lousy

There's nothing worse than that moment when you pour yourself a cup of coffee first thing in the morning, whether from your coffeemaker, your French press, or your Chemex — and it tastes awful. Too bitter, too weak, too thick, too watery... it's definitely not the way to start your day. What gives? Well, you're doing it wrong — and here's why.

Click here for the Biggest Coffee Brewing Mistakes Slideshow

As we've learned from our coffee experts (everyone to the good people at Starbucks to the owner of "America's Best Coffee Shop"), there's a science to brewing coffee. From the size of your grounds to the water you use to brew, every step of the process plays a significant part in the brewing process. And each little thing can affect just how good your cup of coffee is; and no one wants to waste a perfectly good coffee bean on a bad drink.

There are four major mistakes you can make when brewing coffee, each as important as the last. Let us show you what those errors are, and how to fix them — so you'll never make a bad cup of joe again. Click ahead for the ultimate coffee brewing guide.