There are a few classic mistakes that trip up first-timers. Avoid these and you're already ahead:

• Using boiling water directly—it can scorch the coffee and make it taste bitter. Let it cool for a few seconds.
• Pouring too fast—you want a gentle, steady stream, not a flood. Control the flow.
• Skipping the bloom—that first pour is important; it lets the coffee release CO2 and helps the extraction.
• Changing too many variables at once—if you adjust grind, water temp, and ratio all at the same time, you won't know what worked.

If you make a mistake, it's not a big deal. Coffee is forgiving. Just note what you did and adjust next time.