Brew Guide
Have you ever had a stellar cup of coffee and thought to yourself, "I wonder why this coffee tastes so great?" Assuming you are starting with freshly roasted beans, which is a prerequisite for good coffee, there are a few things you can do to improve your coffee experience.
1. Start with fresh, cold water.
This may sound like a no-brainer, but if your tap water doesn't taste that great, neither will your coffee.
2. Use water that is the right temperature.
The correct temperature for brewing coffee is 195-205 degrees Fahrenheit. A good rule of thumb to follow is to bring your water to a boil, take it off the heat and let it rest a minute or two. This insures that it's in the optimum brew-temp range.
3. Use a good grinder.
The correct grind is vitally important to a great cup of coffee. A grinder that uses either flat or conical burrs rather than the popular blade type gives a more consistent particle size, which in turn allows for an even extraction.
4. Use the right brewer.
Any type of manual coffee brewer such as a pour over cone, french press, or aero press will yield a great cup of coffee. If you want to use an electric brewer or just don't want to take the extra time that manual brewers require, check out the SCA's recommendations for coffee brewers.
5. Use enough coffee.
It seems that some people are a little hesitant to use enough coffee for fear that it will taste "bitter". Good coffee can be strongly brewed without being bitter. Use too little coffee and you will end up with a cup that is weak and watery tasting. I've included a coffee/ water ratio guide below to get you started. Adjust to your own taste and enjoy!
All ratios are for a 12 oz. cup.
pour over/filter cone - 3 tbsp. medium fine ground coffee
drip - 3 tbsp. medium ground coffee
french press/percolator - 4 tbsp. coarsely ground coffee
1. Start with fresh, cold water.
This may sound like a no-brainer, but if your tap water doesn't taste that great, neither will your coffee.
2. Use water that is the right temperature.
The correct temperature for brewing coffee is 195-205 degrees Fahrenheit. A good rule of thumb to follow is to bring your water to a boil, take it off the heat and let it rest a minute or two. This insures that it's in the optimum brew-temp range.
3. Use a good grinder.
The correct grind is vitally important to a great cup of coffee. A grinder that uses either flat or conical burrs rather than the popular blade type gives a more consistent particle size, which in turn allows for an even extraction.
4. Use the right brewer.
Any type of manual coffee brewer such as a pour over cone, french press, or aero press will yield a great cup of coffee. If you want to use an electric brewer or just don't want to take the extra time that manual brewers require, check out the SCA's recommendations for coffee brewers.
5. Use enough coffee.
It seems that some people are a little hesitant to use enough coffee for fear that it will taste "bitter". Good coffee can be strongly brewed without being bitter. Use too little coffee and you will end up with a cup that is weak and watery tasting. I've included a coffee/ water ratio guide below to get you started. Adjust to your own taste and enjoy!
All ratios are for a 12 oz. cup.
pour over/filter cone - 3 tbsp. medium fine ground coffee
drip - 3 tbsp. medium ground coffee
french press/percolator - 4 tbsp. coarsely ground coffee
