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Coffee Brewing:

Today, there are as many ways to brew coffee as there are types of coffee drinks. There is no wrong or right method because it depends on a lot of factors including what type of coffee you use, what kind of coffee you are brewing, and various other preferences. To optimize your coffee brewing, regardless of the type of brew, we suggest the following guidelines.

Always clean your coffee brewing equipment

Where you use an auto-drip or coffee press, always make sure you thoroughly clean it after use. This sound mundane and obvious, but we point it out because poor cleaning of coffee brewing equipment over a period of time cause accumulation of sediments that can impart a bitter taste in your coffee.

Always use fresh roasted coffee

The difference between coffee brewed using stale coffee and fresh roasted coffee is remarkable. If you really like good coffee, we recommend that you use fresh roasted coffee as opposed to coffee that has been seating on a shelf for months. Ideally, you should buy fresh roasted coffee every 1-2 weeks.

Store your coffee in whole beans

Ideally, you should always buy whole beans and grind just before you brew. Coffee flavor deteriorates when stored in ground form. If you do not have a grinder, we recommend investing a modest amount of money to get a burr or mill grinder. A burr grinder produces the most consistent grind. A blade grinder, though cheaper, produces inconsistent grinds.

Determine the ideal coffee grind size

Does your coffee taste bitter? It could be that your ground is too fine therefore over-extracting during the brew process. The opposite may be true if your coffee is too light or flat. Most grinders have a variety of grinds suited for different types of brews. Always try to match the grind profile to the brew method. i.e. If you use an auto-drip coffee machine, then select the auto-drip grind option on the grinder. Never reuse coffee grinds.

Right water and water temperature

If your tap water has a strong taste or chlorine odor, we recommend using bottled or filtered water. If you prefer to use tap water, we recommend you let the water run for a few seconds. 195 – 205 is the optimal water temperature for extracting coffee during the brewing process. Regular check the temperature of the water in your auto-drip to make sure it is optimal. If the temperature is too low, you will notice that the coffee will be flat due to under-extraction. High temperatures destroy the coffee flavor. If you brew your coffee using boiled water, turn of the heat source right after the water comes to a full boil. Wait for the water to come to a rest before using it to extract coffee.

Brewing Time:

Brewing time is the amount of time that your coffee grounds are in contact with water. Too much or too little time often causes over-extraction or under-extraction. If you are using an auto-drip brewer, we recommend 5 minutes of brewing time. It is worthwhile to play with the brew time to determine the most optimal time. Never reheat your coffee.

Ratio of coffee to water

The correct ratio of coffee to water depends on individual preferences. As a general rule if you like darker coffee then use more coffee per ounces of water and vice-versa. We recommend brewing 1 - 2 tablespoons of ground coffee for every six ounces of water. Using this as a starting point, you can adjust the ratio to suit your preference.