Once you’ve figured out how to grind your coffee, the rest of the process is quite simple. Just select your preferred brewing method, heat up some water, and you’re done! (almost)

Choose Your Weapon
Your first step is going to be to select your brewing method. There are a lot of options out there and every method has its benefits. Earlier this year, we put together a page on our site that covers three of the more popular brewing methods. Check it out. The biggest thing to keep in mind is that you need to keep your equipment clean. If you’re using a French Press or Pour over, be sure to wash them well after each use. If you’re using a drip coffee brewer, run a cycle using vinegar instead of water once a month or so. After that is completed, run another cycle with just water (no coffee). This will keep the water basin clean and free of coffee oil buildup. You’ll also want to be sure that you keep the glass or stainless steel carafe clean.

Water
There are three things to consider about your water…filtering, temperature and coffee to water ratio.

Your coffee is only going to be as good as the water you use to brew it. Using unfiltered water can introduce odd flavors and minerals into your coffee. Always use cold, filtered water when preparing your coffee. You don’t have to use bottled water, but have some kind of filtration system. The filters that attach to your sink will work well. You can also use the pitchers with a filter insert that you store in your refrigerator. Be sure to change your filters according to the manufacturer’s suggested schedule.

The ideal water temperature for brewing coffee is 195-205 degrees Fahrenheit (91-96 degrees Celsius). Depending on what you are using to brew, you may need to heat the water yourself. If you’re like me, you probably don’t have a thermometer handy when you’re trying to brew coffee in the morning. What you want to do is to pull the water from the heat source just before it begins to boil. Once you pull the water off of heat, begin pouring it onto the coffee immediately, don’t allow it to cool.

The ideal ratio of coffee to water is 8.25 grams of coffee to 150 milliliters of water. Again, I’m not sure that you have a gram scale and graduated cylinder next to your coffee brewer. The standard rule of thumb is 2 tablespoons of whole bean coffee per 8 ounces of water. (measure your coffee as beans and then grind) It’s also important to remember that this is just a guideline. Experiment with adding more or less coffee if you like your brew stronger or weaker, respectively.

That’s it! Get the grind right and follow these steps for awesome coffee time after time. As always, please feel free to contact me if you have questions or need help. There’s a lot that happens to bring coffee from producing countries to your home…it’s worth the time to get it right in the brewing process.

Enjoy and sip slowly.