Coffee Brewing Fundamentals
AFTER A BIT OF PRACTICE, BREWING SUPERB COFFEE AT HOME CAN BECOME SECOND NATURE. THE KEY IS TO STICK TO A FEW FUNDAMENTALS THEN EXPERIMENT A LITTLE (OR A LOT) TO DISCOVER YOUR OWN PREFERENCES. WE HAVE SHARED OUR GROUND RULES AND SOME EASY TO FOLLOW BREW GUIDES TO GET YOU STARTED, ENJOY!
GROUND RULES
Always use good quality coffee.
If you can, use whole beans and grind just before brewing.
Use a hand or electric burr grinder – this will allow you to make small adjustments and ensure the grounds are uniform, which means more even extraction and therefore a more balanced cup of coffee.
Ensure your grind size is correct for your chosen brewing method. Fine grinds require quick brews (30 seconds for espresso). Coarse grinds need longer brews (4 minute french press).
Choose your brew equipment. There is no right or wrong here, it is simply down to personal choice and taste.
Pre-heat your brewing device/vessel with hot water to help your coffee stay warmer for longer.
Use water just below boiling so it doesn’t scald the coffee.
It is generally accepted that the best ratios of coffee beans to water is somewhere between 1:15 and 1:18 ie. 15g coffee to 250ml water would be 1:16 ratio.
Your taste buds are your best guide...play with grind size and brew time, changing one thing at a time to find what you like. Over extracted coffee tastes bitter, dull, and lacks flavour/sweetness. Coarsen the grind a bit and/or reduce the brew time. Under extracted coffee tastes sour and acidic. You may need a finer grind or brew the coffee a little longer to balance it out.
Enjoy the process and the delicious end result!