More Brewing Techniques

Start with freshly roasted, whole bean coffee. Coffee decays rapidly once it has been roasted, and even faster after it has been ground. Even a few hours can make a big taste difference! Basic rotary blade grinders start at less than $20. It’s well worth it!!

Use “good” water. Good-tasting water is essential for great coffee! Brewed coffee is 98% - 99% water! Fresh cold water contains more oxygen and many people think this leads to better flavor in the cup. Water that tastes or smells funny will adversely affect your coffee’s flavor. If your tap water tastes OK, then use it, but generally speaking, it’s better to use either filtered or bottled water. Don’t use distilled water, though — the absence of minerals in it will leave your coffee tasting flat. To see how much difference this can make, try making your favorite brew using tap water and then try brewing a pot using bottled water.

Select the correct grind. Brewing good coffee requires the right grind for the right coffee maker. Different coffee brewing techniques require different grinds. How coarse or fine coffee is ground is critically important to making good coffee! Coffee ground too fine will delay the brewing process and produce a bitter cup; conversely, coffee ground too coarse will speed up the brewing process and produce a watery, less robust beverage. You must also be aware that temperature and humidity will affect the coffee brewing process. A grind that works well on a cold day may need to be adjusted when it’s hot. Although inexpensive rotary blade grinders work well, for a more precise and consistent grind we recommend a burr-type grinder, particularly where an extra-fine grind is needed such as when grinding for espresso.

Measuring. The ratio of coffee to water determines the strength of brewed coffee and preferences here are highly individualized. We think our recommendation of 1 tablespoon of coffee to 5 ounces of water produces a great cup of coffee that will allow you to enjoy all the taste characteristics inherent in the coffee. You should certainly experiment with this ratio, though, until you find the taste that’s right for you.

Keep your coffee brewing equipment clean. Coffee oils quickly build up and over time become rancid. The rancid oils will then taint your coffee’s flavor. Eeewe! When using an automatic drip machine, do not leave the brewed coffee on the burner!!! It will continue to cook and will become bitter in a few minutes. Transfer the brewed coffee to a good thermos for flavor’s sake. Grinding Coffee Beans — for brewing good coffee it’s the way to go! Grinding your own coffee beans just before brewing helps ensure the freshest, best-tasting coffee. Finding the grind that produces the flavor you want can be a subjective process, but there’s no mystery involved.The rule of thumb: The faster the brew method, the finer the grind. For example, use very finely ground coffee for espresso (which brews in seconds) and coarsely ground coffee for a French Press (the coffee needs to steep for 3 to 4 minutes).

The Grind Types:Fine (Espresso grind):

Very fine particles. Feels almost like confectioner’s sugar in your hand. The resulting brew is heavily extracted and tastes rich and heavy. Fine is the right grind for espresso and Turkish brewing.

Medium (Auto-Drip grind):

Medium particles. Looks and feels like beach sand. This is the right grind for brewing in an automatic drip brewer with a paper filter.Medium (Manual drip grind): A little coarser than Fine Grind. Looks and feels grittier. Use this grind for a manual drip brew method (a pour-over) or in an automatic drip brewer if you use a gold filter. (This slightly coarse grind will result in less sediment in your cup when using a gold filter.)Coarse grind (Infusion/Perc grind):

Very coarse particles, like kosher salt. Grind this way for a French Press or a percolator.

If your coffee tastes weak you may want to try grinding it a little finer.If you detect bitterness, try grinding a bit more coarsely next time.The proper grind is very important to the success of your brewing method and the final taste of your coffee.

All About Grinders:

There are two types of grinders — blade grinders and burr grinders. Blade grinders use a propeller-like blade to grind the coffee. Burr grinders crush the coffee beans between two burrs or discs.Here are some approximate grinding times for blade grinders:

Extra Fine Grind: 20 seconds

Fine Grind: 15 seconds

Medium Grind: 12 seconds

Coarse Grind: 9 seconds

Finer = Stronger. A finer grind of the same amount of coffee will result in more extraction, hence a stronger coffee taste. If this tastes too bitter, you can use a coarser grind. At the same time, you might want to add more coffee to provide enough extraction for the strength you want.

Storing Your Coffee. Coffee beans tend to lose their flavor rather quickly and even faster after being ground. It’s best to keep your coffee whole bean until used. Always keep your coffee in a sealed container that prevents the coffee from being exposed to the open air.Coffee can be kept fresh in a sealed container in a cupboard for a couple of weeks. If you need to keep your coffee longer than two weeks, keep it in a sealed container in your freezer. When keeping coffee in the freezer, take out only the amount you are going to use and put the remainder back into the freezer immediately. Coffee kept in the freezer will last a month or more.