Brewing Coffee

   Coffee Storage

To see different methods select a video from below:

Brewing

Fresh coffee tastes better. 

There is no comparison to the aroma and taste of fresh ground coffee.  Whether you prefer a morning cup, an afternoon coffee break or the after dinner sip, begin with freshly roasted coffee ground just before brewing and the results will be rewarding.  Remember that the style of coffee you prefer (from light roast to dark, blends or coffee from a single origin country, decaf, etc.) will always be more enjoyable if the coffee is fresh. 

Below is a guide to brewing great coffee that will work for almost all coffee brewers.  I like to think of it as brewing 101.  In fact, this handy guide is what I give to all students in my coffee basics classes, and I encourage you to copy and print it for your own use at home.  On the side bar, there are videos of brew methods that are simple and work well.  I encourage you to check them out and experiment to see what works best for you.

Remember, great coffee is simple to brew and rewarding to drink.  If it tastes good, then you're doing it right.

Enjoy,

Chris Weber

Roast Master

Roast Master’s Guide to Basic Brewing

Chris Weber, Rex Roasting Co.

For all brew methods:  Use fresh ground coffee and filtered water if possible (not distilled)

Suggested supplies:

 Coffee Grinder (Burr style if possible)

 Scale (Electric if possible)

 Hot Water (I like to have an electric kettle—easy to use and transport)

 Fresh Coffee (Less than two weeks old if possible)

Coffee Spoon (2 tbsp or 1/8 cup)

Brewer and supplies (Filters, screens, etc.)

Timer
Coffee Mug or Coffee Cup

Brewing by Weight:

          I like to brew using weights.  Everything is controlled; allowing for a consistent, reproducible cup every time I brew.

              For brewing by weight I use the following ratio:

                            .0625 oz fresh coffee/1 oz water

              A typical home auto-drip brewer will hold 60 oz of water, so I would start with 3.75 oz of coffee and adjust to taste (make sure to measure the water volume first).  The low end for a 60 oz brewer is 3 oz of coffee (.05 oz coffee/1 oz water).  These ratios work for any brew method, but measure the water capacity first.

Brewing by Volume:

              To brew by volume, measure the volume of the brewer, and apply this ratio:

                            2 tbsp fresh coffee/6 oz water

              For a typical home brewer holding 60 oz of water, I would start with 1¼ cups of coffee.  (2 tbsp=1/8 cup; so 60 oz water would be 20 tbsp, or 10 1/8 cups, or 1¼ cups.  Also, could be thought of as 10 coffee scoops, but make sure they really measure 2 tbsp).  Adjust to taste, but I would recommend using no less than 16 tbsp for 60 oz water.

Steps to great coffee:  

• Preheat brewer—whether it is a carafe, urn, press, chemex, etc., the vessel that the brewed coffee will end up in should be heated before brewing.  Simply add a small amount of hot water and discard prior to brewing.
• Prewet any paper filter—I like to do this no matter what, but in a household auto-drip brewer it isn’t completely necessary.

(Steps one and two can be done at the same time in most brewers.)

• Grind Coffee
• Dose coffee to desired strength
• For auto-drip, add water to brewer and start.  Wait until the cycle is complete before serving—this avoids an uneven extraction, and insures the best possible cup.

(Steps 6 and 7 pertain to other brew methods.)

• Pre-wet coffee—Make sure all of the grounds are saturated.

Start Timer—Brew time will be from 3-5 minutes.  This will depend on grind, brew method and personal taste.

• After 30-60 seconds, gently stir coffee grounds and add remaining water.

(Coffee Press—At this point, set the lid on top and gently push plunger down—approximately halfway).

• When brew time is complete (3-5 minutes), remove filter and grounds.  (For Coffee Press, gently push plunger to bottom of brewer.)
• Immediately serve and enjoy!

Some things to consider:

              There is really no “right” way to brew coffee, but through experience these are the parameters that I find brew the most consistently pleasant cup of coffee.

              If you garden, coffee grounds (and some filters) are great for compost.

              Avoid storing coffee in the refrigerator or freezer.  Instead, find a cabinet or container free from light, humidity and temperature fluctuation.  I like to keep my coffee in the original bag, tightly rolled, and in an airtight container in a kitchen cabinet.

              Brewed coffee left in contact with grounds will become bitter.  If all of the brewed coffee will not be served immediately, I suggest pouring the remainder into a carafe.  This is especially important for Coffee Press brewers or other full-immersion brew methods.