How To Brew Great Coffee

Brewing delicious coffee isn’t difficult; the following tips cover everything you need to know.

Buy whole bean coffee.
Buying coffee in whole bean form keeps delicate oils and aromas where they belong, in the bean safely locked away from their primary enemy – oxygen.

Store unopened bags of coffee beans in a cool, dry place.
After you open the bag, store unused beans in an airtight canister, or better yet – a coffee bag with degas valve.

Grind beans just before brewing
Choose a grind appropriate for your brewing method. Grind coarsely for use in a coffee press, less so for a vacuum pot. Grind fairly fine for a drip coffee maker.

Always use fresh, good-tasting, cold water.
You can even use filtered water, if possible. After all, brewed coffee is 98% water.

Measure your coffee carefully.
Tastes vary widely, but a good place to start is between 1 and 2 tablespoons for each 6 ounces of water. Too little coffee doesn’t make coffee weaker – it makes it bitter. If your coffee is stronger than you like, you can always dilute it with additional hot water after brewing.

Brew your coffee using clean equipment.
Whatever your method of brewing start with sparkling clean gear. Stale residue in your carafe or coffee drip basket doesn’t enhance the taste.

Enjoy your coffee immediately… or store it in a thermal carafe.
Don’t let your coffee sit on a warming plate – within 20 minutes, it will start to get an “old” taste.