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How To Brew Coffee

The Def initive Guide
T here are many methods f or brewing a f ine cup of cof f ee -- no single technique is right f or everyone. T he method you choose f or brewing your cof f ee should be based on your needs and your unique cof f ee pref erences. Do you want a hearty mug of cof f ee f or breakf ast? An af ternoon cappucino? Or a dessert espresso? Do you pref er a milder cof f ee or a more robust cof f ee f lavor? T he quality and f lavor of your cof f ee is not only determined by the brewing process you pref er but also by the type of cof f ee you select. For example, what country is the cof f ee f rom, what region and what variety of cof f ee tree? Or is it a blend f rom several countries, regions or varieties? Do you f avor a dark roast cof f ee, a light blend or something in between? What kind of grind have you selected? Remember to be creative -- you can choose a dark espresso roast cof f ee and still have it ground to be brewed in a drip system. But no matter how you choose to brew your cof f ee, there are guidelines to f ollow which will give you the best cup of cof f ee possible. To optimize the quality of every cup of cof f ee you prepare, f ine-tune your brewing routine by incorporating these suggestions.

How to Brew Cof f ee

The Equipment
Make sure that your equipment is thoroughly cleaned af ter each use by rinsing it with clear, hot water and drying it with an absorbant towel. Check that no grounds have been lef t to collect on any part of the equipment and that there is no build-up of cof f ee oil. Such residue can impart a bitter, rancid f lavor to f uture cups of cof f ee.

The Cof f ee
Purchase cof f ee as soon af ter it has been roasted as possible. Fresh roasted coffee is essential to a superb cup of cof f ee. And purchase your cof f ee in small amountsonly as much as you can use in a given period of time. Ideally you should purchase your cof f ee f resh every 1-2 weeks.

The Grind
If you purchase whole bean cof f ee, always grind your beans as close to the brew time as possible . A burr or mill grinder is pref erable because all of the cof f ee is ground to a consistent size. A blade grinder is less pref erable because some cof f ee will be ground more f inely than the rest. If you normally grind your cof f ee at home with a blade grinder, try having it ground at the store with a burr grinder. You may be surprised at the dif f erence!

Do not underestimate the importance of the size of the grind to the taste of your coffee. If your cof f ee tastes bitter, it may be overextracted, or ground too f ine. On the other hand, if your cof f ee tastes f lat, it may be underextracted, meaning that your grind is too coarse. Tell the prof essionals where you purchase your cof f ee exactly how you will be brewing it. For example, will you be using a plunger pot? A f lat drip f ilter? A cone drip f ilter? A gold mesh f ilter? T hey will grind it specif ically f or the preparation method you have chosen and the equipment you use. Bef ore using the cof f ee, try rubbing some of the grounds between your f ingers so that you can 'f eel' the grind and become acquainted with the dif f erences in size. Never reuse your coffee grounds. Once brewed, the desirable cof f ee f lavors have been extracted and only the bitter undesirable ones are lef t.

The Wat er
T he water you use is VERY important to the quality of your coffee. Use f iltered or bottled water if your tap water is not good or imparts a strong odor or taste, such as chlorine. If you are using tap water let it run a f ew seconds bef ore f illing your cof f ee pot. Be sure to use cold water. Do not use distilled or sof tened water.

Rat io of Cof f ee t o Wat er

Use the proper amount of cof f ee f or every six ounces of water that is actually brewed, remembering that some water is lost to evaporation in certain brewing methods. A general guideline is 1 to 2 tablespoons of ground coffee for every six ounces of water. T his can be adjusted to suit individual taste pref erences. Be sure to check the 'cup' lines on your brewer to see how they actually measure.

Wat er Temperat ure During Brewing

Your brewer should maintain a water temperature between 195 - 205 degrees Fahrenheit f or optimal extraction. Colder water will result in f lat, underextracted cof f ee while water that is too hot will also cause a loss of quality in the taste of the cof f ee. If you are brewing the cof f ee manually, let the water come to a f ull boil, but do not overboil. Turn of f the heat source and allow the water to rest a minute bef ore pouring it over the grounds.

Brewing Time
T he amount of time that the water is in contact with the coffee grounds is another important f actor af f ecting the taste of your cof f ee. In a drip system, the contact time should be approximately 5 minutes. If you are making your cof f ee using a plunger pot, the contact time should be 2-4 minutes. Espresso, as the name implies, means that the brew time is shortthe cof f ee is in contact with the water f or only 20-30 seconds. If the taste of your cof f ee is not optimal, it is possible that you are either overextracting (the brew time is too long) or underextracting (the brew time is too short) your cof f ee. Experiment with the contact time until you can make a cup of cof f ee that suits your tastes perf ectly.

Af ter Your Cof f ee Has Been Brewed

Brewed cof f ee should be enjoyed immediat ely!

Pour it into a warmed mug or cof f ee cup so that it will maintain its temperature as long as possible. Brewed cof f ee begins to lose its optimal taste moments af ter brewing so only brew as much cof f ee as will be consumed immediately. If it will be a f ew minutes bef ore it will be served, the temperature should be maintained at 180 - 185 degrees Fahrenheit. It should never be lef t on an electric burner f or longer than 15 minutes because it will begin to develop a burned taste. If the cof f ee is not to be served immediately af ter brewing, it should be poured into a warmed, insulated thermos and used within the next 45 minutes. Never reheat your coffee.

Enjoy Your Cof f ee!

A f inely prepared cup of cof f ee should be enjoyed as thoughtf ully as it was brewed. Take a moment to smell the aroma. Take a sip and notice your cof f ee's f lavor. How does it compare to other cof f ees with regard to body, acidity and balance? If it is a cof f ee that is new to you, notice how it is dif f erent. If it is what you normally drink, note its degree of f reshness or how simple changes in preparation af f ect the cup's f lavor. A steeping cup of cof f ee will not last long, but every sip is meant to be savored and enjoyed! T he Value of Cof f ee