Coffee Brewing Basics

There are so many brewing techniques, but today, we will be covering some brewing basics with the pour-over method in mind. Don’t ever be afraid to try different brewing methods to find what fits your lifestyle and what you like best. Also, don’t be afraid to ask questions - most people that love coffee love to talk about coffee (we know we do!). 

1. A Fresh Grind of Good Beans

A good cup of coffee starts with quality roasted beans that are preferably ground right before brewing. The fresh taste is unmatched and we highly encourage you to start getting into the practice of grinding fresh coffee for each brew.

For pour-overs, it’s important for the grind of your coffee to be a medium consistency - it should feel similar to table salt. This will allow the water to pass through the grounds and give you a well-brewed cup every time. 

2. The Ultimate Ratio: Water to Coffee

The most common place to make mistakes in coffee brewing is the ratio of water to coffee. Too much water results in bitter coffee, while not enough water leaves you without the full flavor of your brew.

Thankfully, this is the easiest part of the coffee process to correct! We recommend 2 tablespoons (10 grams) of coffee to every 6 ounces (180 milliliters) of water.

3. H₂O: The Not-So-Secret Ingredient

Just as important as the freshly ground coffee is the water. If you wouldn’t drink it, don’t make coffee with it… coffee is 98% water!

Heating your water to just the right temperature is also important. We recommend boiling your water, removing it from the heat source, and waiting around 30 seconds to achieve the best brewing temperature for extracting your full flavor - around 195º-205ºF (90º-96ºC). 

A bonus tip for your pour-over: rinse your filters before brewing! This removes the woodsy, paper residue and seals your filters to the basin. Doing this also warms up the brewer and keeps everything at a stable temperature. 

4. Keep Your Beans Fresh

We want to make the good times last, so we recommend storing your coffee in an airtight container at room temperature. Storing coffee in the refrigerator can result in excess moisture, which dulls the taste. If you need to extend the life of your beans beyond two weeks, we suggest storing them in the freezer in an airtight container.