 THE BEANS
Always start with "freshly-roasted," high quality beans. Ideally, you should purchase your beans in small batches as quickly as possible after roasting. Be sure to store your beans in a sealed container in a cool, dark, dry location. (Freezing and refrigeration are not recommended for coffee storage.)
THE GRIND
If you purchase whole beans, grind your coffee beans right before you brew. A burr grinder is preferable, and it really makes a difference. Burr grinders crush vs. chop the beans, and they produce a more consistent grind.
If you buy your coffee pre-ground, be sure that you choose the correct grind to suit your equipment, e.g., drip maker, espresso machine, or plunger (French press). The size of the grind will influence the taste dramatically, and it must always match your equipment type for proper extraction.
THE WATER
The quality of the water you use is VERY important to produce the best coffee flavor. If your tap water does not taste good, use filtered or bottled water. Always use cold water. (Do not use distilled or softened water.)
THE RATIO OF COFFEE TO WATER
As a guideline, use 1 to 2 tablespoons of ground coffee for every
6 ounces of water. Of course, this ratio can be adjusted to suit your personal taste.
You will want to use enough water to "finish" with 6 ounces of brewed coffee to the cup. Remember that some water evaporates in the brewing process, so test the cup lines on your brewer to see how the finished cup actually measures. |
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