Brewing coffee for beginners can be simple.
Here's a basic guide:
1. Select your coffee: Start with fresh roasted, high-quality, specialty coffee beans. Purchasing whole beans is best as they stay fresher longer.
2. Grind: If you can invest in a burr grinder and choose the right grind size for your brewing method (coarse grind for french press/cold brew, medium grind for drip/filter coffee, fine grind for espresso). The burr grinder will ensure you have an even particle size in your grounds compared to a blade grinder that cuts the coffee unevenly.
3. Measure: Use the right coffee-to-water ratio. The standard ratio is 2 rounded tablespoons of ground coffee per 6 ounces of water. If you want to get more specific, use a gram scale to weigh your coffee and water. Starting off with a 15-1 ratio, 15 grams of water per 1 gram of coffee is a good starting ratio for most coffees. This ratio will work for all brewing methods except espresso. For espresso you'll want to start with a 1-2 ratio, so 2 grams of water for every gram of espresso.
4. Water quality: Use fresh, filtered water, as depending on your city's tap water chemistry it can affect the taste of the coffee.
5. Water temperature: Aim for 195-205°F (90-96°C) for brewing. If boiling water for brewing, let the water boil and then wait about 30 seconds then it will be at the perfect temperature.
6. Brew time: Follow the recommended brewing times below for your chosen method.
- Drip/ Filter Coffee 3:30 to 4 minutes
- French press 4 minutes
- Clever Dripper 3:30 minutes
- Chemex 3:30 to 4 minutes
- Espresso 25-32 seconds
- Cold Brew 16 hours
7. Experiment: Adjust variables like grind size, coffee amount, and brewing time to find what you like best. Don't be afraid to tweak your method to suit your preferences.