How to Brew the Perfect Cup of Coffee at Home
There is a certain quiet ritual that surrounds the process of brewing coffee at home the aroma of fresh coffee bits in the grinder, the tenderness of hot water as it's poured into the cup, the eagerness for that first delicious swallow. But having a good cup of coffee calls for more than a kettle and a cup.
Here's what you need to know.
Use Fresh Beans this is a must: for all levels of brewing the least possible quality of bean will not be amended by any technique or process. Make sure you buy freshly roasted specialty beans and ground them just before use.
Pre-ground coffee will have lost its drive within seconds of grinding, buy a burr grinder if you can.
Water Temperature Counts When brewing coffee, water around 9096 degrees Celsius will result in the best cup. Boiling water (100 degrees Celsius) will burn the grounds, making a bitter, harsh brew. Wait 30 seconds after boiling your kettle before pouring.
The Golden Ratio A great place to start is 60g of coffee per litre of water (that is, about a 1:16 ratio). Work from there and add/subtract amounts to suit your own palate lighter/more robust brews.
French Press: Use a coarse grind, steep for about 4 minutes, plunge slowly. Enjoys very rich, full-bodied cup, and is very forgiving.
Pour Over (V60 or Chemex): Medium-fine grind, slow and steady pouring, total brew time of 34 minutes. Bright, clean and intricate arguably the best method of preparation for single-origin beans.
AeroPress--medium grind, 1-2 minutes, very versatile and more forgiving than other methods. It is great for trips or testing new recipes. Espresso: Very fine grind, high pressure of 9 bars, short brew time of 25-30 seconds.
Strong, rich, and concentrated. Foundational for all cafs. Used as the main foundation of a latte or cappuccino. Store your coffee right to keep it fresh.
All beans should be kept in an airtight container, out of direct sunlight and away from heat and damp. Never keep coffee in the refrigerator as condensation causes stale and rancid bean. Once you have high quality beans from Global Coffee Haven and a small amount of practice, your morning coffee will be revolutionised.