You can brew superb coffee at home, and after a bit of practice it will become second nature. The key is to stick to a few fundamentals, then experiment a little (or a lot) to discover your own preferences. We have shared our ground rules and some easy to follow brew guides to get you started, enjoy!
ground rules
- Always use good quality coffee.
- If you can, use whole beans and grind just before brewing.
- Use a hand or electric burr grinder – this will allow you to make small adjustments and ensure the grounds are uniform, which means more even extraction and therefore more balanced cup of coffee.
- Ensure your grind size is correct for your chosen brewing method. Fine grinds require quick brews (30 seconds for espresso). Coarse grinds need longer brews (4 minute french press).
- Choose your brew equipment. There is no right or wrong here, it is simply down to personal choice and taste.
- Pre-heat your brewing device/vessel with hot water to help your coffee stay warmer for longer.
- Use water just below boiling so it doesn’t scald the coffee.
- It is generally accepted that the best ratios of coffee beans to water is somewhere between 1:15 and 1:18 ie. 15g coffee to 250ml water would be 1:16 ratio.
- Your taste buds are your best guide...play with grind and brew time, changing one thing at a time to find what you like. Over extracted coffee tastes bitter, dull, and lacks flavour/sweetness. Coarsen the grind a bit and/or reduce the brew time. Under extracted coffee tastes sour and acidic. You may need a finer grind or brew the coffee a little longer to balance it out.
- Enjoy the process and the delicious end result!