Daily Dish the Nugget Markets blog
The Perfect Brew
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Do you start every day with a cup (or four) of freshly brewed coffee? Are you still looking for that elusive perfect home brew? If so, we’ve got great news for you! Our friends at Equator Coffees & Teas shared some pro tips to help even casual coffee drinkers become café connoisseurs. Simply follow these brewing best practices to get the best home brew every time.
Do you start every day with a cup (or four) of freshly brewed coffee? Are you still looking for that elusive perfect home brew? If so, we’ve got great news for you! Our friends at Equator Coffees & Teas shared some pro tips to help even casual coffee drinkers become café connoisseurs. Simply follow these brewing best practices to get the best home brew every time.
Brewing Basics
Ratio: Make sure you have the right ratio of coffee to water. A good starting point is 1:15 coffee to water, then adjust to your tastes. For best results, start with clean, filtered water.
Temperature: Ideal water temperature for brewing is 195-205°F. Good home coffee brewers will automatically make it to this range, but if you’re using a pour-over, let the water come to a rolling boil, then turn off heat and wait 30 seconds.
Time: The process of brewing coffee dissolves coffee solids into water and extracts the compounds from the grounds. For hot brews, aim for 2-5 minutes (depending on volume), and for cold brews, let the coffee and water steep for 12-18 hours.
Grind: Make sure you have the appropriate type of grind for your brewing method. Speaking of which…
The Daily Grind
So many ways to brew, so many types of grounds! But which one is right for which? We’re glad you asked!
Coarse Ground: Roughly the texture of kosher salt
Best for… French press, cold brew
Medium Ground: Close to the texture of sand
Best for… Chemex, flat bottom filters, metal, gold or plastic permanent or refillable K-cups
Medium/Fine Ground: A little finer than granulated sugar
Best for… Traditional brewing, automatic brewers, pour-overs, cone-shaped filters
Fine Ground: The finest of them all!
Best for… V60, Melita, Kalita
A Toast to the Roast
From dark to light, each roast style boasts different flavors and notes. Pick your roast based on what flavors you want in your coffee and then adjust the grind and brew time to fit your palate!
Light Roast: Fruity, floral and bright, highlighting the delicate notes of coffee.
Medium Roast: Fuller notes with light notes rounded out by hints of nuts, chocolate and spice.
Dark Roast: Heavy with full roasted flavors, such as French and Italian roasts.
Origin of Beans
A coffee’s origin has the most effect on the flavor of the final product. Here are some common growing regions and their usual flavor profiles.
Central America: Clean and balanced with sweet, tart and fruity notes.
South America: Creamy, chocolaty and nutty; very similar to Central American coffees.
Africa: Complex with a fruity and floral flavor profile.
Asia: Earthy, savory and less acidic than other varieties.
Above & Beyond
Along with roast and growing region, there are a few other attributes you might see on different varieties of coffee. For example, Equator Coffees & Teas’ French Roast Coffee is both Fair Trade and Organic!
Fair Trade: Fair Trade USA is an independent nonprofit organization that certifies goods like coffee, chocolate and sugar are made according to a set of strict standards that encourage environmental sustainability, as well as ensuring that the people involved in production were treated and compensated fairly.
Organic: Requirements for this seal include no use of prohibited substances on the land for at least three years. This includes most synthetic pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers. Other certification requirements include a buffer between the coffee and any other crop not grown organically, a plan that demonstrates methods that prevent soil erosion and other sustainable agricultural criteria.
So there you have it—tips from a pro on brewing your perfect cup of joe. While these best practices are sure to help, it all comes down to finding the sweet spot of how you like your coffee. Of course, if you don’t have the time or inclination to brew your own, you can always visit one of the friendly baristas at our coffee bars, as well!
Coffee not your cup of tea? Check out these Pro Tips on Brewing Loose Leaf Tea!