Give your specialty roast coffee the royal treatment. Brew the perfect cup every time with our helpful brewing guide.
Buy it fresh — only purchase a week’s supply at a time. Keep the coffee in airtight containers and away from heat and moisture (preferably in the refrigerator or freezer). Whole beans stay fresher longer than ground coffee, so grind your own beans just prior to brewing. The difference in freshness is significant.
Finer ground coffee is not always better. The degree of fineness depends upon the brewing cycle of your coffeemaker. The goal is to extract the perfect amount of oils from the coffee grinds. Too coarse and the oils are under extracted, producing a thin tasteless brew. Too fine and oils are over extracted, producing a bitter cup.
Brewed coffee is over 98% water. Naturally, better water will result in better tasting coffee. Filtered or spring water is a superior choice over regular tap water.
Use two level tablespoons for every six fluid ounces of water (45 cups per pound). If you find this brew too strong do not use less coffee. Dilute the finished brew with hot water (not from the tap). Do not put more water through the grinds — you’ll brew thinner, more bitter coffee this way. Also, make at least half the capacity of your coffee maker.
Old coffee oils are difficult to remove and can impart a stale flavor to a fresh brew. Clean all non-electrics by soaking in warm water and baking soda — never use soap. Wipe and rinse thoroughly. Clean electric coffee makers regularly and according to manufacturers’ instructions. This will keep the heating element clean so it can properly heat the water to brew the coffee.
If you’re boiling your own water, bring it just to a boil and let it stand a minute prior to brewing. If you are using an electric drip coffeemaker, look for one with at least 1200 watts that can heat the water to the correct temperature to brew coffee properly — about six minutes for a ten-cup pot. Never boil coffee.
Coffee deteriorates rapidly on a warming plate. It’s best stored in a thermal carafe that has been preheated with hot water. Do not reheat coffee — the additional heat will destroy the delicate flavors and aromatics. Save leftover brews in a jar in the refrigerator for iced coffee. Also, never pour coffee before the brewing cycle is complete — you’ll get one very strong cup and ruin the rest of the pot.