Coffee | 101

Making coffee is a science and understanding the basics of brewing this beautiful beverage means you can make a cup the way you like it, every time.

The Variables

• Ratio of Coffee : Water | measured in grams

• Time it takes to brew | measured in min.sec

• Grind Size of coffee | depends on your machine, here is a great guide as a starting point

• Temperature of water | F or C, your preference but for ease, keep it just off a boil

The goal is to pour a certain amount of water over a certain amount of coffee grounds and brew over a certain amount of time.

Drip is usually a 1:16 ratio with a brew time of 3.00-3.30.
Traditional espresso is normally 1:2 ratio, extracted over 30 seconds.

Ratio & Time are fixed constraints in the equation that is your ideal coffee.

What you change is your Grind Size. By isolating this single variable, you can “dial-in” the coffee for that perfect cup.

If this brew time was too long, you want the next one to brew faster, so you will grind coarser.
If the brew time was too fast, aim for a slower brew, and grind finer.

Keeping Ratio & Time constant means just playing with Grind Size in the equation that is the perfect cup.

Now your mileage may vary and it will take a few attempts before you nail your recipe.

But making coffee is a sensory education. You learn what you like and what a coffee has to offer.

What is important is that you enjoy it.