The trick to brewing great coffee is having an auto-drip machine that can maintain proper water temperature and even coffee ground saturation. The best home brewers do both jobs perfectly. They heat the water, and deliver it to the brew basket within the ideal temperature window (between 197° and 205° F), and moisten the fresh coffee grounds evenly and slowly until they reach full saturation. You want your water heated to just under boiling because lower brewing temperatures don't extract enough flavor from the coffee, and temperatures that are too hot will produce a bitter brew. And if you've ever used a manual drip coffee brewer, you know you can't just pour the hot water over the grounds all at once. You must do it at a careful and consistent rate. Manual cone filter brewers work so well because you can control how rapidly the grounds are moistened. Especially if you use a goose neck kettle, which helps you pour with a slow, controlled, circular motion. While the manual drip brewing method is great, it doesn't afford the kind of control, convenience and features that many automatic drip coffee makers offer, like auto-stop and programmable brewing.
Now It's Time To Brew Better Coffee:
What defines "good" coffee depends on personal preference, but there is a specific formula with a few hard and fast rules that you should follow to ensure that you get all the flavor and richness out of each cup you brew. To start, you should grind your coffee at home with a burr grinder. Inexpensive blade grinders don't do a consistent job of grinding and they heat the beans too much. Also, grind as you go, processing just the amount you need each time you brew. If you must use pre-ground beans, buy good quality, fresh-roasted coffee and purchase only what you'll use per week, and replenish your supply weekly. Remember that proper storage is important whether you're using pre-ground or whole beans. Keep your coffee beans or grounds in an air-tight canister, away from moisture and light.
How Much Coffee is Needed Per Each Pot?
The Gold Cup ratio, according to the SCA, is 9 to 11 grams per 6 ounces of water. The classic coffee scoop can range from 5 grams (one tablespoon) to 10 grams (about two tablespoons). Start with 10 grams, or two tablespoons, for every 6 ounces of water. Brew and taste. If you want a little more strength, just add a bit more coffee. If you need to tame your brew a little, cut back on the coffee just a bit. Once you find your "sweet spot" you'll be glad you took the time to get your coffee just right.
Brewing Tips to Remember:
- Start with a good quality home coffee brewer
- Make sure it achieves the proper brew temperature (197°-205°F), coffee saturation (4 to 6 minutes), and brew time (around 8 minutes)
- Whole bean coffee stays fresher longer than pre-ground coffee, so use a burr grinder and grind as needed
- Use high quality coffee beans
- Store coffee beans in an air-tight canister away from moisture and light
- Use 9 to 11 grams (approx. 2 tablespoons) per 6 ounces of fresh water
- Brew your coffee, then fill your mug
- Sit back, relax and enjoy!
Happy Brewing!