Coffee Brewing Basics

Coffee brewing can be a satisfying part of your morning routine. The smell of freshly roasted coffee awakening the senses...That first sip which warms the soul and gets you ready for the day ahead...The precious alone time you get in the kitchen while you brew your favorite coffee nectar... 

=================================

Order some of the best roast-to-order single origin coffees that are perfect for home brewed coffee! 

Grimpeur Bros. weekly and monthly roasted coffees feature tasty coffees from Central America, South America, Africa, and Asia. Order your beans today!

=================================

A properly brewed coffee will be surprisingly delicious and void of the harsh bitter flavors that are so often associated with coffee. Our favorite brew methods are all manual. Manual brewing is simple, less costly than automated machines and simply put, brew the best tasting coffee because it gives you full control over the brewing process.

Follow these five basic rules when brewing coffee:

  1. Use the 1:17 weight formula (1 part coffee to 17 parts water) for brewing coffee as a starting point. Eg. I’m brewing 22 g of coffee so I’ll use 374 g of water (22 x 17 = 374). You’ll need a digital gram scale to do this (Google search “digital 2 kg scale" if you don’t have one). As you gain experience, you can play with this ratio to produce different cups of coffee.
  2. Use a good conical burr grinder. Conical burr grinders minimize heat from grinding while providing a uniform grind for all types of coffee extraction (Google search “conical burr grinder” if you don’t have one - the Baratza base model, Encore, is a good place to start). A good conical burr grinder makes all the difference in achieving consistent sized grinds. Consistent sized grinds allows for an even extraction rate. If your grounds are not even, the extraction will vary during the brewing process and result in bitter and sour notes in your coffee - hint: buy a GOOD conical burr grinder such as one of the Baratza models we sell.
  3. Measure your water temperature. For pourovers and presses, we recommend a water temperature of 205-206F. Get a good digital thermometer and measure the time it takes for your kettle to drop down to the 206-205F temperature range after bringing it to a boil. 
  4. Filter your water. Think about it - water is the main ingredient in coffee. Impurities change the chemistry and the taste of your coffee. Get rid of as many impurities as you can (Google search "water filter" if you don't currently filter your water).
  5. Use great, fresh roasted or micro roasted coffee

Follow the links below to some of our favorite manual brewing methods:

Chemex - brews a clean, crisp cup of coffee with no sediment.

Hario V60 - with the proper pouring technique, a delicious cup of coffee awaits!

Clever Coffee Dripper - combines the benefits of full immersion brewing with filter brewing.

Aeropress - combines pressure press brewing with filter brewing. 

Ride Your Bike. Drink Great Coffee.
Brooklyn, NY | Austin, TX