The Perfect Brew

Ingredients for the perfect brew:

  • Freshly roasted beans from Mountain View Roasterie
  • Burr grinder
  • Bottled spring or filtered water
  • Kettle
  • Manual cone filter (e.g., Chemex) or French press (e.g., Bodum)

Directions

While water is on the boil, grind fresh coffee beans for a manual cone filter or French press.

Use 2 level tablespoonfuls (~10 grams) of coffee per 6 ounces of water (~180 mL) - 1 cup is equal to 8 fluid ounces.

When water is boiling, remove it from the heat until it stops boiling vigorously; it should now be at a perfect brewing temperature of ~93°C (or 200°F - rarely do automatic drip coffee makers heat the water hot enough).

If you use a manual cone filter, place the coffee grounds in the cone filter and pour just enough water over the grounds to wet them; this allows the grounds to "bloom". After the first wetting pour more water, soaking the grounds each time but keeping the water well below the top of the cone.

If you use a French press, remove the plunger, place the grounds in the bottom of the glass, add hot water, stir by gently shaking, and after 4 to 5 minutes press the plunger down to separate the grounds from the extracted coffee.

Now enjoy your perfect brew but remember never re-heat or boil coffee.