How - to : brew the perfect cup of coffee
Why coffee?
Aaah, a great tasting, warm, delicious cup of coffee to wake up in the morning.. can there be anything more heavenly? For many out there, this is the perfect morning ritual to start the day.
Almost everyone loves the smell of coffee brewing—but did you ever wonder why there’s such a big difference between coffee’s smell and its taste? Once you drink it, the aroma moves from the inside of your mouth up the back of your nose, which tends to change how you experience the flavour. Coffee isn’t everyone’s favourite flavour, but those who love it, really do love it!
Coffee Time!
The best time to drink a cup (for maximum effect) is between 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. Cortisol—a hormone that helps you feel awake and alert—tends to be highest between 8 and 9 a.m, so it´s a good idea to prolong that high a little bit.
Last but not least: Drinking coffee is a lifestyle. No wonder, considering the vast selection in different roasts, beans and preparation methods. Depending on those three factors, there is a huge variety of flavours. It´s almost comparable to wine.
The spectrum goes from sour/fruity to flowery to chocolaty to earthy. And all of them can be discovered in a brew that has been prepared mindfully and with intention.
The Home-Barista
Preparing a nice cuppa is an art in and by itself, especially when you take it into your own kitchen. Luckily, there are some great tools available for the home barista which preserve the taste and won´t break the bank.
Below, we want to present step-by-step instructions for a tasty cup of coffee, prepared with our three favourite methods: The French Press, the Chemex and the Moka Pot. So grab one of those, and let´s get brewing!
The French Press
This simple little can has the potential to prepare an excellent cup, so put it to use if you own one. It´s a simple method of preparation and a great tool for home baristas.
Keep in mind that this extraction - method works without a filter, so all the aromas are kept in the brew. However, if the coffee is ground too finely, the bitterness might sneak in, too. That´s why we recommend a fairly corse grind for the french press.
Step1
Boil the water and pre-heat the jug with hot water
Step2
Grind the Beans: the coarser, the lighter the brew. Go on the courser side for the french press in any case.
Step3
Weigh the coffee: around 60g on a 1liter french press is a good way to start
Step 4
let it soak for 3-4 minutes. press the coffee grinds on the top down with a spoon („break the surface“) and let it stand for 30 more seconds
Step5
The crema gives the coffee a more bitter taste, so you can remove it with a spoon
Step 6
Pre-heat the stamp and slowly put push it down
Step 7
Enjoy your perfect cup! Don´t leave the coffee in the press as it will get bitter inside the jug, better to pour it into another fresh jug or a biiig coffee mug!
The Chemex (Filter Coffee)
Filter coffee is another great way to prepare a nicely balanced and tasty cup of coffee in the comfort of your home. Prepared with care and some love, you will be amazed on the variety of aroma you can get into your cup. Give it the time it needs to unfold and take to time to really enjoy this brew!
To find your own method and taste, you can play with those three variables: how coarse/fine the coffee is and the ratio between coffee and water.
Step1: Again, a good cup of coffee starts with boiling the water
Step2:
Grind the Beans: the medium coarseness is best for a balanced filter brew
Step3: Fold the Filter so it has three layers on one and one layer on the other side. Place the three layers at the nose
Step4: It´s important to wash the filter out: simply fill it up with hot water and pour the used water out. Voila: a clean filter, ready for the good stuff
Step5: Weigh the coffee. rule of thumb is around 7g per 100 ml of coffee
Step6: First, pour just enough water to cover the coffee with water, then let it sit and bubble up. Give it 30 seconds.
Step7: Slowly fill the water up to the desired amount and let gravity do its the thing.
Step8: take note of the time the coffee needs to flow through: less than 4 minutes: make it coarser,
more than 4: make it finer
The Moka Pot
If you are in the mood to get a shot of coffee goodness, then this handy little can is just the right thing. Developed in coffee-crazed Italy, this preparation-method is straightforward and a really nice way to get a decent espresso at home.
When the coffee starts flowing, things get a bit intense and quick action is recommended, so when you choose this method, you should be present. But it´s a really nice experience to watch the coffee flow and fill up the can with its brown goodness. Just don´t get too mesmerized and take it off the hot stove before it starts pulling air!
Step1:
Although you put the Moka-pot on the stove, it´s still a good idea to pour boiling water into the water chamber up to the screw
Step2: Fill the funnel up to the top with finely ground coffee
Step3: Screw the little can on top of the construction and put it on the stove
Step4: Let the magic happen (you can open up the lid to see the coffee pour through)
As soon as the coffee starts shooting out with the air, it´s time to take it off the stove and put the lower half into cold water to stop the brewing process.
And that´s it. With three simple methods, you can make amazing coffee right at home!