7 Valuable Steps to Brewing Coffee That Will Make You an Expert

August 23, 2017 By Shaun Pullen Leave a Comment

Guest post by Shaun Pullen

Making coffee is serious business, woe to the Keurig pods.

The search for great coffee has become an American obsession. It’s right up there with NASCAR and colluding with Russians. Connoisseurs of the elixir of life can now please their discerning palates at boutique coffee emporiums stretching from Seattle to Key West.

However, a fierce debate rages on regarding the best way to brew one’s coffee at home. Some swear by the vacuum process while others pledge their fealty to the French Press or the pour over. Brand names like Chemex, Aeropress, and Hario are now tossed around as freely as Frisbees.

IF YOU’RE GOING TO MAKE YOUR COFFEE,
THE FIRST DECISION IS HOW YOU’RE GOING TO MAKE IT.

Making coffee is serious business, and woe to the neophyte who says, “I think those Keurig pods are pretty good.” Blasphemer!

So, if you want to impress the Caffeine Cognoscenti, you may want to follow these seven easy steps to make one helluva good cup o’ Joe.

STEP #1: FUNNY, YOU DON’T LOOK BREWISH

If you’re going to make your coffee, the first decision is how you’re going to make it. Many people who are sticklers for great coffee swear by the pour-over method and swear even more when they run out of filters.

So, if you find automatic coffee makers an abomination and a tool of Satan, get yourself a good Hario V60. Hario in Japanese means “King of Glass.” So don’t throw any stones at it. This Japanese-made pour-over kit contains a heat-resistant glass coffee pot that’s microwavable. It holds 4 cups and is easy to use.

And best of all, it makes a killer cuppa.

STEP #2: GRINDER FINDER

What? You use pre-ground coffee! That’s a serious misdemeanor in Eugene or Portland, OR. According to the Coffee Nostra, coffee must be ground every time you make coffee. So, a grinder is de rigueur (which is a French phrase for “super cool”).

A GOOD GRIND CAN BE LIKE YOUR FRIENDS; SOME ARE COARSE, AND OTHERS ARE VERY FINE.

People in the know love the Burr coffee grinder and not just because of Aaron Burr, who killed Hamilton, invented it. His invention is making a killing, I know, ironic. The Burr can grind 17 different ways (insert joke here), so it’s well worth the modest price.

Nate Note: Unlike the blade-type grinders, burr grinders produce a more consistent grind size. Blades always create dust, which makes your coffee taste bitter.

STEP #3: THE BEAN IS BOSS

Okay, you’ve got your coffee maker, your grinder, now comes the hard part.

Back in the day, there were only three kinds of coffee beans, and two of them were found on top of Juan Valdez’s donkey.
Today, at last count, you have 26,341 different types of beans to choose from, some from countries you’ve never heard of before.

So, why whole beans? Could it be because all their essentials oils are locked inside? Yes, I just answered my own question. And make sure they’re freshly roasted.

Okay, where are these precious beans? At a local roaster or a small roaster who sells online. Don’t have one? Then go to GoCoffeeGo and you’ll find a selection of quality beans from several roasters…all in one shopping cart. Or just walk around a trendy neighborhood in your city and sniff around a lot.

STEP #4: SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF

Now that the obsession of brewing the perfect cup of coffee has jeopardized your job and your social life, let’s go full-tilt OCD and talk about water thermometers. Yes, that’s right. Because if your heated water is only 185 degrees (the current temperature in Phoenix), you’re cheating yourself.

Those in the know say that 200 degrees in the gold standard of heatitude. So get that water thermometer out or get yourself the Bonavita Variable Temperature Kettle and impress your friends. If you still have any left.

STEP #5: WATER, WATER, EVERYWHERE

The average human body is about 70% water unless you’re Michael Phelps. Then it’s 98.75%. The same for coffee. That’s why many people think of Michael Phelps when they drink coffee.

THE AVERAGE HUMAN BODY IS ABOUT 70% WATER UNLESS YOU’RE MICHAEL PHELPS.

So it’s important to use filtered water. Not tap water. That will only anger your grind. And angry coffee is yucky coffee. Spring water and filtered water are best. Distilled? Not so much.

STEP #6: BREWING 101

If you aspire to be a great coffee brewer, then there are a few fundamental things you should know. So get out your calculators and take notes.

Coffee to Water Ratio
“Do I really have to know this?” “Will this be on the test?” Hey, stop your bellyaching. This is important stuff. Ideally, the ratio for a great cup is 18 parts water to one part coffee. So, if you’re using 4 cups of water, then… umm… you should be using… uhhh…Math is hard! I prefer the eyeball method.
Nate Note: I get crazy here and uses a Hario scale to measure the mass of water used. I use a scale because mass offers better consistency from brew to brew than measuring by volume. If you use a ratio of 15:1, it would be 1000 g of water to about 67 g of coffee. Coffee is subjective, so adjust the ratio until you find your preference. Note that you’ll adjust this ratio for various brewing methods.

Grind Particle Size
When it comes to coffee, size matters. A medium fine grind is ideal for most brewing methods. A coarser grind says to the world, “I haven’t a clue about the brew.”…unless you’re using a press pot. So get out that Burr device and figure it out.

Water Temperature
Don’t forget the water should be between 198 and 202 degrees.

STEP #7: THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE STARBUCKS

Gandhi once said, “This lousy coffee tastes like the Ganges! Send it back!”
Coffee is a very personal thing. Start your day with a bad cup of coffee and the whole day is ruined. But a great cup of coffee makes the world seem more tolerable, like a world with fewer Kardashians.

So how do you tell the difference? Well, if you take a sip of java and immediately spit it out and cry “Foul!” that’s a good indication you’ve just tasted bad coffee. Conversely, if you take a sip… smile, say “Ahhh!” and high-five your umbrella stand, then you’ve tasted the delicious stuff.

NO EXCUSE FOR BAD COFFEE

In summary, there’s no excuse for a bad cup of coffee anymore. Just follow the previous seven steps, and nirvana will be awaiting you. Namaste.

Filed Under: Coffee Tips Tagged With: coffee brewing, Coffee Tips, guest post

How to Store Coffee – Tips on Coffee Freshness

June 2, 2016 By Nate 4 Comments

Coffee Freshness

The subject of coffee freshness has been confused by ignorant coffee companies and consumers spreading lies and mistruths. I get it; you want to trust the company you bought the coffee from, and you put a certain amount of confidence into the information they print on the packaging. Unfortunately, many of them have no clue about proper storage of roasted coffee.

Coffee’s Enemies

Moisture
Heat
Light
Oxygen

Obviously, storing roasted coffee in ways that protect against the four elements is the objective.

The Lies

Coffee should never be stored in the refrigerator. Everything in the fridge is exposed to humidity/moisture.

Many coffee companies advise consumers to store their unused beans in the freezer. Placing coffee in the freezer should be avoided because the typical person isn’t going to go through the necessary steps to ensure proper handling.

Roasted coffee is safely frozen under the following conditions;

The coffee is moved into freezer-safe storage
The coffee is frozen once
The coffee is placed in a deep-freeze, not a kitchen freezer that is opened/closed daily

You can divide a large amount of coffee into smaller, week’s worth portions, placing each portion into freezer-safe containers. At the beginning of each week, remove one package from the freezer. Allow the frozen coffee to reach room temperature before grinding/brewing.

The Bean – A Freshness Container

A whole coffee bean acts as a protector of freshness. It shields the delicate oils from the outside elements. With typical consumer storage, whole bean coffee remains fresh for about two weeks.

When ground, the coffee immediately begins to spoil. The oils come into contact with oxygen. Air destroys the coffee, and the oils become rancid. This is why I say there is no *best* way to store ground coffee. To provide an answer would be like prescribing the best way to store curdled milk. It doesn’t matter what you do; it’s still going to be spoiled.

The Best Storage For Roasted Coffee

If you purchase fresh roasted, whole bean coffee, there are special containers you can purchase to prolong the freshness of the coffee. These containers provide protection from the four coffee freshness enemies.

After the roasting process, the coffee beans emit significant amounts of carbon dioxide. That is why you see valves on bags of roasted coffee. A lot of people think those valves are for vacuum sealing. They are one-way valves, allowing the CO2 to escape, while keeping the outside air from getting in.

After Opening

After opening the package, it is important to provide shelter from moisture, air, light, and heat. I’ve used two inexpensive options to store my coffee. They are opaque containers that effectively seal the beans inside, while providing a one-way valve for the CO2 to escape. I have complete confidence in both containers, and I continue to use them.

Place the amount of coffee you wish to store inside of the container, seal them, then put the container in an area that is not subject to temperature changes (i.e., sun exposure, near entry doors, etc.)

Here are my preferred coffee storage containers;

Coffee Gator

The Coffee Gator is a simple storage container. It is a sort of coffee croc. The lid contains a one-way valve to allow the carbon dioxide a way out, without allowing air to enter the container. One-way valves are especially desirable if you’re going to keep the container sealed for multiple days. Operating the Coffee Gator quite easy, just push the lid down and flip the hasp. It doesn’t take much pressure or dexterity to engage the seal, so it shouldn’t be an obstacle for those with limits in those areas. Coffee Gator website

CoffeeNate readers will enjoy an exclusive discount of 15% when using coupon code: TYE3NCTE

The lid also provides two dials, one from 1-12 and the other from 1-31. You can use this to help keep track of when you began storing your beans.

CoffeeVac

The CoffeeVac works in much the same way, although its construction is plastic instead of stainless steel. I’ve had several CoffeeVac’s, which are available in several sizes. They are not as sturdy as the Coffee Gator, but they do work well. I would especially recommend the CoffeeVac if you’re storing smaller amounts of coffee, as you can store it with less air getting trapped inside of the container. Operate the CoffeeVac by pushing a button while sliding on the lid. You can hear the air being displaced and verify that the seal is working by attempting to remove the lid without depressing the button.

Find other products that I recommend in the CoffeeNate Shop!

Filed Under: Coffee Tips Tagged With: coffee freshness, how to keep coffee fresh, how to store coffee

Burr Grinder vs Blade Grinder: Why Does It Matter?

May 23, 2016 By Sam Ellis Leave a Comment

Burr vs. Blade Grinders: Why Does It Matter?

Guest post written by Sam Ellis

Some people still think that the only way they can improve the taste of their coffee is by buying better coffee or by using a more sophisticated coffee machine. They don’t realize that a very simple method to improve the taste of their daily brew is to change the way they grind it.

Before I started taking coffee seriously, I had owned and used several blade grinders. I never quite managed to grind beans to the same quality that I would find in packs of good, ground coffee at specialty coffee shops. The improvement I expected from having freshly ground beans simply didn’t happen because I was using blade grinders.

Long story short (if you know a bit about coffee, I don’t need to explain this to you), I eventually found the answer when I invested in a slightly more expensive grinder for my coffee – burr grinder.
So what are burr grinders and why do they generate a far superior grind for our coffee?

Burr vs. blade coffee grinders, the basics

Many people starting out with fresh coffee will often go for a blade grinder. I certainly did. Blade grinders are cheap; there is no question about it. They work by using a rotary blade which chops up the coffee beans inside the bowl of the grinder. There is no ability to control the grind size and getting a perfectly even grind is nearly impossible (at least beyond most people’s skills).

Nate’s Best Burr Grinder Value!

A burr grinder, on the other hand, will pass the coffee beans through two (or more) burrs which will crush the coffee, achieving an entirely even grind. They have a setting with which you can select the grind size – allowing you to grind your coffee to suit the brewing method.

Good burr grinders will be considerably more expensive than blade grinders, but if you are looking to have good coffee, the investment will certainly pay itself back over time.

Size Matters

Here’s where we need to get a bit technical. Bear with me.

As has been hinted above – one of the major benefits of a burr grinder is the even grind size. Even grind sizes matter more than you think in how your coffee tastes. That’s because a particle size will change the coffee extraction when your coffee maker passes hot water through it.

As you probably know, “extraction” refers to the process of dissolving solids (flavor) in the coffee beans into the water. Smaller particles will extract faster whereas larger ones slower, meaning that with a variety of grind sizes, you will have varying degrees of extraction in the same brew.

The result is some of your coffee getting over extracted and some under extracted. This matters because over-extracted coffee brings with it bitter flavor compounds ruining your brew while under extracted coffee will taste sour and even salty. The sourness in under-extracted coffee comes from the fact that some compounds, which balance acid tastes in the coffee beans, have not yet been dissolved into the water.

Under-extracted coffee will taste flat and lack complexity while over-extracted coffee will completely overwhelm your senses with an unpleasant bitterness.

Take Control

The distinction in particle sizes leads us to the second major benefit of a burr grinder vs. a blade grinder. The setting for grind sizes that you can make with burr grinders but cannot with a blade grinder is central to being able to make an excellent cup of coffee.

You might be aware that espresso coffee uses a very fine grind (and Turkish coffee an even finer one – more on that below) whereas drip coffee requires a coarser grind. Armed with our understanding of over and under-extraction we can now see why this is so crucial. Espresso will push the water at high speed and pressure through the coffee powder, whereas drip coffee will slowly pass the water through the grinds.

The more time the water spends in contact with the coffee grinds, the more coffee solids will be extracted. We balance this by using the right grind sizes – for espresso, the fine particles of the coffee will ensure that we extract the good flavors in the short time that the water spends in contact with the coffee.

So far so good, but there is more. Not only is your type of coffee machine an important variable when deciding about the grind size, but even different roasts, beans, and blends will have more or less of the bitter, sweet and sour flavour compounds meaning that they require different grinds.

A burr grinder lets you determine the best setting for your machine and your chosen coffee by allowing you to vary grind size with the turn of a knob. Once you’ve found the perfect setting, your burr grinder will ensure that your beans are ground to the perfect size day after day.

Feel the Burn

This might seem like an already strong case for burr grinders, but there is still one more benefit to mention. Here it comes down to physics. As you may remember from your science classes, when you rub two surfaces against each other, there is friction which in turns leads to heat.

Inside your blade grinder, the rapidly spinning blades will be rubbing the coffee beans against the sides of the grinder, generating enough heat to make the coffee feel slightly warm when you take it out of the grinder. This heat starts altering the flavor of your coffee beans while grinding, extracting some of that flavour into the air rather than into your coffee cup.

The one situation where a blade grinder is suitable

Is there any case where a blade grinder is preferable? Well, bar being on an extremely tight budget, a burr grinder will always be the preferred choice. And when you think that a grinder may last you five years or longer, the initial investment is not that huge.

There is, however, one type of coffee for which a blade grinder is suitable. This is where I get back to Turkish coffee: most burr grinders cannot produce the incredibly fine coffee powder that Turkish coffee requires. With a blade grinder, on the other hand, you can simply leave it to grind your coffee to the minimum particle size it allows. The challenge of mixed particle sizes is therefore in this case, not a problem (though you’ll still have the loss of flavour by heat).

Do you have any questions about the burr vs. blade grinders? Ask in the comments!

Filed Under: Coffee Tips Tagged With: blade grinder, burr grinder, coffee grinder

Like Coffee? : The First Steps Towards Loving Coffee

March 12, 2014 By Nate 2 Comments

So, you like coffee?

We learned the difference between “like” and “love” in junior high (at least we thought we did). You walked your sweaty-palmed self to the object of your affection, and s/he proceeded to stomp your guts out. Hopefully, your story ended better than mine. The point being, there are millions of people who “LIKE” coffee, but they don’t love it. They may think it’s love, but really they’re just fooling themselves and it’s puppy love. So how does one develop a deeper understanding of the coffee world? Just like everything else, you can learn through trial and error, or my personal favorite, learn from the mistakes that others have made!

Taking the First Step

If you’re already a specialty coffee connoisseur, then this message isn’t for you, but it may come in handy when you want to point someone to an introduction to better coffee. If, however, you’re currently drinking grocery store coffee, or subjecting yourself to $5 coffee drinks, this message is made especially for you. If you’re the latter, you probably do not realize that you are spending almost $2000/year. If you’re the former, do you realize that you are drinking a rancid beverage? The first step is admitting your need of help. Even if you think you are perfectly happy with your current situation, there is always room to improve upon it.

It’s All in the Grind

Most people don’t know that the coffee grinder is actually the most important element to brewing a perfect cup of coffee. Sure, you must start with great beans, and you need to have a decent brewer, but those things will be all for nothing, if you don’t have a suitable grinder. The popular home coffee grinder is a cylindrical looking appliance, with blender looking blades at the bottom. If you are currently using one of these, then you are needlessly drinking a poorly brewed beverage. All home brewing folks need a reliable, burr grinder. Why? There is only a percentage of the coffee bean that is soluble, and an even smaller percentage that you want in your cup. For this reason, each brewing method requires a specific, uniform coarseness of the coffee grounds. The blades on the cheapo models cannot possibly be made to create a uniform grind. A poorly ground batch of coffee will see many fines (coffee dust), as well as chunks, leading to too much of the fine particles being dissolved, as well as not enough of the chunkier pieces. Conversely, a properly ground batch of coffee for your brewing method, will result in the optimal amount of the coffee being dissolved into the beverage (extraction).

If you are going to brew regular coffee (non-espresso), then the most economical grinder that I can confidently recommend is the Baratza Encore ($129). To most of you, this may seem like a huge price to pay, but there are grinders that cost thousands! You will also realize an overall savings by having a well constructed grinder that lasts for years, allowing you to brew better coffee at home than in most coffee shops. Additionally, you will also be able to save on the brewer, as most people think that the bulk of their budget should be spent on the brewer. This is simply not the case. If you have $150 for your overall coffee equipment budget, I will tell you to get the grinder and recommend a $20 brewer. If you are strapped for cash, but you don’t mind a bit of an arm workout, I can recommend a $40 manual grinder, The Porlex. This grinder is a great choice for non-espresso folks, and its sturdy construction makes it a great travel grinder too.

Choosing the Right Coffee Maker

There are probably hundreds of different ways to make coffee, but most people opt for the automatic drip coffee maker. While not producing the optimal beverage, it is easy to use. The drawbacks to the auto-drip are internal cleaning/descaling, which is vital to maintain the internal parts as well as providing the best possible taste. Also, many of these brewers do not sufficiently heat the water to attain proper extraction. Personally, I stay away from any brewing system that is enclosed. If I can’t see that the parts are clean, then there is always a nagging voice in my head that is telling me that it’s dirty. Another advantage of manual brewing options, is the level of control over the entire process. I know how hot the water is, I know the equipment is properly cleaned, and I know how long the water is in contact with the ground coffee.

Here are a few options of coffee brewers that are perfect for the beginner, not requiring a great amount of learning, while only requiring a small amount of time and effort.

The French Press – This brewer has been around for a long, long time, and with good reason. Even the most snobbiest of coffee snobs will brew via French Press. The ease of use, repeatability, and the tasty beverages it produces make it an excellent choice. (CoffeeNate’s French Press Tutorial) The press that I use is stainless steel, but aside from the durability, I really love the single piece filter of this press. Most French Presses use a filter screen, which is held in place between two plates at the bottom of the plunger. The con to this is the tendency for the coffee grounds to get stuck between these plates, often requiring disassembling to properly clean. My press, the Bodum Columbia, costs about $79. That is nearly double the price of a quality glass press pot, but it was well worth the investment to me. The single piece filter makes cleanup a breeze, plus my kids were constantly breaking the glass ones. I spent $79 on the Bodum Columbia, and $200 on the cheaper glass ones. 😛
Moka Pot – Also known as a ‘stove top espresso maker’, this brewer makes a powerful cup of coffee. If you don’t enjoy the concentrated beverage, simply add hot water to taste. You can also add hot milk. The nice thing about the Moka Pot, is that you don’t need to bother with measuring the amount of coffee you use (although it will help with consistency and reduce waste). You simply fill the chamber that holds the coffee, put it on the stove, and when it’s full, you’re ready to enjoy. (CoffeeNate’s Moka Pot tutorial)
Chemex – This method is rather easy to use, but will require a couple of tries before you achieve your desired results. Once you get it down, it will be second nature, and you won’t even think about it. This brewer looks like a glass pitcher with a glass funnel attached to the top. A filter sits inside of the funnel, and you simply pour the hot water onto the coffee. This method typically uses a paper filter, so the resulting brew will be quite a bit smoother than the previous methods mentioned. A brewer that uses a metal filter will allow much more flavor to enter the cup, while the paper will trap it. Which is better? It’s subjective, but I tend to prefer the metal filters. I sue a KONE filter for my Chemex, and I works fabulously. (CoffeeNate’s Chemex tutorial)
V60 – This method is another pourover style brewer, and is perfect for brewing single cups of coffee. At about $17, the price is also right. The style is similar to the Chemex, except you only get the funnel portion. You can use the paper cone filters, or use a metal KONE.

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You NEED Good Coffee

The Coffee Olympics : #Coffee #Sochi2014

February 10, 2014 By Nate Leave a Comment

The Coffee Olympics

Every time the Olympics are held in a distant country, I find myself staying up all hours of the night to watch “just one more event”. I’m sure I’m not the only one, but when I do this I have to consume twice as much coffee the following day. I guess it’s a win/win. 😉

The Coffee Nate Gold Medalists

In the Olympic spirit, I have awarded medals to the best coffee grinder, brewer, and top piece of home coffee brewing equipment.

Best Coffee Grinder

Capturing gold for “Best Coffee Grinder”, is Baratza. Rather than bestow this medal to a single grinder, I’m giving it to the company. This is because different types of coffee brewing will require a different grinder, and Baratza provides the best of both. From the entry level Encore to the espresso specialist Vario-W, there is something for every serious coffee nerd. Why Baratza? This company’s sole focus is producing quality coffee grinders. They don’t make 100 appliances and happen to also make coffee grinders, they specialize in producing top of the line coffee grinding machines. I’ve said many times, the single most important piece of coffee brewing equipment is the grinder. No other product has the potential to positively impact your coffee, more than the investment in a high caliber coffee grinder. You can have the world’s finest coffee and the most cutting edge coffee brewer, but if you don’t have a decent grinder, you’ll drink a poor cup of coffee.

Gold: Baratza Vario W

The gold standard for home espresso enthusiasts! The Vario-W is also able to grind for other brewing methods, but it isn’t recommended as you’ll constantly be losing your espresso sweet spot.

Silver: Baratza Virtuoso

Perfect for versatility. Capable of producing a suitable grind for espresso, as well as press pot and other brewing methods.

Bronze: Baratza Encore

Great for brewing methods, other than espresso. Excellent entry level burr grinder for maximum results with least investment.

Best Coffee Brewer

Here’s where it gets a bit subjective. I prefer different types of brewers for different coffees. On top of that, I also prefer different brewing methods depending on the time of day, the amount of time I have available, as well as what kind of mood I’m in. Here are the winners…

Gold: Bodum Columbia French Press

This press claimed gold based on the ease of use, the quality of its components, as well as the convenience and repeatability. French Press coffee is enjoyed by many a coffee snob, and it is surprisingly affordable. While the traditional glass versions are more than adequate (if you purchase a quality one), the Columbia is stainless steel, which makes it kid-proof. Also, the plunger of the Columbia is a single piece. Most plungers have a screen filter that fits between two metal plates at the bottom of the plunger. These are horrible to clean, because the coffee grounds get stuck between the screen and the plates. In order to properly clean, you have to take it apart every time. Nobody does this, and you end up with rotten coffee grounds in your fresh brew. Nasty! The Columbia features a single piece filter that is a breeze to clean. It also has a small silicone ring around the outside, providing an excellent seal to keep the coffee grounds out of your drink.

Silver: The AeroPress

The AeroPress could very well be a gold medal contender, but it does require a bit more involvement, as well as more ways to screw up the beverage. On the other hand, it does create a unique brewing experience, as well as an exceptional cup of coffee. How the makers of a flying disc stumbled upon this device is beyond me, but this product is really quite awesome.

The AeroPress is perfect for people who want to brew a single cup, but don’t want to go the expensive route of the Kcup brewers, which also produce some of the poorest quality coffee known to man. Also, if you like an intensely strong brew, the AeroPress is a must. The final product is a concentrated cup of coffee, which you can add hot water or milk to suit your strength preference. If you don’t mind going through a few steps, the AeroPress is your best bet. At first, you may find it to be a bit labor intensive but, like anything else, practice makes perfect. You will quickly find yourself brewing like a barista, once you go through the steps a few times. It isn’t as intimidating as it appears, and you can follow my step by step video to get you started.

Bronze: The Chemex

While I struggled with choosing a third brewer, I went with the Chemex. This brewing method allows you to brew a single cup or as many as 13 cups! I have an 13 cup Chemex, which I use when we are entertaining. I can brew up a large number of cups, rather than kicking out 1 cup at a time, for the entire evening. You can also brew a single cup, without sacrificing the quality of the brew. The construction of the Chemex is quite simple. It is a glass container, with a funnel at the top. Insert the filter into the funnel, add the ground coffee, then slowly add the water. Once you get the grind right, you will find this method very simple, and the finished product is a tasty cup of coffee.

Overall Coffee Brewing Equipment

Gold: Bonavita Variable Temperature Gooseneck Kettle

This was an easy choice, for several reasons. Reason number one, control. The gooseneck design allows for precise, slow pouring, while the function of the kettle also allows you to set the desired temperature of the water. The optimal water temperature for brewing coffee is between 195-205 degrees Fahrenheit. (NOT BOILING) At this temperature range, the perfect amount of the coffee bean is dissolved by the water. If your water isn’t hot enough, it won’t dissolve enough, too hot and your coffee will taste bitter, because too much was allowed to dissolve. This kettle provides two important functions in a single device, saving you time…which is reason number 2.

Silver: Able Filters

I simply love the metal filters produced by Able Brewing Company. The first is the standard screen, reusable filter for the AeroPress. This metal AeroPress filter allows more of the flavorful oils to enter your cup. Paper filters work perfectly fine, but they make the brew too smooth for my personal taste. If you enjoy a flavor packed cup, then you MUST get the reusable Able filter for the AeroPress.

I always use the Able KONE filter for brewing with my Chemex. For the same reason as with the reusable AeroPress filter, the KONE allows more flavor to enter the cup, while keeping out the sediment found in French Press brewing. Another benefit of using the KONE, you are able to use a finer grind for the Chemex, without clogging the filter. The traditional Chemex paper filters are excellent, but you must use a coarser grind in order to keep the coffee flowing. Again, the paper filter provides a smoother tasting cup, but removes much of the flavor that the KONE allows into the cup. If you’re like me, you’ll prefer the KONE filter.

Bronze: Hario Digital Scale & Timer

An essential element of brewing exceptional coffee is repeatability. If you measure your coffee grounds by the ‘scoop’, you’re not getting it. Measuring coffee by mass offers you the consistency that is crucial to producing a repeatable process with ease. Coffee beans can vary in density and size, but if you always measure your coffee with a scale, you will always use the proper amount. Otherwise, you’re simply guessing. The Hario scale is superior to cheaper models, because it offers a large surface area, easy to read display, and it also has a built in timer. The larger surface area allows for more stability for your brewer. After adding your coffee, you can put your brewer on the scale, tare it, then measure your water by mass as well. If you don’t already do this, it may sound like more work, but it actually creates less work in addition to giving you maximum control and a simple, repeatable brewing process.

Here are more products that I love…