If you’re going to drink coffee every day or serve it to guests, it better be more than the usual quick-fix variety. After all, mornings deserve a coffee ritual that’s sacred. However, for its mystical stimulating effects, coffee was banned in the 16th century. It was also condemned as the “drink of Satan” for centuries. How did they get through hellish days, we wonder! Those times have gone but coffee has survived (thankfully).
And its true connoisseurs have mastered the fine art of brewing it. Here are 6 fundamentals to making a damn good cup!
If you’re going to drink coffee every day, or serve it to guests, it better be more than the usual quick-fix variety. After all, mornings deserve a coffee ritual that’s sacred. However, for its mystical stimulating effects, coffee was banned in the 16th century. It was also condemned as the “drink of Satan” for centuries. How did they get through hellish days, we wonder! Those times have gone but coffee has survived (thankfully).
And its true connoisseurs have mastered the fine art of brewing it. Here are 6 fundamentals to making a damn good cup!
1. Quality Coffee Beans: Sustainably farmed, whole beans that are roasted recently, under 2 weeks is preferable. The coffee revolution champions light roasts because ironically, they’re best for a true caffeine kick while experiencing rich flavours too.
2. Don’t Pre-Grind: A single good coffee bean has more flavour compounds than a sip of wine. The flavour of which deteriorates quickly with oxygen exposure. That’s why it's best to buy freshly roasted coffee that you store only for two weeks. And, grind your beans afresh before each brew.
3. Store Well: Don’t overstock your coffee and keep it in an airtight container, away from sunlight. If you plan on storing for over two weeks then freeze it, even though this is a much-debated option.
4. Proportion Matters: Depending on your taste buds, your coffee-to-water proportion varies from 1:14 to 1:18. The Golden Ratio is a very specific 1:17.42. It’s worth the precision.
5. Hone That Technique: With over 20 brewing methods, coffee-making needs patience, precision, and passion. With a good instruction manual to follow, experiment, fine-tune, and master the art.
6. Use Quality Tools: Judging your brewing equipment basis a steal deal can steal the quality you seek. Quality coffee equipment is a good investment that is long-lasting and makes the brewing process easier and more enjoyable. When your coffee-making equipment combines ergonomics with style, then behind the bar is the last place you’d want it to be.
Now pick a method of your choice ranging from drip to steeping to pressure methods. Each type takes you across a spectrum of coffee body and flavor clarity. Basis the method you choose, you can experiment with the variables:
Grind Size: Too coarse a grind with a pour-over compromises the coffee extraction. Too fine a grind with the French Press and the flavor is compromised. Hit the sweet spot and you’re in for a slice of heaven. A consistent medium grind with The Caffeinator gives you just that
Water Temperature: Too hot and you’re in for astringent coffee. Too cold and it’s just not flavourful. We’d suggest 35-94.4°C for experimenting. For precision use The Steamcatcher with its in-built temperature measure.
Agitation: Agitation (mild disturbance) is needed when the extraction isn’t going too well. People often agitate the coffee grinds to increase their exposure to water. But can get agitated when they go a tad bit too far. Perfect your agitation with the famous trial and error method here. If you use The Caffeinator and the concentric pour with The Steamcatcher, no agitation is needed. The Ratio: While we’ve told you the Golden Ratio, this is where you can definitely get creative. Try different amounts and allow your tastebuds to guide you over convention.
The Tools: You can try your hand at different filters and apparatuses until you find what works for your taste and style profile. Good coffee equipment, however, can be a tad expensive to experiment with. So, make an informed decision.
Our R&D has shown the benefits of metal filters over the paper. We’ve researched the exact distance needed between the filter and the carafe. We’ve hard-engineered designs that make our coffee tools smarter-than-the average. We’ve mastered the art, so step into our world for a true immersion into the nuances of refined coffee-making.