Brew Guides

SIMPLE BREW GUIDE

Good coffee doesn’t need to be complicated. Start with good coffee, grind it correctly, keep your equipment clean, use decent water, and adjust from there.

BEFORE YOU BREW

Quality Coffee

Start with good, fresh coffee. Coffee doesn’t need to be expensive or fancy, but quality beans make a difference. Buy coffee you enjoy and try to use it while it’s fresh.

Quality Grind

Your grinder matters. A consistent grind helps the coffee extract evenly and can make a bigger difference than upgrading a bunch of other equipment.

  • Drip: Medium grind
  • Espresso: Fine grind
  • Grind fresh when you can
  • Pre-ground works too. We’re not here to judge.

Clean Equipment

Clean equipment makes better coffee. Old coffee oils, grounds, and buildup can make even great coffee taste bad.

  • Rinse brewers and baskets regularly
  • Keep grinders free of old grounds
  • Clean espresso machines and portafilters regularly
  • If something smells like old coffee, clean it

You don’t need a laboratory. Just keep the stuff that touches your coffee reasonably clean.

START HERE

Coffee + Water

A great starting point for drip coffee is:

  • 1 part coffee : 16 parts water
  • 60–65g coffee per 1 liter of water
  • No scale? Roughly 2 tablespoons of coffee per 6 oz of water

Like it stronger? Add a little more coffee.
Like it lighter? Add a little less.

The Grind Matters

A good grinder is one of the easiest ways to make better coffee. Consistent grounds = more consistent flavor.

  • Drip: Medium grind
  • Espresso: Fine grind

If your coffee tastes weak or sour, try grinding finer.
If it tastes bitter or harsh, try grinding coarser.

Freshly ground is best, but pre-ground coffee works too. We're here to make good coffee, not make your morning harder.

Water

Coffee is mostly water, so use water that tastes good on its own. Filtered water is great. Good tap water is fine too.

For drip coffee, water around 195–205°F works well. No thermometer? Let boiling water sit for about 30 seconds and you're close enough.

DRIP COFFEE

Ratio: 1:16
Example: 60–65g coffee + 1 liter water
Grind: Medium

  1. Add water to your brewer.
  2. Grind your coffee medium.
  3. Add coffee to the filter.
  4. Hit brew.
  5. Drink coffee.

If it tastes good, you nailed it. If it doesn't, adjust the grind before changing everything else.

ESPRESSO

Ratio: Start around 1:2
Example: 18g coffee → 36g espresso
Grind: Fine
Target time: About 25–30 seconds

  1. Grind 18g of coffee fine.
  2. Distribute it evenly in the portafilter.
  3. Tamp level and firmly.
  4. Pull the shot.
  5. Aim for roughly 36g of espresso in about 25–30 seconds.

Shot running too fast? Grind finer.
Shot running too slow? Grind coarser.

That's it. Get the basics right, taste the coffee, and adjust. You don't need a chemistry degree or a $300 kettle to make a damn good cup.