What is so special about Specialty Coffee? Well, everything if the process is understood and followed.
The Specialty Coffee Association shares that “Specialty coffee can consistently exist through the dedication of the people who have made it their life’s work to continually make quality their highest priority” a collaboration of many from “crop to cup” starting with:
Coffee Growers who strive to perfect the process of producing the highest quality coffee possible and partner with like-minded buyers who understand the cost of quality.
Green Bean Buyers whose skills to taste and source the "best of the best" coffees are essential and always represent specialty grade quality.
Coffee Roasters who acquire the knowledge and master the skills of the roasting process yielding the highest standards of consistent quality and flavor in every single batch roasted.
The Coffee Café staff (Barista) who is the master of "all things brewing," equipment and coffee tasting ensuring a quality coffee drinking experience.
The Coffee Connoisseur who rounds out the “crop to cup” lifecycle and drives the expectation for quality and variety in the coffee drinking experience.
How To | Different Ways for Brewing Coffee
Automatic Drip
There’s nothing ordinary about coffee brewing anymore…and honestly, it can be challenging to find the “perfect ratio” of coffee grounds to water. So, here are some simple hints to help you brew the best cup of coffee:
- A standard US cup = 8 ozs. - A Coffee pot/carafe cup = 5 ozs. - So, a “12-cup” pot of coffee makes 60 ounces of coffee or about 7 regular-(8 oz.) cups NOT 12-(8 oz.) cups - A general guideline termed "The Golden Ratio" = 2 tablespoons of ground coffee for every 8 oz. of water - Suggested Coffee-to-water ratios using "The Golden Ratio":
4 cups=20 oz of water & 5 tbsp coffee 6 cups=30 oz of water & 7.5 tbsp coffee 8 cups=40 oz of water & 10 tbsp coffee 10 cups=50 oz of water & 12.5 tbsp coffee 12 cups=60 oz of water & 15 tbsp coffee
The MOST important hint-coffee is as individual as you…make it to YOUR liking! Less coffee is OKAY, try 1-1.5 tablespoon coffee per cup
Instructional Video being added here in the near future !
French Press
In a quest to experience a richer, smoother, and more flavorful cup of coffee, using a French Press is a perfect choice. This method doesn’t use a filter which really allows the oils and flavor in the coffee bean to shine through. As with any coffee brewing technique, there are general guidelines that will yield a great cup of coffee and the rest is up to your taste preferences. Here are the basic steps to creating a wonderful coffee sipping experience:
- Here’s what you’ll need:
Great coffee (we’ve got that covered) French Press Coffee Maker Coffee Grinder (A Burr Grinder works great!) Water (bottled or filtered is best) Stirring spoon (wooden recommended) Water kettle (with temperature capacity of 200 degrees F.); Thermometer / some kettles have built in temp readings Timer Scale or Coffee measuring spoon (tablespoon)
- Measure out 1 tablespoon (8 grams) per 4 oz. (118 ml.) of water (more or less per your preference). For example: A 3-Cup (12 oz) Coffee Press you would measure 2-3 tbsp or (16-24 grams) of coffee
- Bring water to a boil, ideal water temperature for a French Press is between 195-200 degrees Fahrenheit
- Grind your coffee beans to a course or medium-course grind
- Prep the French Press by pouring warm water into the carafe and letting sit for a few seconds to “warm up the carafe” (pour water out before you add your measured coffee)
- Add your measured coffee grounds, then add your hot water to your Coffee press filling it up to the bottom of the top metal band. Stir with the wooden spoon
- Place the lid (with the plunger pulled up) on the French Press (this will help contain the heat) and wait 4 minutes for the coffee to brew, set a timer and let the magic happen
- Once the timer has ended, slowly press the plunger all the way down, filtering the grounds out of the coffee-don’t rush this step because the magic is still happening!
- Immediately pour yourself an amazing cup of coffee. If you have some left in the carafe, transfer to a thermos or insulated carafe to stop the extracting process and to keep your coffee warm
Instructional Video being added here in the near future !
Cold Brew
Cold brew has been and currently is trending in its popularity. Why? Fans tout the drinking qualities of cold brew as “smoother, sweeter, and less acidic” than hot coffee. You can find it bottled or canned ready for purchase from your local grocery store OR you can brew your own. Offered below are easy steps to making your own cold brewed coffee:
- Here’s what you’ll need:
Great coffee (we’ve got that covered) A Cold Brewing device of your choice Spoon Scale Grinder
- General rule of thumb is a 1:4 ratio of coffee grounds to water.
- Measure 250 g of coffee (~ 8 ounces)
- Grind the coffee to the coarseness of sea salt (a burr grinder works great). A course grind prevents overextraction while brewing
- Place grounds in the Cold Brewer filter*
- Add one liter (32 ounces) of fresh cold water (bottled or filtered is best) to saturate the grounds creating a bloom (using half the water) and wait about 30 seconds before adding the remaining water
- Use the spoon to gently “push down” any “dry grounds” into the water, making certain everything is saturated
- Wait a minimum of 12 to 24 hours for the magic to happen either at room temperature or in the refrigerator
- When ready, remove filter, discard grounds*
- Dilute the coffee concentrate with water or milk using a 1:2 or 1:3 ratio (for example, 2 ounces coffee concentrate diluted with 4-6 ounces of water or milk
- SIP, and ENJOY! (*Follow directions for the Cold Brewer device you are using)
Instructional Video being added here in the near future !
Pour Over
It’s so simple to make the “perfect pour over at home” and it enables you to brew a clean and bright cup of coffee without a lot of fuss. Coffee brewed this way allows you to experience the subtitles of the coffee’s flavor profile. A good pour over brings those “tasting notes” to life on your palate. Here are the basic steps for that perfect pour over:
- Here’s what you’ll need:
Great coffee (we’ve got that covered) A scoop A scale and timer A pour over cone, carafe and filter A grinder (A burr grinder works great!) Water (Bottled or filtered is best) Water kettle (with temperature capacity of 200 degrees F.); thermometer-some kettles have built in temperature reading
- Start by heating the water to 200 degrees Fahrenheit
- Measure 25 gm (more or less to taste) of freshly roasted coffee beans which should be ground to the coarseness of sand
- Place filter in the pour over cone with seam folded down so it lays flat in the cone over the carafe
- Rinse filter with hot water to remove any paper taste and to pre-heat the carafe
- Discard the water from the carafe
- Place the carafe (with cone/filter in place) on the scale and add ground coffee and zero out the scale and start the timer
- For 10 seconds pour about 50 gm of water in a spiral motion to saturate all of the grounds and allow the coffee to “bloom”
- At 30 seconds, continue to pour hot water starting in a spiral pattern and then directly down the middle to ensure even coverage and extraction
- You should reach about 400 gm at 2 minutes. Patiently allow the coffee to drip through paying particular attention to the evenly saturated grounds-visual perfection
- Remove the filter/cone from the carafe
- Give the carafe a final swirl before pouring into the cup
- Now, Sip and enjoy!!
Instructional Video being added here in the near future !
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