For most, a scrumptious coffee is a prerequisite for a productive morning - however, we know that for those who take the time to indulge in the craft of their next brew, your typical cup o' joe can be transformed into a true treat. Our aim here is to equip you with the base knowledge you need in order to start your day in true aficionado fashion.
We'll walk you through five key steps that will allow you to level up your next brew, starting from the very beginning:
Step 1) Source high-quality coffee beans.
While this may sound like an obvious first step, it is a critical place to start; The quality of your coffee beans will directly influence the notes of flavor, and understanding how the beans were processed can give you a firm grasp of how they will taste, all before ever bringing them to the checkout line.
As a general rule of thumb, the fresher your coffee is, the stronger and more flavorful it will be. Specifically, you're concerned with the amount of time that has elapsed since the bean was roasted, not necessarily the time it was picked.
Roasting beans is a critical component in unlocking the flavor and aroma of the beans, a process by which you remove the moisture and allow the oils to emerge. Based on length of time and temperatures at which they are roasted, the beans develop their flavor notes, which can be composed of any distinct combinations of acidity, sweetness, and depths.
What do the different roasts mean?
You may be familiar with the terms Light, Medium, and Dark Roasts - but what does this mean for your coffee flavor? We'll explore some of the more important points below, but stay tuned for future posts that will explore this in more depth.
A) Light Roast
This roast characterizes beans that are roasted at lower temperatures, in the realm of 350° to 410° F, which allows for the retention of more caffeine - making this roast the most caffeinated bean in our lineup!
Due to the lower temperatures, it also allows the beans to retain more complex flavor profiles; so if you crave beans with flavors such as cinnamon, hazelnut, or pecan, this is your best bet. However, it is more acidic than the other two roasts - something to keep in mind if you're more health-conscious.
Best for those who dislike bitter aftertastes.
B) Medium Roast
Roasted at higher temperature ranges, from 410° to 440° F this roast is known for its more balanced flavor profile, meaning that it maintains a blend of the more delicate flavors you can expect from light roast, while also offering a more bold experience akin to a dark roast.
The higher temperatures cause more caffeine to be lost during the roasting process, so the end product contains moderate amounts of caffeine along with moderate acidity levels.
C) Dark Roast
This bean is roasted at the highest end of the temperature spectrum, exposed to 440° to 465° F, which helps draw out the most oils from your beans. These oils contribute to very deep, bold flavors, perfect for those who savor robust cups of coffee.
This brew is the least caffeinated, and but sports the lowest levels of acidity than its light and medium roast counterparts.
This roast can be best for those who prefer a more bitter aftertaste.
It is at this point, when the coffee beans are roasted, that they are at their freshest; But from that moment onwards, if the beans are exposed to oxygen, they will begin oxidizing which will slowly degrade their quality over time. Coffee beans can lose their freshness as quickly as 7-15 days after roasting, but can nonetheless be good to brew for up to a year.
We plan to publish another article detailing strategies to employ in order to keep your coffee fresher, longer - so if you're interested, please stay tuned!
Step 2) Invest in a quality Coffee Bean Grinder.
So now that you have sourced high-quality beans, you need the appropriate tool in order to grind them into the appropriate coarseness for the coffee of your choice. When it comes to Coffee Bean Grinders, there are two flavors (pun intended!): handheld or electric.
Ultimately, your choice will come down to preference and use case, but some factors to consider are:
A) Handheld Grinders
- Small and Compact form factors, great for travel and/or storage
- Can be used anywhere, without the need for electricity
- Preserves more flavor, by minimizing heat buildup from friction
- Can be much less expensive than electric grinders
B) Electric Grinders
- Have larger capacities to grind more beans at a time
- Produces grounds quickly
- Can provide consistency in grounds sizes
- May be large, depending on the model
If you're looking for a high-quality manual coffee grinder, please consider Ever Savant's Robusta Coffee Grinder - it offers consistent, flavor-rich grounds with a stainless-steel burr designed for true coffee connoisseurs.
Step 3) Get the right water temperature and brew time
Now with a fresh set of coffee grounds, we can prepare our water. In order to avoid any conflicting flavors from interfering with your coffee, it is recommended to use filtered water (non-tap water) to minimize any added tastes that minerals could introduce.
In order to extract the full flavor profile from your coffee, the water with which you make your next brew should be between 195° - 205° F. This range is tried and true, and ensures that you extract the notes of flavor without burning or under-extracting the coffee. What could happen if you fall underneath or above this threshold?
A) Under Extraction: This occurs whenever your water's temperature is beneath 195° F, or if the brew time is too short. This often results in a weak coffee that has a sour taste, with a texture that tends to be more watery than otherwise expected.
B) Over Extraction: You'll find your coffee tends have a bitter, burnt, or generally unpleasant taste when the water is above 205° F, or has a brew time that is too long. You may also find that the end-product is heavier and darker than otherwise expected.
This does beg the question: what is the ideal brew time? One size, unfortunately, does not fit all - it is highly dependent on how you're brewing your coffee. Please reference the table below for some ranges you can base your next cup upon:
| Brew Style | Brew Time |
| Drip Coffee | 4-5 Minute |
| French Press | 4-5 Minutes |
| Pour-Over | 2-3 Minutes |
| Espresso | 25-30 Seconds |
| Cold-Brew | 12-24 Hours |
Step 4) Find your ideal ratio of grounds-to-water.
We're nearly there to brew - the last component is to get the right ratio of coffee grounds to water. If you're in a rush, you can use the "Golden Ratio" - an at-a-glance approximation that measures 1-2 tablespoons of coffee per 6 ounces of water, but if you're looking for a more precise cup, please refer to the table below.
| Brew Style | Ratio |
| Drip Coffee | 1 to 2 tablespoons of coffee grounds per 6 ounces (177 mL) of water |
| French Press | 1 to 2 tablespoons of coffee grounds per 8 ounces (236 mL) of water |
| Pour-Over | 1 to 2 tablespoons of coffee grounds per 6 ounces (177 mL) of water |
| Espresso | 1 to 2 tablespoons of coffee grounds per shot (around 1-2 ounces of 30-60 mL of water) |
| Cold-Brew | 1 to 2 cups of coffee grounds per 4 cups (946 mL) of water |
Step 5) Enjoy!
Armed with the above knowledge, you can begin your journey to brew coffee like a true connoisseur. Time to brew your next masterpiece!
If you have your own special way to brew coffee, please leave a comment below for others to enjoy. Otherwise, check back regularly for everything caffeinated!
We truly hope you enjoy,
- The Ever Savant Team