The number one thing people tell us at the counter is that their coffee at home never tastes as good as ours. Almost every time, it comes down to the same handful of things, and none of them need a $2,000 machine.
Here is what actually moves the needle.
1. Buy fresh, and buy less
Coffee is fresh produce. It peaks in the two to four weeks after roasting and then it flattens out. Supermarket bags are often months old before they hit your cupboard, which is why they taste dull no matter what you do.
Buy smaller amounts more often. A 250g bag that you finish in three weeks will beat a kilo that sits around for four months, every single time.
2. Grind right before you brew
Ground coffee starts losing its aroma within minutes. If you can, buy whole beans and grind them as you go. A cheap hand grinder makes a bigger difference to your cup than an expensive machine with pre ground coffee in it.
If you do not have a grinder, that is completely fine. Just tell us how you brew and we will grind your bag to match.
3. Get your ratio in the ballpark
You do not need scales to care about this, but they help. A good starting point is about 60g of coffee per litre of water. For a plunger, that is roughly two heaped tablespoons for a large mug.
Weak coffee is usually not enough coffee, not bad beans. Most people under dose without realising.
4. Mind your water
Off the boil, not boiling. Around 92 to 96 degrees. If you have no thermometer, boil the kettle then wait about thirty seconds.
Boiling water scorches the grounds and gives you that harsh, bitter edge people blame on the beans.
Method by method
Plunger: coarse grind, four minutes, press slowly. Do not leave it sitting in the plunger afterwards or it keeps brewing and turns bitter.
Pour over: medium grind, wet the grounds first and let them bubble for thirty seconds, then pour in slow circles. Aim for about three minutes total.
AeroPress: fine grind, short brew, and forgiving of almost everything. The best value piece of coffee gear going around.
Start with good beans
All of the above helps, but you cannot fix stale coffee with technique. Our Rise & Shine is the exact blend we pour in the cafe, roasted with our friends at Glee just up the road. Grab a bag, tell us your brew method, and we will sort the grind.
Then come in and tell us how it went. We genuinely want to know!