So you’ve just received your freshly roasted Good Vibes Coffee beans, and you’re eager to brew that perfect cup. But where do you start?
Over the years, I’ve learned that great coffee isn’t just about quality beans – it’s also about how you prepare and brew them. Let me share some of my top tips to help you get the most out of your specialty coffee at home.
Getting the Brew Right
Even the best coffee beans in the world are going to taste rancid if your brewing method isn’t right. This is the classic first mistake so many home brewers make at first. The preparation varies by brew method – your grind size and dosing weight will differ – but before we dive into that rabbit hole, let’s look at some quick wins to keep your brewing journey successful.
Coffee Freshness is Important
Coffee is at its peak flavor within 2-4 weeks of roasting – that’s why we roast in small batches and deliver fresh to your door. We want you to enjoy the coffee in its peak window. As a rule, once you open the bag, aim to use it within two weeks for the best results, four weeks maximum.
How to Store Your Coffee Properly
Our bags come with a one-way valve and a resealable zipper, which helps keep your coffee fresh while releasing excess air during the coffee’s freshness cycle. This is ideal for maintaining freshness, however you could also use a dark, airtight container instead if you prefer. Brands such as Airscape offer excellent coffee storage solutions.
Ideally, your coffee should be stored away from:
- Light
- Heat
- Moisture
These factors can all deteriorate coffee freshness.
Bean-to-Cup Machine Storage Tips
If you’re using a bean-to-cup machine, try not to fill your hopper and let it sit for more than 2-3 days as the coffee can quickly deteriorate and lose freshness rapidly. For occasional use, you could even weigh and grind as required to keep your coffee super fresh.
Important: Resist the temptation to store your coffee in the fridge or freezer – the moisture and odors will ruin it.
Grind Just Before Brewing
Much like improper storage, pre-ground coffee loses its flavor quickly. Grinding your beans just before you brew is the way forward to better coffee. Investing in a decent grinder for home use is ideal to achieve this.
Best Coffee Grinders for Home Use
Hand grinders such as the Hario and Commandante models are super easy to use – plus these energy-intensive devices burn you some calories in the process too, saving you money on a gym membership and leaving you more to spend on great coffee!
Burr grinders are best – flat burrs over conical burrs are ideal if you can get them, but most conical grinders are more than suitable for home use without spending a fortune. Electric models such as the Wilfa Svart and Baratza Encore are great and relatively inexpensive to get you grinding fresh daily.
The difference in your coffee experience will be 100 times better. Your coffee will smell better, look better, and have so much more flavor over pre-ground.
Water Quality Matters
It makes sense when you think about it: coffee is approximately 98% water, so if your water tastes off, your coffee will too. If you can, use filtered water and make sure it’s between 90-96°C (195-205°F) before brewing.
Most people don’t realize it, but using boiling water can scorch the coffee, resulting in bitter tasting notes and dead flavors.
Water Temperature Tips
An easy win is to let your kettle sit for 30 seconds after boiling. Another option is to invest in a temperature-controlled kettle, which will display the temperature for extra accuracy when brewing.
Understanding Grind Size
This is probably the biggest variable in brewing coffee.
- If your coffee tastes bitter, you’ve likely over-extracted (grind coarser or brew shorter)
- If it’s sour or weak, you’ve under-extracted (grind finer or brew longer)
Getting your head around grind sizes can be tricky at first, and probably too much to cover in this article alone, so we’ll explore that further in other posts. In the meantime, please reach out to us directly if you need help understanding grind sizes.
Keep Your Equipment Clean
Unclean equipment will absolutely affect your brewing experience. Coffee emits oils as it ages, and as these oils age they go rancid and upset your brew.
Build a routine to give your coffee equipment a good clean after use, or if it’s a bean-to-cup machine, a weekly clean schedule will help keep your coffee tasting good. Your taste buds will definitely thank you for it.
Get Your Coffee-to-Water Ratios Right
Mastering your ratios means you’ll never make a bad brew again. Here are some starting ratios to get you going:
Coffee Brewing Ratios by Method
Espresso
- 18g coffee, 36g output in 30 seconds
Cafetière (French Press)
- 18g coffee to 300ml water, 4 minutes brew time
AeroPress
- 17g coffee, 250ml water, plunge at 2 minutes for 30 seconds
Filter / Chemex
- 18g coffee, 300ml water for 3 minutes
You might want to adjust the coffee volumes to suit your taste. For stronger coffee, add an extra gram or two. For lighter roast coffee, shaving a gram or two off the recipe can balance the flavor.
Consistency is key when it comes to achieving a great brew every time. Feel free to keep a notepad of your findings to help you understand your preferences on your journey.
Final Thoughts
At Good Vibes Coffee, we put so much love into sourcing and roasting great coffees to bring out the best characteristics in each bean. Our hope is that these tips help you unlock all those flavors at home.
Remember, making great coffee is a journey, not a destination. Some days your cup will sing, other days it might be just okay – and that’s part of the adventure.
If you ever have questions about brewing or want some personalized advice for your setup, don’t hesitate to get in touch. We’re always happy to chat coffee!
Now, go make yourself a brew and enjoy it.
Happy brewing!