A reference to keep close
Brew basics
A starting framework for filter coffee. Your beans, grinder and brewer will shape the recipe that tastes right to you.
01
Write a repeatable recipe
Start with coffee mass, water mass, grind setting and a rough brew time. A recipe is useful when you can reproduce it with your own tools. Weighing water is convenient because it avoids estimating from a kettle mark. Record the process simply enough that you can follow it on an ordinary morning.
02
Use a ratio as a starting point
For filter coffee, a 1:16 coffee-to-water ratio is a practical place to begin a tasting comparison. For 20 grams of coffee, that means 320 grams of added water. This is not a universal optimum and it does not describe espresso. Change the ratio after you have tasted a repeatable cup.
03
Compare one change
Make two small brews with the same beans and water. Change only the feature you want to understand, such as grind or ratio. Taste after the cups have cooled a little. Describe specific impressions rather than rating one as simply good or bad. A clear comparison makes the next adjustment more useful.
04
Keep the tools ready
Clean the brewer according to its manufacturer instructions, let parts dry and leave the next filter nearby. Store coffee sealed away from excessive heat and moisture. A tidy setup reduces the number of decisions between wanting a cup and making one, without requiring a collection of new equipment.