Should I buy a coffee grinder and grind my own beans?
The best way to enjoy coffee is to purchase whole bean coffee and grind it yourself, just before brewing. More more people are discovering the amazing amount of freshness that comes from freshly grinding coffee at home. Whole beans maintain their freshness much longer than purchasing ground coffee.
If you grind it yourself, it is wise to invest in a good "burr" coffee grinder. The less expensive "blade" grinders essentially chop the coffee bean instead of grinding it. Most use a push button without a predetermined time for how coarse or fine the coffee is ground. This leads to inconsistent grinding.
With a blade grinder, it is difficult to grind to the proper coarseness. Blade grinders also create a lot of heat, which reduces the quality of the coffee. A blade grinder cannot sufficiently grind coffee fine enough to use for espresso.
In contrast, a good "burr" grinder will consistently grind your beans to a desired level of coarseness. They generate less heat and create a much more consistent grind. If you use an espresso machine, make sure the burr grinder you purchase can grind the bean fine enough for espresso.
What type of "grind" should I purchase?
If you choose to buy your coffee beans ground rather than grind your own, depending on what you use your coffee for and what type of equipment you use determines what type of "grind" you choose.
For most people, the "auto drip" grind is the proper choice. This is for modern coffee makers that use a drip water system. These are standard coffee makers that most people purchase.
* AUTO DRIP - for standard, modern drip coffee makers
* PERCOLATOR - these are for the old fashioned style "percolator" coffee makers that most people used during the 1950's through 1970's. They are still sold today, but not widely used.
* FRENCH PRESS - this is a coarse grind for use in a french press or press pot. The coarser grind prevents the coffee grounds from seeping through the mesh screen of the press.
* FINE - this is a finer ground coffee intended for use with most home espresso machines.
* ESPRESSO - this grind is a very fine grind intended for use with commercial espresso machines. Generally it is too fine for use with most home espresso machines.
* TURKISH GRIND - this is an extremely fine grind (rarely used in the U.S.) that grinds the bean into a very fine powder. Some European and Asian countries make their coffee in this style.
What should I know about using a drip coffee maker?
A drip coffee maker is how most people and coffee shops brew coffee in the U.S. today. These are some basic guidelines for using your drip coffee maker:
* Keep the machine clean - do not leave old coffee grounds in the machine, and keep it clean. To keep residue from building up, a simple solution of water and a small amount of white vinegar can be used to flush the machine. Just add this solution and run your normal brew cycle without the coffee.
* Use good water - this sounds simple, but it is essential to a good cup of coffee. In geographic areas where the water tastes bad, your coffee will also taste bad. We recommend using a water filter for the best quality of water. Do not use carbonated water, distilled water or mineral water.
* Grind your beans fresh - buy fresh beans and grind as close to the brewing time as possible.
* Do not let coffee sit. It should be consumed as soon as practical after the brewing cycle is complete. For optimal quality, coffee should be consumed within 20 minutes after brewing.
* Do not pour a cup before the brewing cycle is complete. Many newer coffee makers allow you to pour a cup during the brew cycle. What happens is the first part of the cycle is very strong and the last part is weaker. You should wait for the entire pot to be brewed for the best cup of coffee.
* Use the proper coffee / water ratio. This is ratio is somewhat subjective, depending on how strong you like your coffee. We recommend a 1:1 ratio. Essentially, 1 tablespoon of ground coffee to each 1 cup measure on your coffee maker. For most home coffee makers, the 1 cup measure on the coffee pot is 5 ounces. This is a good starting point. If you have a 10 cup coffee pot, start by using 10 tablespoons of ground coffee. You may need to adjust the coffee ratio depending on your personal taste.
* Contact Time - most drip coffee makers should brew your coffee in about five minutes. Most coffee makers made today are adjustable. This should be adjusted to your taste. However, if your coffee is not optimal, you could be overbrewing ("overextracting") your coffee.
THE BOTTOM LINE.........KEEP IT SIMPLE
Some coffee fanatics will tell you that you have to perform each step perfectly to enjoy a great cup of coffee. It is true that coffee quality begins deteriorating once it has been roasted, again when it has been ground, and again when it has been brewed. If you worry too much about all of these factors, you may increase your stress level and lose sight of your goal of just simply to enjoy a great cup of coffee.
The Bottom Line - just use common sense. Start by purchasing quality arabica coffee. Try to store your coffee by avoiding air and moisture. Grind it as close to brewing as practical. Consume your coffee as close to brewing time as practical.
How do I use a french press or press pot?
A frech press, sometimes called a press pot, is a wonderful way to enjoy coffee or tea. Many coffee purists believe this is the best way to brew coffee. This type of brewing is called direct contact brewing, because a french press uses no paper filter, yet relies on a flavor transfer through direct contact of coffee and water.
A french press consists of a glass or plastic pot that comes in various sizes. There is a plunger attached to the cover and a screen press at the bottom of the plunger. This is how to use it:
* Purchase or grind your coffee beans to a coarseness level for a french press. This level is essentially two levels coarser than for auto drip, or one level coarser than percolator. This degree of coarseness keeps the grounds from seeping through the mesh screen. If your grounds seep through, you are grinding the coffee too fine.
* Fill the pot with very hot or boiling water. Optimall brewing temperature should be about 200 - 210 degrees.
* Add your coffee into the water. Place the top on the top of pot making sure that the plunger is in the raised position.
* Let your coffee brew for the desired time, typically about 4-5 minutes.
* Very slowly press the plunger downward, forcing the ground to the bottom.
* Pour your coffee and enjoy.
* If you have a substantial amount of grounds in your coffee, it is caused by one or two reasons. You may have pressed the plunger down too quickly, allowing grounds past the plunger seal. Or your coffee may have been ground too fine. Keep trying and enjoy the results!
What is the best way to store coffee?
The best way to store coffee is to purchase fresh, whole bean coffee and grind it yourself. Only grind enough to use just before brewing. Store the remaining beans in an air-tight container in a cool dark area, typically a pantry, etc.. The two key things that are detrimental to roasted coffee is air and moisture. Make sure your storage method does its best to avoid contact with air and moisture, including condensation.
I recommend a very simple and inexpensive container for storing coffee beans. Restaurant supply stores sell a white polyethylene food storage container that is standard in the industry. You can purchase these at any restaurant supply store for under $5.00. These do an excellent job of sealing out air and moisture and they last forever. If you purchase coffee in 1 lb. bags, use a 2 quart container. If you purchase coffee in 5 lb. bags, use an 8 quart container.
Should I refrigerate or freeze coffee?
Coffee should never be put into a refrigerator. Coffee has a great tendency to absorb odors. Placing in a refrigerator allows for absorption of odors and moisture.
Likewise, coffee should typically not be placed in a freezer. If you purchase a large amount of coffee that cannot be used in a normal period, it is okay to store it in the freezer, provided it is placed into an airtight container and is not exposed to moisture or condensation. Just take out what you need to brew at a given time. Do not allow it to sit or thaw. Just use it cold. Never re-freeze coffee.
