If your coffee tastes just okay at home, there's a variety of things you can do to transform your coffee routine into one you enjoy. And we'll walk you through them. Ready to taste the difference?
First things first. The beans. This is the number ONE tip. Having fresh, quality beans is essential no matter the brewing method. The best thing you can do is get beans from a small batch roastery who values quality and freshness. And this doesn’t always have to break the bank. At $14 for a pound of beans, we roast to order and ensure each order is up to our standards. Our goal is to make you love your morning coffee again.
Now that the coffee beans are sorted out, let’s dial in your brewing method. Getting the perfect flavorful cup of coffee doesn’t stop after the beans are carefully roasted to perfection. The small details while brewing can make or break your coffee, no matter how good the beans are. So we’re going to make sure you have everything you need to make the best brew possible.
A few simple adjustments can completely change how your coffee tastes. You don’t need fancy tools or complicated techniques. Just a little understanding of how your brewing method works and how to get the best out of it.
Let’s walk through four common brewing methods and how to improve each one.
Pour Over
The benefit: Pour over brewing gives you a clean, clear cup that highlights subtle flavors. It’s great if you like tasting the complex difference between different beans.
Tips to improve your pour over:
1. Measure precisely. We recommend 18 grams of ground coffee to 12oz of water.
2. Pre-wet your filter. Just pour hot water through it before brewing. This removes paper taste and warms your brewer to prevent your brewed coffee from cooling too much.
3. Use the right grind. Think about the texture of sand. Too fine makes it bitter. Too coarse makes it weak. At our cafe we grind just between regular and fine to get the perfect pour over grind size.
4. Bloom first. After adding a little water, wait about 30 seconds. This lets the coffee release gas and extract more evenly (pictured above).
5. Pour slowly and evenly. You don’t need a fancy kettle. Just pour in small circles and try to keep the water level steady.
6. Use good water. This one is so important. People often forget that water is the base of coffee and if your tap water doesn’t taste good on its own, it won’t make good coffee. If this is an issue, use filtered water or bottled water.
The Pour Over method really rewards good beans. If the coffee is high quality, you’ll notice more flavor clarity and balance in every cup.
French Press
The benefit: French press makes a full-bodied, rich cup with more texture and depth. It feels heavier and more comforting.
Tips to improve your French press:
1. Grind coarse. This is super important. The texture should look like coarse sea salt. If it’s too fine, your coffee will taste muddy and bitter.
2. Don’t just plunge right away. Add the grounds, Add hot water, stir gently, and let it sit for about five minutes before pressing. Another minute, if you’re looking for a more extracted cup.
3. Skim the top. After brewing, you can skim off the foam and floating bits before plunging for a cleaner cup.
4. Press slowly. Push the plunger down gently. Forcing it can stir up grounds and make the coffee harsh.
5. Serve right away. If coffee sits in the press too long, it keeps extracting and turns bitter.
6. Experiment with ratios. More grounds = stronger coffee.
French press really brings out chocolatey, nutty, and bold flavors. Some beans with these natural notes are Brasil, Nicaragua, Mexican Chiapas, and Amor Blend. A well roasted bean with natural sweetness tastes especially smooth in this method.
Regular Drip Coffee Maker
The benefit: It’s convenient, consistent, and perfect for making multiple cups with very little effort.
Tips to improve your drip coffee:
1. Measure your coffee. A general starting point is about 1 to 2 tablespoons per 6 ounces of water. Adjust to your taste.
2. Use the right grind. Medium grind works best. Too fine can clog the filter. Too coarse makes weak coffee.
3. Clean your machine. Run a cleaning cycle every month or so. Old buildup changes flavor.
4. Don’t leave it on the hot plate too long. Coffee sitting on heat for too long can taste burnt. If possible, transfer it to a thermal carafe.
Drip machines are simple, but when paired with good beans, they can produce a surprisingly smooth, balanced and consistent cup.
Espresso Machine
The benefit: Espresso machines give you bold, concentrated coffee with rich flavor and that creamy layer on top. It’s the base for lattes, cappuccinos, and americanos if you prefer a more rich, creamy coffee to start your morning.
Tips to improve your espresso:
1. If your machine has a grinder, buy whole bean and grind them yourself. If your machine does not have a grinder, that’s totally okay. This isn’t a make or break at all. The right grind is essential to a great shot of espresso. So ordering pre-ground espresso beans specifically for espresso ensures you’ll get the perfect grind size. Just make sure to use them up within a few weeks to preserve freshness.
2. If your machine does have a grinder, dial in your grind size. If your shot runs too fast and tastes sour, grind finer. If it drips too slowly and tastes bitter, grind a little coarser. This can take some time and some tinkering but it is well worth it once you’ve learned where the sweet spot is.
3. Don’t skip the scale. A small kitchen scale helps you stay consistent. The more consistent you are, the better your shots will taste. Different machines may recommend different portions of grounds. Research what amount of grounds you need for your specific machine. Some machines (with a grinder) automatically give you a certain portion.
4. Clean your machine regularly. Old coffee oils build up fast and affect flavor more than people realize.
When your espresso is dialed in, you’ll taste sweetness and balance instead of sharp bitterness. And high quality beans really shine in espresso because there’s nowhere for bad flavor to hide.
The One Thing That Makes Every Method Better
We've said it once, and we'll say it again. No matter which brewing method you use, the biggest upgrade is starting with fresh, high quality beans.
Better beans mean:
- More natural sweetness
- Less bitterness
- More balanced flavor
- A smoother finish
You can have the best machine in the world, but if the coffee itself isn’t great, there’s only so much you can do.
If you’ve been tweaking your grind and timing but still feel like something’s missing, it might just be time to try a different bag of beans. From light to dark roasts, to blends, to house-flavored beans, we’ve got a full selection you can check out here.