How to Brew the Perfect Cup

Jordan Piano Posted on: 2016-03-09 11:38 AM Junior Digital Marketing Manager at The Coffee Tasting Club

As you all know by now, or have certainly guessed anyway, here at CTC we’re big fans of high quality coffee beans and recently a lady got in touch with us asking what size grind she would need to make coffee using an AeroPress (we’re big fans of the AeroPress too!).
 
So this got us thinking that we should create a coffee grinds guide resource all about what size coffee grinds you need for a particular grinding method. We thought it would be pretty useful for people to be able to find out what size grounds they need for different methods all in one place, so you don’t have to jump from site to site trying to find out how small you should grind your coffee.
 
We’ve also thrown in some fun facts too and tips from some of the UK’s finest coffee experts too, telling you how they brew their coffee.

Please include attribution to coffeetastingclub.com with this graphic.

 
Coffee Grind Size for AeroPress
 
Grind size: medium-fine
Brew time: 1-2 minutes
Quantities: 17g coffee > 220ml water
Best for: Americano, Espresso
 
So where better to start than the AeroPress itself. The AeroPress gives you a consistently good brew, is easy to clean and can be put in a travel or hand bag and can be easily taken with you wherever you go. Invented in 2005 by Alan Adler, the AeroPress has definitely made a goood name for itself in the coffee world.
 
What the Experts Say:
 
“Contemplate the purchase of a metal filter. Paper filters do a great job but you can lose some of the coffees acidity and body. A metal IMS filter will help increase the sweetness, add more acidity and boost up the body” – Dan Harvey, Small Batch Coffee Roasters
 
How to Grind Coffee for a Stovetop (Percolator)
 
Grind size: fine
Brew time: varies depending on size
Quantities: as advised on your maker
Best for: Espresso
 
The stovetop method of brewing coffee, quite often referred to as a percolator has been around since about 1812 and is a great way of making Italian style coffee. It offers a rich coffee aroma, which smells great around your home. One of the best advantages of using a stovetop is that you don’t need electricity to make it, which is ideal if you go camping and don’t want to settle for sub-standard coffee.
 
What the Experts Say:
 
“Do not wait until all the brewing water has ascended into the top chamber before you take the brewer off the heat. When a little over half of your water has risen through, turn off the heat, remove the pot & place it in a cold water or ice bath. This stops any over-brewing due to excess heat or long time under temperature.” – Ollie Sears, North Star Coffee Roasters
 
Coffee Grind Size for Cafetiere
 
Grind size: coarse
Brew time: 4-6 minutes
Quantities: 1:10 e.g. 40 grams coffee > 400 grams water
Best for: various
 
Invented by Attilio Calimani in 1929, the cafetiere is one of the most popular ways of brewing coffee all around the world. The great thing about using a cafetiere to brew coffee is the fact that you can make multiple cups at one time and it can be used to make a wide range of coffee types.
 
What the Experts Say:
 
“Always heat the cafetiere and your cups in advance – it keeps the coffee that little bit hotter for longer. Boil a kettle and pour in while you prepare your grind. When you give the grinds a stir – preferably use something bamboo or wooden. Let the coffee bloom for 30 seconds. This is when the final gas release takes place; the grinds float to the top.” – Stacia Dwyer, The Roasted Bean Company
 
Grinding Coffee for a Chemex
 
Grind size: medium
Brew time: 4:30
Quantities: 52g coffee > 700g water (2 mugs)
Best for: Black coffee
 
Using a chemex is a great way of making pour over coffee for more than one person. Not only does making coffee with a chemex give you a great coffee, it’s also simple to use and looks great as an addition to your kitchen accessories.
 
What the Experts Say:
 
“With Chemex we find it’s all about a steady even pour.  Practice pouring in a spiral motion from the centre out – you know your coffee has been evenly extracted when after brewing the grounds in the filter are all moist and level” – Emma Jones, Footprint Coffee
 
Coffee Grind Size for Hario V60
 
Grind size: medium
Brew time: 2:15-2:30
Quantities: 26g coffee > 340g water
Best for: various coffee types
 
The Hario V60 is an awesome little coffee accessory that is a quick and easy way of making high quality pour-over coffee. Hario brought the V60 to the table in 2005, making it easy to use, easy to clean and requiring minimal equipment.
 
What the Experts Say:
 
“Try using Volvic bottled water. Tap water can be extremely hard and will make good coffee taste worse. Volvic has just the right amount of TDS (total dissolved solids). These act as flavour carriers, giving you a evenly extracted brew.” – Matt Randal, Climpson & Sons
 
“Be sure to wet the filter at the start as this prevents any papery bitterness. When pouring with a gooseneck kettle the stream should be vertical but not dripping. Start with a flat bed of coffee and aim to finish with a flat bed of coffee.” – Mike Steele, 200 Degrees