How to Brew Coffee at Home - Flying Bean Blog

You’ve developed a fondness for the coffee from your preferred coffee shop and would like to try to make something of similar quality in your own kitchen. This can be intimidating for those just starting out, however I’m here to cheer you up: producing a quality espresso-based drink from home will require a hefty sum of money; on the bright side, manual brewing is much more affordable.

Let us examine the steps to constructing your personal beverage station. This article will provide a comprehensive overview of the different types of coffee, from filter coffee to immersion. It will give you all the information necessary to begin. Furthermore, I will be providing you with several tricks for making excellent pour over coffee in your own home. To be candid, doesn’t the initial cup of coffee of the day hold an immense amount of importance?

COFFEE BEANS

First of all, of course, beginners need coffee beans! Whole beans are preferred than ground coffee. Apart from that, it is really a matter of your own preference.

Perhaps you like your coffee floral and fruity. Perhaps you would rather have something more nutty and taste of chocolate? Simply inquire with the barista at your local coffee shop as to what they suggest. It is likely that the store also offers the variety of coffee beans that you have been consuming.

If you have a particular type of coffee beans in mind when you’re shopping, think about where your favorite coffees come from and what level of roasting they have undergone. This information will be beneficial for you going forward.

Keep in mind that the characteristics and taste of your coffee drink are not just determined by the type of beans used. How you prepare your beverage will have an effect on its quality, as will the heat of the water, fineness of the grounds, and other considerations.

Key coffee storage tips:

The roast date matters! Coffee is a natural product, and so it has a shelf life. This will vary, but a good rule of thumb is to only buy the coffee you’ll drink that week.
Store your coffee in an airtight container at room temperature, and out of direct sunlight. Oh, and never, ever put it in the fridge. It’ll absorb the aromas all the other food in there.

BREWING EQUIPMENT & FILTERS

Beginners have a lot of options when it comes to selecting brewing gear. You need to take into account the taste preference you seek and how convenient the product is to use.

Many popular filter/pour over brewing machines are the Chemex, Hario V60, and Kalita Wave. A pour over coffee usually tastes smoother and lighter than an immersion one.

Instead of using traditional brewing options, the AeroPress, French press, and Clever are the popular immersion gadgets. These are associated with greater body.

However, there are many more types of brewing devices! You can discover creative modifications to conventional pour over techniques, brewers that can easily be taken on the move, plus larger-scale brewers and more. In addition, those experienced with coffee-making may be interested in the more intensive and complicated techniques such as siphoning and ibrik, but these techniques should not be attempted by novices. Trust us, you’ll understand why when you see them.

Consider the container you use to serve your drink, in addition to the filters you employ. Various filters may contain higher or lower levels of the oils found in coffee which will also influence the environment.

Key equipment tips:

Keep your equipment clean. Make sure that you wash off all the coffee oils after brewing, otherwise you may taste them in your next cup of coffee.
Rinse paper filters before use. Use hot water to remove the papery taste so you can have a cleaner cup of coffee.
Preheat your equipment and your cup for consistent extraction. If hot water meets a cold brewing device, it will immediately cool. Then, as the device slowly warms up and you continue to add hot water, this new water will be of a different temperature.

GRINDER

It’s straightforward: the more recently ground the coffee is, the more delicious the flavor will be! It is recommended that even novice coffee aficionados purchase whole beans and grind them themselves.

There are two types of grinder: burr and blade. Burr grinders are generally considered superior to blade ones. This is due to the coffee being more finely pulverized, resulting in a more consistent result. Conversely, blade grinders tend to be significantly more budget-friendly. If you are just starting out, it could be wise to first invest in a handheld burr grinder. It can offer a good level of quality at a reasonable cost.

The next thing to consider is grind size. The way you make your coffee will be determined by what equipment you use to brew it, the type of coffee beans you use, and your own personal preferences.

The fineness of the grind will result in an increased amount of extraction because of the increased surface area. The texture of the grind determines how long it will take for the water to pass through in a pour-over, and the more coarse the grind, the less flavor will be extracted. If not enough espresso is pulled, it can cause a sour taste, whereas if too much is pulled, it will have a more bitter taste. So if your coffee is too sour, grind finer. If your coffee tastes too bitter, you should try making it a bit coarser when grinding.

Grinding the beans is not the only factor in making great coffee; it’s a delicate balance of various characteristics that go into the perfect cup. Brew time and water temperature will also affect extraction. Hence, you may decide that it is preferable to adjust a different factor rather than the consistency of the grind size.

Key grinding tips:

Grind only as much you need for your brew. Ground coffee goes stale after about 15 minutes.
Just like with your brewing equipment, make sure to clean your grinder after use. You don’t want any old, stale grounds left behind to pollute future cups of coffee.

SCALE

It does not matter which method you employ, you need to calculate the amount of coffee and water needed.

This can be achieved in either of two methods: either measuring the amount of the ingredient using a container of some sort (volume), or by placing it on a scale and finding its weight. Weight will be much more accurate and more consistent. You will observe that it is the technique predominantly used by cafés serving specialty coffee. It will ensure that you get a delightful cup of coffee each time.

Ideally, you desire a set of scales that can give measurements accurate to 0.1g or greater. The cost can differ greatly, from low-cost to cutting edge (and this is usually reflected in the prices).

THERMOMETER

The temperature of the water used when preparing coffee will influence the flavor of the beverage. The recommended range is 90.5–96°C/195–205°F. The temperature you choose to brew your coffee should be contingent upon the particular coffee blend and your personal taste.

In other words, the higher the heat, the more extraction there is. If you think your beverage is too sour, try using warmer water; on the other hand, if it is too bitter, try using colder water. If you need more information, check out the section on grind profiles.

Think this is a little pedantic? Making the same type of coffee, using the same set of directions, but adjusting the temperature. Then do a blind taste testing. You’ll notice the differences.

TIMER

Brew time has a significant impact on coffee’s flavor. It does not matter which recipe you pick, but it is essential to note down the duration of the brewing process. Thankfully, even those new to something have the convenience of using the timer feature on their phone now.

Once you begin timing your coffee making, you can adjust it if you want to modify the final results. If you want a more tart cup of coffee, you should use a filter and add more of the water to the beginning of the brewing process. To increase size, you should continue adding more for an extended period of time.

How to Make the Best Cold Brew Coffee

All right, now let’s discuss the process for creating the tastiest cold-brew coffee.

The act of producing it may appear worse than it really is; all you need is tolerance and the appropriate components.

Can you use regular coffee beans to make cold brew?

If you brew your cold brew with either regular or finely ground beans, you will be left with a thick, coarse sediment in the bottom of the jar. This may not be the end of everything, but when you get to the bottom of the jar, it is certainly not the most satisfying. Employing finely powdered coffee additionally makes the task merely marginally more challenging.

How do you find coarsely ground coffee beans? Here are 3 options:

Buy them already coarsely ground. While this option may not be widely available at your local grocery store, you can often find coarsely ground beans on Amazon by searching for ‘coarse grind coffee beans’ or ‘cold brew coffee beans.’ You can also check your local coffee roaster, who may be able to grind the beans for you!
Grind them yourself. Your next option is grinding the beans yourself. If you are very particular about your coffee, or like one specific brand, this may be your best bet. Luckily, coffee grinders are easy to use and you don’t need an expensive one! Look for one in the $20-$30 range.
Use the bulk coffee section of your grocery store. Many grocery stores have a bulk coffee section where you can buy beans and grind them right there. The grinders have settings from fine espresso to coarse grind, so you don’t have to invest in your own grinder! As a bonus, these beans are often cheaper than what you buy pre-bagged and are just as good, if not better, quality.

The Best Beans for Cold Brew

The kind of beans you select will have an immediate effect on the excellence of your cold brew! The reduced level of acidity in cold brew coffee makes its flavors stand out more compared to regular coffee. If you utilize a substandard coffee, you will experience an intensified taste of its undesirable flavors. It is therefore advised to utilize a superior quality coffee. Though it may be pricier, you will still be spending less than if you were to obtain the item from a grocery store or cafe.

Stone Street Coffee Cold Brew Reserve – this is the full-caffeine version of the half-caff variety listed above. This coffee has been specially formulated for cold brew and makes a smooth, well-rounded coffee.
Cooper’s Cask Organic Cold Brew Coffee – Cooper’s Cask has a variety of cold brew coffees that are all fair-trade, organic, and roasted in Rhode Island. I love this single-origin Guatemala blend because it is smooth and just slightly sweet on its own. This one is the closest thing to Chameleon to me!
Tiny Footprint Organic Cold Brew – This cold brew is organic, fair-trade, and for every pound sold, Tiny Footprint will donate a portion of the proceeds to fund reforestation in Ecuador’s Mindo cloud forest. This is a medium-roast Ethiopian blend coffee that results in a yummy, rich brew.
Bizzy Organic Cold Brew Dark & Bold – If you like a stronger, darker coffee, this one is for you! Bizzy’s beans are completely organic, coarsely ground, and ethically sourced from Guatemala, Peru, and Nicaragua.

The Perfect Ratio for Cold Brew Coffee

Getting the right balance of coffee beans to water is the second most important factor when making the ultimate cold brew. The strength and quantity of your cold brew is dependent on the size of the vessel you are using, as well as your personal preference. There are two different techniques that can be utilized to create cold brew.

Ratio for Cold Brew Concentrate

It is usually the case that pre-made cold brew you purchase is actually just a concentrate. You should mix it with water before you consume it, otherwise you will have a very powerful and highly caffeinated cup of coffee. It is advised that you look into this approach if you are utilizing a smaller receptacle, such as a mason jar or French press (you can find out additional information on this further down!). To make a concentrated cup of joe, you should have a combination of two parts chilled water to one part coffee. For instance, two cups of cold water for every single cup of coffee.

Ratio for Ready-to-Drink Cold Brew

If you possess a larger vessel, you may opt to make cold brew that is already prepared to drink, which would make it simpler to make. You’ll need to use a proportion of four times as much cold water as coffee, that is, four cups of cold water for every one cup of coffee.

The Cold Brew Coffee Maker

You can effortlessly brew a generous amount of cold coffee with this method, avoiding the trouble and disorder that come with disposing of coffee grounds. In addition, you can enjoy cold brew from the tap, how could it get any better than that?! If you plan to produce cold brew on a consistent basis, it’s worth considering getting a dispenser.

What You’ll Need: 1-Gallon Cold Brew Coffee Maker
The Method: Fill the filter with 4 cups of coarsely ground coffee, then pour in about 13 cups of water. Refrigerate for 12-24 hours, then remove the filter, discard the coffee grounds, fill the pitcher with 3 more cups of water, and place back in the refrigerator. This will create a ready-to-drink brew!
Pros: You can make a huge batch (about 16 servings), because we go through coffee quickly. Plus, it’s ready to drink which makes it quicker to prepare my coffee. This is also the least messy method of getting rid of those coffee grounds.
Cons: This can definitely get a bit heavy, you have to make sure you turn the dispenser all the way so it doesn’t drip, and it is not good for making a coffee concentrate, because the water won’t fully cover the coffee grounds at a 2:1 ratio.