To make drip coffee at home, use about 60 grams of medium-ground coffee per 1 liter of water, then slowly pour water heated to 92–96°C / 198–205°F over the coffee. If the grind is too fine, the coffee will taste bitter; if it is too coarse, it will not retain enough water and the coffee will be weak and flavorless. The brewing method also determines the grind: medium grind is sufficient for drip machines, while a coarser grind is preferred for methods with longer contact time, such as a French press. It takes a few attempts to find the right ratio, and you do not have to get it exactly right the first time; the freshness of the beans affects the result at least as much as the grind.
How Does Grind Size Change with the Brewing Method?
For drip coffee makers, a medium grind about the size of a grain of salt is ideal; this grind allows the water to stay in contact with the coffee long enough before filtering through. For methods such as a French press, where coffee stays in contact with water for more than 4 minutes, a coarser, larger-grain grind is preferred; otherwise, the coffee may be over-extracted and turn bitter. For pour-over methods such as V60, use a grind between those two, in the medium-fine range; depending on the roast level of the beans, it can be adjusted a few clicks finer.
How Do You Adjust the Water-to-Coffee Ratio?
The generally accepted ratio is 55–65 grams of coffee for every 1 liter of water; for a stronger brew, use the upper end of this range, and for a lighter brew, stay closer to the lower end. If you do not have a coffee scale, a practical measure is about 1 tablespoon (15 ml measure) of ground coffee per cup of water. Keeping the ratio constant is the most reliable way to get the same flavor on different days; changing the ratio every time makes it harder to tell whether the grind or the amount is causing the problem.
Why Does Water Temperature Matter?
Water should be between 92–96°C / 198–205°F; boiling water can scorch the coffee and make it bitter, while water at a lower temperature may not bring out enough flavor. Letting the water rest for about 30 seconds after boiling is often enough to reach the right temperature. Using a kitchen thermometer to measure the temperature gets results faster than trial and error; if you do not have a thermometer, boiling the water and waiting about 1 minute is also an acceptable approach.
What Are Common Brewing Mistakes?
The most common mistake is pouring all the water over the coffee quickly in one go; some of the coffee then passes through the filter without getting wet enough. Pouring the water slowly in circular motions from the center outward for the first 30 seconds makes for a more even brew. The second common mistake is leaving brewed coffee in the filter for too long; this makes the coffee bitter and spoils its aroma.
How Should You Store Brewed Coffee?
Drip coffee tastes best within the first 30 minutes; after that, coffee left on a warming plate starts to develop a burnt, bitter taste. If you need to keep coffee hot for a long time, transfer it to a thermos immediately after brewing; this keeps it warm while preventing its flavor from deteriorating. Leftover coffee can be stored in the refrigerator for 1 day and enjoyed cold or diluted with ice.