Brew great coffee with these tips from our SAGE Chefs and coffee vendors:
- It starts with the beans; buy coffee beans instead of ground coffee when possible. Ground coffee loses flavor pretty quickly. Coffee grinders are inexpensive and easy to find.
- The best way to brew coffee is with 3¼ ounces of coarsely ground Arabica beans in a standard 64-ounce drip brew glass pot. Arabica beans are much less bitter than other beans when brewed.
- When it comes to the water, make sure it’s filtered. If your water doesn’t taste good, neither will your coffee.
- Temperature’s very important. Brew at about 194 °F. If it’s cooler, it’s going to be a weaker brew; if it’s hotter, it’s going to be a bitter brew.
- If you like cream and sugar in your coffee, opt for a dark roast to maintain the flavor of the coffee. If you like your coffee black, you may prefer a lighter roast.
- If you’re loving the hot trend of cold brew, use a French press to steep the coffee overnight, then press in the morning to separate the grounds from the coffee. A four-to-one ratio of water and coffee is recommended (e.g., a quarter pound of coarsely ground beans to four cups of water).
