| A Guide to Preparing the Ultimate Cup of Coffee |
While preparing the ultimate cup of coffee is unique to one's personal tastes and environment, we recommend the following steps for a better tasting brew:
The Water
Brewed coffee is 98% water. Start with fresh, cold water. Any foreign taste in the water will likely transfer to your coffee. Filtered water is preferred, as this will remove the taste and odor of chlorine and flouride that are used in municipal water systems. If your tap water does not have a good taste, we suggest bottled spring water.
The Temperature
Make sure the temperature of your brewing water is at least 195° F , and not more than 205° F for a full, flavorful extraction.
The Coffee
Use fresh coffee. Coffee should rest for 12-24 hours after roasting, and should ideally be brewed shortly thereafter. When roasted coffee interacts with the environment, the complex flavors and aromas break down.
To maintain the freshness of your coffee, store coffee (whole bean, if possible), in an air-tight container placed in a dark, dry, and cool location. We do not recommend storing coffee in a refrigerator or freezer.
The Grind
- Flat-bottomed or cone-shaped filters: A slightly sandy texture.
- French press or perculator: A coarse grind.
If the ground coffee is too fine, it will produce a bitter brew; if too coarse, the results will be a weak, watery brew. We strongly recommend a burr type coffee grinder for best results.
Quantity
Use one standard coffee measure (two level tablespoons) for each six-ounce cup of coffee to be brewed. This will produce a cup that has the delectable flavors inherent in the coffee beans. Using too little ground coffee will produce bitterness that only detracts from these flavors.
After Brewing
Once your coffee has been brewed, do not let the carafe remain on a warming element for more than twenty minutes. We suggest that after brewing, the coffee be poured immediately into a thermal carafe or thermos in order to maintain heat and the coffee's true flavors.
Shipwreck Coffee Company, Inc.
A Small-Batch Coffee Roaster Sailing from Down East, Maine
(207) 947-5511
1032 School Street, Veazie, Maine 04401
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