Brew Your Best Cup at Home

There's no single "best" brewing method, only the one that's right for your taste. No matter which brewer you choose, these five principles will help you make consistently great coffee.

1. Start with Freshly Roasted Coffee

Coffee tastes best within a few weeks of roasting. Store your beans in an airtight container away from heat, light, and moisture, and grind them just before brewing for maximum flavor.

2. Use the Right Grind Size for Your Brewing Method

Using the correct grind size is one of the biggest factors in making great coffee. Every brewing method requires a different grind size to extract the best flavor.

Recommended Grind for every Brewing method

Espresso → Fine
AeroPress → Medium-Fine
Pour Over → Medium
Drip Coffee → Medium
French Press → Coarse
Cold Brew → Extra Coarse

3. Measure Your Coffee

A consistent coffee-to-water ratio helps you brew balanced coffee every time.

A good starting point is:

1 gram of coffee for every 16 grams of water (1:16 ratio)

Example:
20g coffee → 320g water
25g coffee → 400g water
30g coffee → 480g water

This ratio is a common baseline before adjusting to taste. Adjust slightly depending on your taste preferences.

4. Use Filtered Water

Coffee is made up of almost entirely water, so clean, filtered water helps highlight the natural sweetness and complexity of your beans.

5. Brew Fresh Every Time

Grind only what you'll use and brew just before drinking. Freshly brewed coffee delivers the best aroma, sweetness, and complexity.

Troubleshooting Your Brew

Even the best beans can taste off if your brewing variables aren't dialed in. If your coffee tastes too sour, it's often a sign of under-extraction. If it tastes too bitter, it may be over-extracted. Small adjustments to your grind size, water temperature, brew time, or coffee-to-water ratio can make a dramatic difference in the final cup.

Want to learn how to identify and fix these common brewing problems?

👉 Read our guide: Bitter vs. Sour Coffee: What Your Brew Is Trying to Tell You