Coffee Brewing Tips

Making great coffee is easy, as long as you follow a few basic rules.  These rules apply to any method you use, but I prefer hand methods, such as a ChemexHario V60, etc because I have more control over the process.  Which gadget you use is a personal preference and mostly boils down to your filter preference.  Of all my gadgets, I currently like the Chemex the most because I like a clean, juicy coffee and I find the fuller-bodied coffees to be murky and heavy because of the extra sediment, which also adds a bitter flavor to the coffee.

Regardless of your brewing apparatus, the following rules will always apply:

  • Use clean, filtered water
  • Brew with water just off boil (~205°F)
  • Use only fresh roasted coffee
  • Grind the coffee just before brewing
  • If using paper filters, use bleached paper filters for less paper taste
  • Experiment with your coffee-to-water ratio, which should fall in the range of 9 – 11 grams of coffee per 6 fluid ounces of water

Just following these six steps can drastically improve your coffee enjoyment!


Michael C. Wright

Michael is a licensed Q Grader, licensed Q Processor Pro, an Authorized SCA Trainer (AST), and most recently, a graduate with a degree in horticulture and a concentration in horticultural business management. He has over ten years experience in the coffee industry operating on both the supply and demand sides of the value chain.