Brewing Tips

Brewing

Great Coffee does not stop when it is delivered to you. The brewing process is the last and most important stage in enjoying great coffee. Therefore, we highly recommend that you read this entire section to maximize your Cactus Creek Gourmet Coffee drinking experience. The recipe for brewing a great cup of coffee relies on four fundamentals: Proportion, Grind, Water, and Freshness.

Proportions

We recommend using two tablespoons for every six ounces of water to extract the full flavor of your freshly roasted coffee. If your brewed coffee tastes too strong, add small amounts of hot water to taste. Using too little water can result in bitterness.

Grind

Always use the correct grind for the brewing method. Grinding beans just prior to brewing results in about a fourth more flavor in the cup. If coffee is ground too fine for the brewing method, you might end up with a bitter cup of coffee. Likewise, too coarse a grind will lead to a weak cup of coffee. Since the beans should be ground just prior to brewing, it is an art you will master after only a few trials. In general, the longer the coffee and water spend in contact during the brewing process, the coarser the grind you should use. Follow these recommended grinds for various brewing methods:

French Press (Press Pot): Coarse flakes like bread crumbs, feels like a coarse sand paper.

Automatic Drip Brewer: Flat bottom paper or metal wedge shaped filters- medium grind.

Paper wedge-shaped filters: Just a bit finer than flat bottom filters.

Espresso: Very fine with a texture between flour and table salt.

Water

Always use fresh, cold water. If the tap water where you live is distasteful due to hardness or treatment, consider using bottled water or a filter system. Never use softened water! Remember, a cup of coffee is 98% water. If the water doesn’t taste good, the coffee won’t either. The temperature of the water is also important. When brewing coffee using a hot water method; generally the ideal temperature should be between 190 – 200 degrees Fahrenheit. This permits ideal extraction of essential flavor and oils from the grounds. Water that is too hot will over extract thus yielding a less than desirable cup of coffee. Likewise, water that is too cold will under extract thus yielding a thin lifeless cup.

Freshness

Always start with freshly roasted gourmet coffee. Coffee maintains its peak freshness best when kept in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. There is some controversy as to whether it should be stored in a refrigerator or not. Ultimately, the most important factors to remember are keeping the coffee away from air (oxygen) and moisture, which can degrade the freshness of your coffee. For the freshest coffee, keep it stored in our one-way degassing valve zip bags.

A Few Things To Remember

Coffee is best if served immediately after brewing and will retain its peak flavor for up to 20 minutes on the warmer. We recommend you transfer your brewed coffee to a thermal carafe to hold for a longer period of time. Don’t forget to take care of your equipment! A clean coffee brewer is critical to great tasting coffee. Periodically, use mild detergent or baking soda to remove build-up, film, and oil.

Brewing Tips

Brewing

Proportions

Grind

Water

Freshness

A Few Things To Remember

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