For best results, use freshly ground coffee. To preserve freshness, store coffee in the smallest practical airtight container on your kitchen counter or in pantry, oxygen, light, heat, and moisture are enemies of coffee. Do not store coffee in the refrigerator or freezer for daily use as this can damage the beans as moisture condenses on the beans whenever the container is opened and flavor deteriorates when the moisture is absorbed. Purchase coffee frequently and open only as much as you will use in a 1-2 week period.


A cup of coffee is 98.7 percent water. Therefore, the water you use to brew coffee should taste clean, fresh and free of impurities. Never use hot water from the tap, or water that has been previously boiled. Begin with fresh cold water. Bottled filtered or spring water are recommended. Distilled water is not recommended as it lacks the minerals to bring out the natural flavors of the coffee. Water should be heated to just below a boil (195°to 205° F) for extracting the coffee's full range of flavors. Most home coffee makers should achieve these brewing temperatures during brewing.


The shorter the brewing process, the finer the grind. Using a home grinder enhances the experience of a great cup of coffee. Though burr grinders are best, using the more common blade grinders can still produce desired results. There is not one "all-purpose" grind for all types of coffee makers. Each brewing method requires its own grind. Too fine a grind will produce over extraction and bitterness. To coarse a grind will produce, under extracted watery coffee. For home drip coffee makers, use a medium to fine grind (15-20 seconds in a home blade grinder). For espresso, use a slightly finer grind, for a coffee press use a slightly more coarse grind.


Using the correct proportion of coffee to water is the most important step and will have the greatest affect the taste of your coffee. To get the most flavorful cup of coffee, we recommend two tablespoons of ground coffee (10 grams) for each six fluid ounces (180 milliliters) of water. The cup markings on most home coffee makers are typically 6 ounces. Adjust to taste.


Clean brewing equipment will yield a better cup of coffee. Oils that contaminate your equipment can cause your coffee to taste rancid. Once your coffee is brewed, you should keep it hot in a thermal container. Remove it from any direct heat source (warming plate), as this may cause the coffee to taste bitter within about thirty minutes. A thermal container will keep it flavorful for as long as an hour or two. One way to extend the heat retention of your thermal container is to "prime" the container and your coffee cup with hot water for a few seconds prior to use; pour that out and then pour in your freshly brewed coffee and put the lid on tight.