Preparation and Grinding
For a more flavourful coffee, we recommend using 1½ tbsp of ground coffee per cup of fresh water, although the amount of ground coffee necessary can vary somewhat depending on the coffee maker used.
Choose the perfect grind for your coffee maker:
- Percolator: course grind
- French press: medium course grind
- Filter drip coffee maker (basket): medium grind
- Filter drip coffee maker (cone): fine grind
- Espresso machine: very fine grind
- Turkish coffee pot: extremely fine grind, like flour
Tips and Tricks
To preserve the freshness and flavour of your coffee, we recommended following these tips:
- Use cold, filtered water.
- It’s best to grind your coffee just before brewing.
- Limit the brewing time to 3 to 4 minutes. Prolonged brewing results in bitter coffee, while too short a brew time leaves coffee bland and weak.
- While coffee is brewing, the water temperature should be between 95°C and 98°C. Any hotter than that could burn your coffee.
- Don’t leave your coffee on the coffee maker’s heating plate for more than 10 minutes. Prolonged exposure will alter the taste.
- Store your coffee in an airtight container at room temperature. Contrary to popular believe, coffee does not keep well in the refrigerator or the freezer. Repeatedly opening a refrigerated or frozen container will lead to condensation and alter the taste of the coffee.
Explore and Discover Your Favourites
The aroma and flavour of a coffee depends on its country of origin and on the degree of roast. Some coffees have distinctive floral bouquets, fruity or citrusy nuances, or even woody or earthy notes.
The numbers written in the coffee tasting tables represent the level of acidity, the body and the finish on a scale of 1 to 10.
Have fun evaluating the characteristics of your coffee just as you would a fine wine:
ACIDITY
Acidity (or brightness) is felt on the sides of the tongue and gives coffee a slightly tangy taste. An acidic (or bright) coffee leaves a distinctive, pleasant aftertaste.
NOTE: The acidity of a coffee has nothing to do with its pH level. An “acidic” coffee won’t cause you any heartburn, but it will make your taste buds tingle with delight!
BODY
The body refers to the texture and consistency of the coffee in your mouth. Full-bodied coffees can feel thick and almost creamy, while less robust coffees have a lighter texture.
FINISH
The finish (or aftertaste) is the flavour sensation that remains in your mouth after you swallow the coffee. Some coffees have a smooth or lingering finish, while others have a shorter or even abrupt finish.
