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Brew Guide

Our guide to the best brew

This guide covers the basics that make a difference regardless of how you brew, plus a breakdown of each method we recommend — with tips specific to our coffees.

the fundamentals

making the best cup

start with fresh beans
Coffee is at its best two to four weeks after roasting. After that, it's not undrinkable — it's just less of everything it could be. Check the roast date on the bag and buy accordingly.
use filtered water
Coffee is mostly water, so water quality matters more than people expect. If your tap water tastes fine, it'll probably make fine coffee. If it doesn't taste great on its own, it won't taste great in your cup either.
get your temperature right
Water that's too hot scorches the coffee; too cool and it won't extract properly. Aim for 90-96°C / 194-205°F. If you don't have a thermometer, bring water to a boil and let it sit for 30-45 seconds before pouring.
weigh your coffee
A scoop is a starting point — a scale is a repeatable result. We recommend a ratio of 1:15 to 1:17 (coffee to water) as a baseline, then adjust from there to your taste. A digital kitchen scale does the job perfectly.
grind it fresh
Grind just before you brew if you can. Grind size also has a significant impact on flavour — too fine and the coffee will taste bitter and over-extracted; too coarse and it'll be thin and sour. Each brew method has its own ideal grind size, noted in the guides below.
keep your gear clean
Old coffee oils go rancid and leave a bitter residue. Rinse your equipment after every use and give everything a proper clean regularly. It's one of the easier ways to make noticeably better coffee.

choose your method

Each brewing method brings something slightly different out of the coffee. Here's a quick overview — click through to the full guide for ratios, grind sizes, and step-by-step instructions.

Aeropress

Fast, versatile, and hard to mess up.

The Aeropress is forgiving, portable, and surprisingly capable of producing an excellent cup. It brews quickly under gentle pressure, which gives the coffee a smooth, full-bodied character. A good option if you want something a bit more robust without pulling out an espresso machine.

Drip

Consistent, effortless, everyday.

A well-dialled drip brewer is hard to beat for reliability. Good for larger volumes and for households where the machine earns its counter space every morning. The key is using a good grind size and fresh beans — the machine does the rest.

Espresso Machine

High pressure, high reward.

Espresso brewing has a steeper learning curve than most methods, but the results — a concentrated, complex shot with a layer of crema — are worth the effort. Works best with our espresso roast coffees, though a few of our filter roasts pull well too.

French Press

Full-bodied and unfussy.

French press is one of the most accessible ways to make a great cup. The immersion method draws out more body and oils than paper-filter brewing, which gives it a rich, round character. Good for people who prefer their coffee with a bit more weight to it.

Pour Over

Clean, bright, and controlled.

Pour over is one of the most rewarding ways to brew. It's hands-on enough to feel intentional and forgiving enough to learn quickly. Great for showcasing the nuances of single origin coffees.

Instant

Actually good. We promise.

Not all instant coffee is created equal. Ours is made from specialty-grade coffee and brewed properly before it's dried — so it tastes like coffee, not like an approximation of it. Ready in seconds, no equipment required.