Java Momma

HOW TO BREW COFFEE

How to Use a Drip Coffee Maker

The table below is a starting point in determining your coffee to water ratio for auto drip coffee makers. Adjust according to your taste preference, more coffee for a stronger brew and less coffee for a weaker brew.
Drip Coffee Maker Cups Tablespoons of Coffee
10 Cup Pot 8 Level Tbsp.
12 Cup Pot 9 Level Tbsp.
14 Cup Pot 10 Level Tbsp.

Auto drip coffee makers usually come in three standard pot sizes, 10 cup, 12 cup, and 14 cup. These “cup” standards by coffee manufacturers are typically 4.8 to 5 ounce cups. A normal coffee cup is an 11 ounce mug holding about 9 ounces of coffee. This is why a pot of coffee never quite makes as many cups as most people expect. The most common form of measuring coffee for home brewing is by volume of 1 level tablespoon. Aside from a single serve machine, drip coffee makers are how most people and coffee shops brew coffee in the U.S. today.  These are some basic guidelines for using your drip coffee maker:

1. Keep the machine clean – do not leave old coffee grounds in the machine, and keep it clean.  To keep residue from building up, a simple solution of water and a small amount of white vinegar can be used to flush the machine.  Just add this solution and run your normal brew cycle without the coffee.

2. Use good water – this sounds simple, but it is essential to a good cup of coffee.  In geographic areas where the water tastes bad, your coffee will also taste bad. Do not use carbonated water, distilled water or mineral water for brewing coffee.

3. Grind your beans – if you have a grinder then buy whole beans and grind as close to the brewing time as possible.

4. Do not let coffee sit –  It should be consumed as soon as practical after the brewing cycle is complete.  For optimal quality, coffee should be consumed within 20 minutes after brewing.

5. Do not pour a cup before the brewing cycle is complete –  Many newer coffee makers allow you to pour a cup during the brew cycle.  What happens is the first part of the cycle is very strong and the last part is weaker.  You should wait for the entire pot to be brewed for the best cup of coffee.

The Bottom Line – just use common sense. Try to store your coffee by avoiding air and moisture.  Grind it as close to brewing as practical.  Consume your coffee as close to brewing time as practical.

How to Use a French Press

The table below is a starting point of coffee to water ratios for a French press. As with drip coffee makers, you may need to adjust the volume of coffee for your personal taste preference. For a French press, we recommend using 1.5 times the normal amount of coffee you would use in a drip coffee maker. The grind should be a French Press grind (coarse grind). A coarse grind is recommended for a French press so that the coffee grinds do not seep back through the mesh screen when pushing the plunger. A finer grind will lead to coffee grounds in the coffee. Ewwe
 
French Press Standard Size Yield (9 oz. cups) Tablespoons of Coffee
3 Cup Press (12 oz.) 1 Cup 2 Level Tbsp.
4 Cup Press (17 oz.) 1.6 Cups 3 Level Tbsp.
8 Cup Press (34 oz.) 3.4 Cups 6 Level Tbsp.
12 Cup Press (51 oz.) 5.3 Cups 10 Level Tbsp.
 
The most common French press sizes are 3 cup (12 oz.), 4 cup (17 oz.), 8 cup (34 oz.), and 12 cup (51 oz.). The actual number of standard coffee cups the presses yield are much smaller. Use the yield guide below to determine how many actual 9 ounce coffee cups you will get from the advertised French Press size. A normal coffee cup is 11 ounces, actually holding about 9 ounces of coffee.
 
A French press, sometimes called a press pot, is a wonderful way to enjoy coffee or tea.  Many coffee purists believe this is the best way to brew coffee.  This type of brewing is called direct contact brewing, because a french press uses no paper filter, yet relies on a flavor transfer through direct contact of coffee and water. 
 
Not only is this a wonderful way to brew great coffee, it is also a handy way to enjoy coffee when you find yourself without the use of a drip coffee maker.
 
 1. Use a French Press grind –  Purchase or grind your coffee beans to a coarseness level for a french press.  This level is essentially two levels coarser than for auto drip. This degree of coarseness keeps the grounds from seeping through the mesh screen.  If your grounds seep through, you are grinding the coffee too fine.
 
2.  Coffee to Water Ratio for a French Press – Since a French press uses coarsely ground coffee you should use 1.5 times more coffee than you would normally use in a drip coffee maker.
 
3.  Add Ground Coffee –  With the the cover removed, add your ground coffee into the bottom of the pot.
 
4.  Add Water –  Fill the pot with very hot or boiling water.  Optimal brewing temperature should be about 195 – 205 degrees F.
 
5.  Place Top on the Press – Carefully place the top on the French press with the plunger in the raised position.  DO NOT depress the plunger.
 
6.  Brew Coffee –  Let your coffee brew for the desired time, typically about 4 minutes.  Leave the plunger in the UP position during brewing.  If you wish, you can remove the plunger during the brew cycle to stir the grounds and then replace the plunger.
 
7.  Slowly Depress Plunger – Very slowly press the plunger downward, forcing the coffee grounds to the bottom.  It is very important to depress the plunger slowly.  If the plunger is depressed too quickly you will end up with too many grounds in your coffee.
 
8.  Pour Coffee and Enjoy – It is best to consume your coffee fairly quickly or pour the remaining coffee into a thermal carafe.  If you let coffee sit too long in a french press it will continue to brew with the grounds at the bottom.  The taste can become slightly bitter with continued brewing.  Also, with a French press it is normal to expect a few coffee grounds in your coffee.  Not many, but a few.

How to use a Moka Pot

A Moka Pot is a tiny, Italian-made, eight-sided wonder, the Moka pot has been with us through our fair share of postage-stamp-sized kitchens and far-flung journeys. It’s experiencing a resurgence lately, which is no doubt due to its ability to produce a viscous, appropriately dense espresso with no electricity or fancy equipment. We’re also charmed by the little gurgle it makes as it works its magic on the stove top.
 
1. Grind about 2.5 Tbsp. of coffee, about as finely as you would for a shot of espresso. (note that this is for your standard 4 cup moka)
 
2. Boil water, and fill the bottom half of your Moka pot with water that’s fresh off the boil.
 
3. Fill the pot’s filter basket with the ground coffee, and give it a shake to settle the grounds evenly. Wipe any loose grinds off. Now place it into the bottom compartment.
 
4. Screw the top and bottom together. Use hot pads and don’t over tighten.
 
5. Put the brewer on the stove, use moderate heat and make sure that the handle is not subjected to heat. Leave the top lid open.
 
6. The coffee will begin to come out and you will hear a puffing sound and see a rich-brown stream that will get progressively lighter in color. Once the stream is the color of yellow honey, remove from heat source with hot pads and close the lid.
 
7. Wrap the bottom of the pot in a chilled bar towel or run under cold tap water to stop extraction. We do this to prevent the coffee from developing a metallic taste. The idea here is to get a relatively small amount of coffee which is very concentrated and rich.
 
8. As soon as the coffee stops bubbling out, pour it into cups or a carafe. You may wish to dilute with hot water depending on preference. Enjoy!

How to Brew Pour Over

1. Heat – Heat fresh water to 200° F.  Let it stand for 30 seconds.

2. Measure – Measure about 5 tablespoons of fresh ground coffee. Grind size affects drip time and extraction. If your brew is too slow, try a slightly coarser grind. If it drips through too quickly, try a little finer.

3. Prepare the Filter – Fold down the seam of the paper filter and place it into the pour over cone so it lies flat. Then rinse the filter with hot water. Rinsing the filter helps eliminate any paper flavors and preheating cone and carafe can help keep temperature consistent throughout the brewing process.

4. Bloom – Discard the hot water. Add ground coffee. Pour just enough water in a spiral motion to saturate the grounds, then wait 30 seconds. When hot water meets coffee grounds, CO2 escapes and expands, creating a “bloom.” Once the off-gassing is complete, the grounds are more receptive to absorbing water, resulting in a better extraction of flavors.

5. Pour – At the 30 second mark, resume pouring water over the grounds for 2 minutes. Pour first in a spiral pattern, and then straight down, keeping coffee grounds fully saturated from start to finish. Give the coffee in your carafe a final swirl. Your coffee is now ready for you to enjoy.

How To Make Cold Brew

This is easy. You’ll just need some coffee beans, a jar, and a cold overnight soak. This will make a wonderfully tasting coffee concentrate! Yes, it is concentrated coffee so don’t forget to dilute!

1. Grind the coffee beans into a coarse grind. – Grind 1 cup of coffee beans in a coffee grinder until they are coarsely ground. Or use 10 TBSP. of our french press grind.

2. Combine the ground coffee and water in the jar. – Add 4 cups of water and ground coffee beans to a mason jar or other glass storage container. We like to use our French Press.

3. Stir to incorporate. – Gently stir the coffee with the water until well-blended. The coffee will float to the top as it sits, but don’t stress about that — just make sure all of the coffee gets wet.

4. Steep the coffee overnight in the fridge. – Cover and refrigerate the cold brew for at least 12 hours or up to 24 hours.

5. Strain the coffee concentrate – Line a fine-mesh strainer with cheesecloth and set it over a large measuring cup. Slowly pour the coffee concentrate through the strainer. Depending on the size of your strainer, you may need to strain the coffee in batches. Fight the temptation to squeeze or press the coffee grounds in the cheesecloth.

6. Transfer the cold brew to a clean jar for longer-term storage.– Once strained, transfer the coffee to a clean, airtight jar for long-term storage. Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.

7. Serve.– To serve, fill a glass with 1 cup ice cubes. Pour 1/2 cup the cold brew over the ice, add 1/2 cup cold water, and stir to combine. Add your favorite milk or creamer and enjoy!