Coffee Brewing Basics
At Good Citizen, we are not just a coffee brand, we are a lifestyle brand. With this in mind, we are here to expand our connection with you, our drinkers, through Beyond the Brew - a space for all things coffee. So whether you are a coffee aficionado or just getting into brewing, we look forward to a new year filled with our favorite bean.
Beyond our passions for fueling you, we also want to see coffee-producing communities thrive. That’s why we created Flora & Fauna, a 5% biodiversity campaign to support the farmers we partner with to protect and preserve this trade and this Earth. Together, we can support good coffee and coffee for good throughout 2022.
There are so many brewing techniques but today we will be covering some brewing basics with the pour-over method in mind. Don’t ever be afraid to try different brewing methods to find what fits your lifestyle and what you like best. Also, don’t be afraid to ask questions - most people that love coffee love to talk about coffee (we know we do!).
1. A Fresh Grind of Good Beans
A good cup of coffee starts with quality roasted beans that are preferably ground right before brewing. The fresh taste is unmatched and we highly encourage you to start getting into the practice with our Travel Hand Grinder. This hardware is the perfect companion for traveling as it is easy to carry and features an adjustable grind selector which is perfect for experimenting with different brewing techniques.
For pour-overs, it’s important for the grind of your coffee to be a medium consistency - it should feel similar to table salt. This will allow the water to pass through the grounds and give you a well-brewed cup every time.
2. The Ultimate Ratio: Water to Coffee
The most common mistake in coffee is the ratio of water to coffee. Too much water results in bitter coffee (or over-extracted as we call it in the business). While not enough water leaves you without the full flavor of your brew (or under-extracted).
Thankfully, this is the easiest part of the coffee process to correct! We recommend 2 tablespoons (10 grams) of coffee to every 6 ounces (180 milliliters) of water. So, if you are using our Ceramic Pour Over you would need 10 tablespoons (60 g) of ground coffee for your 32 oz. (946 ml) pour-over.
3. H₂O: The Not-So-Secret Ingredient
Just as important as the freshly ground coffee is the water - the right temperature and the type of water used when brewing. If you wouldn’t drink it, don’t make coffee with it… because you will be drinking it since coffee is 98% water.
Heating your water to just the right temperature is also important. We recommend boiling your water and waiting around 30 seconds to achieve the best brewing temperature for extracting your full flavor - around 195º-205ºF (90º-96ºC). If you are looking for a kettle, we recommend our Stainless Steel Gooseneck Kettle.
A bonus tip for your pour-over - rinse your filters before brewing. This removes the woodsy, paper residue and seals your filters to the basin. Doing this also warms up the brewer and keeps everything at a stable temperature.
4. Keep Your Beans Fresh
We want to make the good times last, so we recommend storing your coffee in an airtight container at room temperature. Storing coffee in the refrigerator can result in excess moisture which dulls the taste. If you need to extend the life of your beans beyond two weeks, we suggest storing them in the freezer in an airtight container.
Beyond the Brew is a place for all things education, inspiration, and transparency for biodiverse farming and sustainable coffee consumption through Good Citizen. If you have any questions or requests, please reach out to hello@goodcitizen.com