City League Banner

A Few Tips to Help
You Brew at Home

Learn the basics and some recommended brewing methods.

Brewing Basics

It’s near impossible to get a great cup of coffee from not so great beans, but it’s also completely possible to mess up a great bag of beans by not brewing them correctly. It may seem overwhelming at first, but don’t fret; if you can make a PB&J sandwich, then you are skilled enough to make a good cup of coffee.

Calendar Icon

Stay Fresh

Look for a “roast” date rather than a “best-by” date. It’s hard to tell how long the coffee has been sitting on the shelves when there is no roast date, but this date will let you know exactly how old your coffee is. Coffee begins to degrade the moment it is roasted due to oxidation, a chemical reaction that deteriorates the flavors and aromas of the coffee. It is best to consume your coffee within three weeks from the roast date.

Coffee Grinder Icon

The Grind

The moment you grind your coffee, oxidation accelerates and quickly makes your coffee stale and boring, so it’s best to grind the coffee right before brewing. Also, to achieve a consistent taste you’ll need a consistent grind size. As you will see below, different brewing methods require different grind sizes, so we recommend burr grinder over a blade grinder because it allows you to adjust the grind size accordingly.

Coffee Scale Icon

The Scale

Too much or too little coffee can ruin a batch, and measuring by eye is often not accurate enough. This is where a coffee scale comes in handy. By weighing the coffee beans before brewing, you can ensure that you are using the correct amount. This will help to produce a consistent cup of coffee, and it can also save you money by preventing waste. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned barista, a coffee scale is essential.

Drip Coffee Icon

The Drip

The quality of the water used to make coffee can have a big impact on the taste of the final product. Coffee is nearly 98% water, so even small impurities can affect the flavor. That’s why it’s important to use purified water when possible. Purified water has been filtered to remove all contaminants. This results in water that is pure and clean-tasting, which is essential for making a delicious cup of coffee.

Founder Dane Demchak Preparing Beverage

Brewing Methods

Pour Over

Our personal favorite! Convenient, consistent, and controlled. Provides a bright and clean cup.

  • Rinse hot water through filter to remove the papery taste and preheat your mug, discard water
  • Grind 20 grams of coffee to a medium-fine coarseness (resemblance of sea salt)
  • Place coffee in filter and give it a tap to level ground bed
  • Bring water off boil (200-205*)
  • Slowly pour 50g of water saturating all coffee, gently stir once or twice, wait 30 seconds for the coffee to bloom (aka release CO2 leading to the expansion of the coffee)
  • In an even circular motion, starting from the middle and working your way out, pour remaining water to 320g
  • Give it 1-2 stirs, wait for it to drain (approx. 2.5 min)
  • Serve and enjoy!

AeroPress

Easy to use and perfect for those that like to travel. Produces a sweet, silky, full-bodied cup.

  • Place the filter inside the cap and rinse with hot water to remove papery taste
  • Grind 15g of coffee to a medium-fine setting and bring water to a 200* temp
  • Add coffee and give it a tap/shake to level coffee
  • Start your timer and pour 30g of water evenly over the grounds. Stir 2-3 times. Let it sit until your timer reads 45 seconds
  • Pour remaining water to 240g and once more stir the “slurry”
  • Place the plunger on the brew chamber but don’t plunge yet
  • At 1:40-2:00 slowly press the plunger down – stopping when you hear a hissing sound (air escaping from the chamber)
  • Serve and enjoy!

Chemex 6 Cup

Designed by a chemist and introduced in the 1940’s! Produces an incredibly clean tasting cup.

  • Place filter inside making sure the 3-layered side is facing the spout
  • Rinse filter and preheat with hot water
  • Bring water to 205*
  • Grind 36g of coffee to a medium grind setting, add coffee and shake/tap to settle and level the grounds
  • Start your timer and begin to slowly pour enough water to evenly wet coffee (approx. 60-70g)
  • At 45 seconds begin pouring continuously in a circular spiraling pattern, pausing if the water nears the rim
  • Finish pouring once your timer reads 2:45 or 600g of water
  • Adjust as needed. Serve and share with others!

French Press

A classic, no frills brewing method with only few steps. Provides a rich, full-bodied cup.

  • Rinse and preheat the French press making sure the filter is clean from old coffee oils and grounds
  • Grind course 40g of coffee
  • Bring water off boil (200-205*)
  • Begin timer and pour 70g of water over coffee. After 30 seconds gently stir making sure all coffee is submerged. Pour remaining water to 600g
  • Rest plunger gently on top of the grounds
  • At 4 minutes, slowly press all the way down
  • Serve the coffee immediately – if it sits too long in your french press it will become bitter