From the team at Don Francisco’s Coffee, here are six tips to help you brew a flawless cup:
Opt for fresh, high-quality coffee. We recommend Don Francisco’s Coffee (of course!), made with freshly roasted 100 percent arabica beans and flushed with nitrogen to keep the coffee fresh until you open the package at home. Use within one week of opening, or store in an airtight container in the freezer.
See our primer on coffee sourcing, preparation and varieties.
Use good water. Coffee is 98 percent water, so the water you use will definitely impact the taste. Make sure it’s high quality and cold or room temperature, with no odor and no visible impurities. If you have hard water, consider using bottled water.
Choose a good brew strength. For a standard drip machine, use 2 rounded tablespoons of coffee for each 6-ounce cup of water. Add a bit more or less to adjust the strength of your brew.
Select the right grind size. Long-brew methods like cold brew require a coarse grind; fast-brew methods like espresso require a fine grind. For your home drip coffee maker, use a medium grind.
Keep equipment clean. Coffee has natural oils that stick to your brew cone and coffeepot. If you don’t clean your equipment properly, those oils build up and cause bitterness in your brew. Clean all washable parts after every use.
Drink immediately. For best flavor, drink your coffee within 15–20 minutes of brewing. Heat changes the flavor; don’t let your fresh pot sit on the burner for more than 30 minutes. Also, never reheat coffee; it will change the flavor.