Tips for brewing the best possible cup of coffee: a how-to from Stoney Creek Roasters

It’s hard to beat a great cup of coffee. But surprisingly, many people don’t know all the steps involved in creating the perfect brew. As a result, they end up drinking mediocre coffee and never even realizing what they are missing. This will be a post to outline some of the most important steps in coffee-making, so you can learn how to brew coffee like the pros.

The First Steps in Brewing the Perfect Coffee
First of all, make sure your coffee is freshly-roasted. Coffee beans that have been roasted and then stored for weeks or months will never taste as good as freshly-roasted coffee beans. (Sidenote, we roast all of our own coffee here at Stoney Creek Roasters, ensuring that every cup served and every pound sold is the freshest coffee you will find.) 

Secondly, make sure your coffeemaker is clean. Residue from past cups will seep in, creating a noticeably bitter taste. We recommend that you clean your coffeemaker regularly using hot water. You can also run your coffeemaker with two parts water and one part white vinegar to effectively clean your coffee equipment.

Thirdly, the water you use makes a huge difference! We recommended using filtered or bottled water, especially if your tap water has a strong odor or taste. Do NOT EVER use distilled or softened water, as this will definitely interfere with your coffee’s flavor.
Grinding the Coffee Beans
If you have us grind your coffee, make sure to let us know what kind of coffee machine you have (drip, French press, gold mesh filter, etc.), so we can grind your coffee beans accordingly. 

If you grind your coffee beans yourself—which is what we recommend for maximum freshness—you should grind your beans as closely as possible to the time you’ll be making your coffee. Wait to grind your coffee beans until you are ready to brew them!

Stoney Creek also recommends using a burr grinder, which will make a huge difference in coffee flavor as compared to a blade grinder.

How Much Coffee Do I Use?
When our customers ask us how to brew coffee, the most common question we get is, “How much coffee should I use per cup of water?” We recommend 1-2 tablespoons of coffee per six ounces of water. Of course, this is not a hard-and-fast rule: start with 1 tablespoon/cup, see how you like it and then adjust your ratio accordingly. Every coffeemaker is different and everyone has different taste and flavor preferences: never be afraid to experiment!

Enjoy Your Coffee Soon!

As soon as your coffee is finished brewing, it’s ready to be enjoyed! Moments after it’s finished brewing, your coffee will begin to lose its optimum taste, so drink immediately! Never leave your finished coffee on your coffeemaker’s electric burner for more than 15 minutes. After that, the coffee will begin to develop a “burned” taste. Instead, if you aren’t able to enjoy your coffee right away, pour it into a heated coffee mug or thermos, where it will keep warm without burning. Coffee should be enjoyed no later than 45 minutes after brewing: any longer and it begins to lose its original flavor. 

Never reheat your coffee. A microwave can never heat a cup of coffee evenly and parts of your brew will inevitably burn, spoiling the whole cup. Fresh is best!

Now you know how to brew coffee like a pro! If you have any more questions, stop into Stoney Creek Roasters, and we’ll be happy to give you more tips and ideas for brewing the perfect cup of coffee.