TIPS FOR BETTER COFFEE

brew with fresh coffee :
Always brew freshly roasted coffee from whole bean coffee and grind as needed. Time frame to brew and enjoy the coffee, best: 7 - 20 days, still ok: 20 - 60 days, after 60 days from the roast date it will taste stale.

use a good grinder :
it is very important that you work with a coffee grinder that is suitable for your intended preparation. There is a big difference between a coffee grinder for filter coffee and one for espresso. Choose a grinder with a good burr, flat or conical.

understand grind size and adjustments :
The particle size of your coffee plays an important role in the correct extraction and timing of your brewing process. If your espresso flows out of the portafilter like a waterfall, you need to re-evaluate your grind size.

measure with a scale :
Gone are the days of relying on ‘spoons’ as a measuring aid. Use a proper coffee scale as the weight of the coffee changes drastically depending on the roast and colour. If you estimate the weight of your coffee correctly each time, you can use all brewing methods.

brew with a good water :
Water makes up more than 95% of the liquid in your cup and should be chosen carefully when brewing your coffee. Even if tap water is clean in some areas, it should not be used to make coffee or run through machines that are not properly filtered. Tap water is usually quite hard, which damages the machines and makes the coffee taste stale.
Good water needs a balance of hardness and alkalinity to brew the perfect cup of coffee. You can check your local municipalities' water ratings, buy good bottled water (within the recommended range of hardness and alkalinity) or optimise distilled water with Third Wave Water's mineral packs.

time your brews :
Timing your brew will give you a more consistent and flavourful cup of coffee. If a recipe specifies a brewing time of 3 minutes and you need more than 4 minutes, this is an indication that you have chosen the wrong grind. If you don't stick to your brewing times, it's difficult to adjust the grind size or brewing techniques correctly to achieve the desired times.

know your temperatures :
The temperature at which the coffee is brewed can have a significant impact on how the coffee tastes in the cup. If you are brewing a darker espresso, you should lower the temperature to below 90 °C to balance out the bitterness. A lighter roasted coffee can also tolerate higher temperatures.
For the pour-over method, we recommend a brewing temperature between 94 and 90 °C. The temperature should be kept constant and you need a (coffee) kettle that displays and maintains the temperature.

As always, make one change at a time, note what works and what doesn't, and then move on to the next factor.

P.S.: clean your equipment :
A clean brew group leads to a better tasting cup of coffee. Any coffee residue left behind, especially the oils, can contaminate your next cup. Please dry-clean your coffee grinders regularly, especially after switching to a new coffee.