If you’re anything like us, you look forward to drinking a coffee throughout the day. Whether it’s first thing in the morning, on your lunch break, or during that 3pm slump. Or all three. We’ve been there, too!
This guide to making the perfect cup of coffee will detail some simple steps you need to take to make sure you’re getting the most out of your coffee, no matter how you drink it. French press your thing? What about pour-over coffee? However you prefer to enjoy a cuppa, we’ve outlined the processes below. Plus, why not try Wilby’s very own roasted coffee as part of your coffee ritual?
Find the roast that entices your taste buds
It sounds obvious, but flavour is a very important factor when it comes to making the perfect coffee. It doesn’t just wake us up in the mornings after a late night. It should taste good, too. When you pick your roast of choice, you’ll know what to expect in terms of acidity and flavours to taste for when you’ve made your brew, and that way you can tweak your brewing methods to get the perfect brew.
For a quality cup of coffee, it’s also important to use good quality coffee beans that are freshly sourced. Make note of the dates that are on your coffee packet; some roasts need to be consumed within a short period of time, some can last longer on the shelf. This can affect how good your cup of coffee tastes. If it doesn’t say on the packet, be sure to ask your roasters of choice.
Brewing methods to suit your coffee roast
Knowing your brewing method can also dictate what types of coffee roasts and flavours to go for. We’ve outlined the recommended brewing methods for light, medium and dark roasts below.
Light roast coffee brewing methods
Recommended: drip-filter, pour over (V60, Chemex)
Light roast coffee beans appear pale in colour (which, as you can guess, is because they’ve been lightly roasted). They’ve had less heat exposed to them which means the surface isn’t oily, unlike that of coffee beans that’ve been roasted longer. The flavours of their origin are more distinct for a light roast. There are high levels of acidity and low levels of bitterness. Because the coffee beans have been lightly roasted, they also retain their natural aroma which can be grassy and fruity. The perfect choice if you like coffee with a thinner body and delicate flavours.
Medium roast coffee brewing methods
Recommended: espresso, French press, Moka Pot, drip-filter / pour over (V60, Chemex)
Medium roast coffee beans are much sweeter and less acidic than light roast, because the roasting process adds sweetness. The medium roast beans are dry and don’t have an oily surface, and are a medium brown colour after roasting. If you like your coffee with a fuller body and some bitterness, medium roast is for you.
Dark roast coffee brewing methods
Recommended: espresso, French press, Moka Pot, cold brew, drip-filter / pour over (V60, Chemex)
Dark roast coffee beans are much more bitter than light and medium roast, but are less acidic. More savoury notes like charcoal and chocolate come through in dark roasted beans, due to the roasting process adding in these flavours. The beans’ origin flavours are usually lost. Dark roast beans are black in colour and have an oily surface. If you prefer your coffee with a heavier body and a powerful aftertaste, try dark roast. Also, if you tend to add milk to your coffee, you can still taste the flavours in dark roast coffee as they aren’t masked by the milk (which would be the case for light roast).
Make sure your water is the right temperature
Right temperature water? You mean “boiling” water, right? Yes, we do, but the temperature of the water you use to make your coffee can affect the taste of your coffee. If it’s too hot, it means over extraction which leaves the coffee tasting bitter and thin. If it’s too cold, it means under extraction which leaves the coffee tasting sour and sharp. The sweet spot of between 195 – 200 degrees Fahrenheit brings out the perfect balance and flavour of your coffee. Especially for French press and pour-over brewing methods. We’d also recommend that you use filtered water instead of tap water, as the inconsistent and rusty taste of (some) tap water can massively overtake the flavour of your coffee. It can also leave behind a residue inside your coffee machine and will need descaling.
Use scales to weigh out your coffee
This sounds like a lot of effort to some. But isn’t it worth it to go the extra mile if you’re wanting to achieve a perfect cup of coffee? It’s best not to eyeball your coffee ratios. The ratio of water to coffee is important and can be the difference between a good and bad cup of coffee. Plus, once you find a measurement that you love, you’ll be able to repeat it every time! Scales can also reduce coffee waste. Say you’ve used your coffee grinder and you’ve ground more than you’re going to use, then you’d have to throw the excess coffee away. By measuring it, you only grind what you use – and it’s really important to remember these measurements when trying to make the next one better/ trying to replicate your perfect brew. You can also find the perfect coffee ratios when making your espresso or drip coffee – scales are a must here. Some scales have a built-in timer as well, so you can leave your coffee to brew for your desired amount of time without forgetting about it.
Clean your coffee machine
If you’re a French press our pour-over guru, then you don’t need to worry about this one. But if you make your coffee using a coffee machine then you’ll need to make it a habit to descale and clean it. Mineral build-up collects inside the coffee machine due to the use of tap water (which we’ve already touched on and why we’d recommend using filtered water).
Your specific coffee machine will have come with a manual in the box, detailing how to properly clean your coffee machine. This can affect the taste of your coffee, but is also more hygienic than leaving residue from every coffee you’ve made. Espresso machines will need to be cleaned every day. Due to the roasting process, coffee beans can be very oily (as we learnt above), so they can leave behind residue that needs regularly cleaning.
What are the different types of coffee brewing methods?
So, you’ve heard of French press (or cafetière) coffee. But do you know how to use a Moka Pot? You will after this!
Everyone enjoys their coffee in their own way – and so they should. There’s no saying which is better than the other, although coffee lovers can be quite vocal about this. That’s down to personal preference. But each way of brewing can give your coffee a different taste, so it’s always good to experiment to see which makes your perfect cup of coffee.
Let’s start with French press and finish with the Moka Pot. We think that’ll keep you interested to read this guide until the end.
French Press
French press/ cafetière is a great way to make several cups of coffee at once, and quickly. That’s why you see them at hotel breakfasts. They’re also perfect for when a group of people are coming over for a coffee. You can also use a French press to make cold brew – you filter it the same way.
How to make French press coffee:
- Fill your French press with ground coffee (this’ll depend on how many people it’s for and how big the press is)
- Add hot, not quite boiling, water up to the top of the French press
- Leave your coffee to brew for 4 minutes without plunging the coffee
- Slowly plunge the coffee and serve
Wilby’s coffee for your French press:
Pour-Over
It’s what it says on the tin. You pour hot water over the coffee beans using products like the Chemex. It’s much easier for you to control the strength of your coffee and it’s a lot easier to clean and manage. You’ll need to use specific coffee filter papers which allow the coffee to drip through to the container. As we’ve already pointed out, it’s crucial to weigh out your coffee and water (at the right temperature).
How to make pour-over coffee:
- Place the cone (V60, for example) on top of the container (Chemex, for example) and add your rinsed/ damp filter paper
- Pour a little bit of water over your weighed out coffee beans and allow them to bloom and expand a for around 50 seconds
- Pour the rest of the water over the freshly ground coffee slowly in a spiral motion allowing it to brew and drip into the container
- Remove your coffee filter and enjoy your pour over coffee from the container
Wilby’s coffee for your pour-over:
Cold Brew
If you prefer your coffee cold, over ice, then you’ll love this method. If you want to make a quick cold brew, you can use the French press method and pour the coffee over ice. It’s as easy as that. But there are also more meticulous methods when it comes to making cold brew that involve steeping your coffee grounds in room temperature or cold water for a long amount of time – up to around 12 hours. You can also prepare cold brews using an AeroPress. You can enjoy the coffee as it is or add milk/ dairy alternatives and enjoy it over ice. Sounds refreshing.
How to make cold brew coffee:
- Grind your coffee beans (or use pre-ground coffee) and empty them into a bowl
- Slowly pour 1 litre of filtered water over the coffee
- Cover the bowl with a towel for 20 – 24 hours
- Once you’ve steeped the coffee, you’ll need to filter it twice. Filter it through a sieve into a large bowl, discard the grounds and rinse the sieve.
- Filter the cold brew again by adding soaked kitchen paper to the sieve
- Store your cold brew in a sealable container that keeps for up to 2 weeks… not that it’ll last that long.
If you’re feeling super extra, you can even add the cold brew to ice cube trays and freeze them to use as a cold brew slushie. Delicious.
Wilby’s coffee for your cold brew:
AeroPress
This compact device looks like a big syringe, with a plunger that forces hot water and coffee grounds through a filter straight into your cup. It’s a quick way to make a cup of coffee and the coffee comes out smooth. What’s not to love? It’s also easy to take with you on-the-go, if you so wish. The AeroPress is a great choice for those wanting to make a single cup of coffee. You can enjoy an espresso, latte, cold brew or just a simple cuppa from one of these.
How to make AeroPress coffee:
- Prepare your coffee and water with the correct weight and water ratio depending on the strength you’re after
- Rinse your coffee filter over the AeroPress (so you’re cleaning the filter and warming the coffee vessel) and attach it to the AeroPress cap
- Set up the AeroPress, making sure it’s dry, and add your coffee grounds
- Start a timer and add twice the weight of water than you have grounds
- Make sure the coffee is evenly saturated and leave it for 30 seconds
- Use the rest of the hot water to fill the chamber
- After 60 seconds, stir the grounds to agitate them
- Fasten the cap and flip the device over on top of your brewing container and begin to apply pressure downward so the coffee filters out
- Push down steadily but don’t push out all the water, unscrew the vessel and enjoy your coffee
Wilby’s coffee for your AeroPress:
Espresso Machine
If you like super strong coffee, then you’ll love espresso-based drinks. Espresso machines can be expensive and can take up a lot of counter space. When using an espresso machine, a small amount of hot water is forced under a large amount of pressure through finely-ground coffee beans leaving you with concentrated coffee. You’ll need to know how to use your grinder and scales for this one – it’s a bit more technical to get the coffee right but it’s worth it.
How to make coffee with an espresso machine:
- Turn on and pre-heat your coffee machine
- Measure and grind your beans to the correct ratio depending on the flavour you want. Make sure not to overly grind your coffee beans as this can leave a bitter taste. If you finely grind them it can have the opposite effect. There’ll be some trial and error here, each time you use the machine to get your perfect brew. One way to know is if the extraction on pour takes between 23 – 28 seconds. If it’s anything less than 20 seconds, your grind was too coarse. If it takes over 30 seconds, then your grind was too fine
- Fill the group handle with your freshly ground coffee
- Tamp (create resistance with the compacted coffee and make the water work to push through the coffee)
- If it’s set up properly, you should see a deep coloured espresso that’s topped with a rich-looking crema (the foam that’s produced from the machine)
Make sure that you’ve thoroughly rinsed the group handle before use and perhaps run water through the machine to remove any old coffee grinds.
Wilby’s coffee for your Espresso Machine:
Moka Pot
The Moka Pot is similar to the Percolator, and there’s usually some confusion around the differences of the two. They both need to be used on a heated surface, like the hob. When using the Moka Pot, immediately remove it from the heat once the water is spent as the coffee will burn and it’ll taste like burnt coffee. With a Percolator, the longer you leave the coffee on the heat, the stronger the taste – which some people enjoy. The Moka Pot is used for Italian and French coffee and produces an espresso that’s used for lattes and cappuccinos. It’s also suitable for making just one or two cups of coffee at a time.
How to make coffee with a Moka Pot:
- Finely grind your coffee beans to the correct weight for your desired flavour
- Fill the bottom of the chamber with water until it’s level with the valve
- Place the funnel into the pot, do not pour any water into the funnel
- Fill the funnel with your ground coffee and level the coffee out
- Screw the sprouted top on tightly
- Place the Moka Pot onto the stove over a medium heat. If you’re using a gas stove, make sure the flame isn’t larger than the base of the pot so the handle doesn’t burn
- As the water in the bottom chamber boils, the pressure will push the coffee into the upper chamber
- Pour your coffee, making sure the handle isn’t hot
Wilby’s coffee for your Moka Pot:
So, there you have it
We’ve come to the end of our guide to making the perfect cup of coffee. A lot to digest? Absolutely. Need a coffee after that? Same. And now you know how to make it the perfect cuppa.
If you’re interested in the different types of coffee you can make; such as lattes, cappuccinos, americanos and even Frappuccino’s; then head over to our ‘Different Types of Coffee’ guide.
If you’ve got the taste for coffee, you can browse our range of Single Origin coffees and sign up for 20% off your first Wilby’s coffee order.
