How to Make the Perfect Cup:

Espresso:

Grind is important to good coffee, but it's crucial to espresso. If you use too coarse a grind the coffee will be thin and weak; use too fine a grind and the coffee will be over-extracted and bitter (some of the water may not come through at all). We strongly recommend using a special espresso grinder or burr grinder if you have an espresso machine.

An espresso should take 15 to 20 seconds to brew in most machines with good pumps. As the espresso flows into the cup, there should be darkish-brown foam ("crema") on top. After the good-tasting soluble solids are extracted the liquid flowing from the filter will become whitish-brown. Stop immediately this fluid tastes awful!

A fully extracted, properly prepared espresso is 1 to 1-1/2 fluid ounces (30-45 cc) which is about the size of a shot glass or about half a small demitasse cup. Forcing more water through the grounds will give it a bitter taste. Properly made espresso is strong, but not bitter. If you prefer it weaker, add hot water or hot milk.

Get the right equipment.
For the best cup of coffee, use a press pot or a coffee maker with a permanent filter (e.g. a gold tone filter). If you use paper filters, rinse them well with hot water to wash out the papery taste before you brew.

Brew with the right amount of good water.
If your tap water tastes unpleasant, use bottled or filtered water.

Use the right grind for your brewing device.
Each brewing device requires its own grind, whether it's a press pot or an espresso machine. If you're not sure which grind is right for your coffee maker, just ask us. We're more than happy to help.

Measure the right amount of coffee.
Use two level tablespoons of ground coffee for each six ounces of water, or two ounces of ground coffee per quart of water. If you find the coffee a bit strong after brewing (some people do), you can adjust the coffee's strength by simply adding hot water from the kettle.

Drink your coffee while it's fresh!
You can keep coffee warm on a burner or hotplate for only about 20 minutes before its flavor starts to turn bitter. Reheating coffee is even worse. Whenever possible, brew and drink your coffee fresh.