Coffee Recipe

Measure beans

Weigh 36 g (0.036 kg) of whole coffee beans. This yields about two 8-oz (240 ml) cups of brewed coffee at a 1:14 ratio (coffee:water). Adjust quantity proportionally for more or fewer servings.

Heat water

Bring 500 ml of filtered water to just off boil (about 93–96°C). If you don't have a thermometer, bring to a boil and let sit 30 seconds before pouring.

Grind beans

Grind the beans immediately before brewing. Use a medium-coarse grind for pour-over or drip (similar to sea salt), coarser for French press, and fine for espresso. Aim for consistency: a burr grinder gives the best result.

Pre-wet filter and bloom (for pour-over/drip)

If using a paper filter, place it in the dripper and rinse with hot water to remove paper flavor and preheat the brewer. Discard rinse water. Add the ground coffee, level gently. Pour ~60 ml hot water evenly over grounds to saturate (bloom) and let sit 30–45 seconds to release CO2.

Brew

Continue pouring the remaining hot water slowly and evenly over the grounds (for pour-over) until you reach the total water weight (500 ml). For drip machines, start the brew cycle. For French press, pour all hot water, stir gently, place the lid with plunger up, and steep 4 minutes before plunging. For espresso, follow your machine's dosing and extraction time (typically 25–30 seconds). Total contact time: pour-over ~2.5–3.5 minutes; French press ~4 minutes; drip varies by machine.

Serve

Once brewed, pour the coffee into cups immediately to prevent over-extraction from sitting on the grounds. Taste plain black first to assess strength and flavor.

Add milk or cream

If desired, warm 60 ml milk or cream (optional) briefly on the stove or microwave to around 60°C and pour into coffee. For latte or cappuccino, steam the milk to create microfoam and combine with espresso (if making espresso-based drink).

Sweeten or season

Stir in sugar (1 tbs) or sweetener (1 tsp) to taste. A tiny pinch (0.25 tsp) of salt can reduce bitterness if desired. Adjust amounts to your preference.

Discard used grounds and rinse equipment. If you rinsed a paper filter earlier, dispose of it. Wash and dry the brewer, carafe, and tools to preserve flavor for next brew.