Home Brewing for Newbies

Congratulations!

If you’ve made it here, you likely have a newly-sparked love affair with the world’s most popular beverage.

So maybe you’re caffeine curious. You know great beans are out there, but how do you go about refining your tastes and your skills? Where do you find the best beans — harvested and roasted in the most responsible ways to turn a daily routine into a everyday ritual? How do you go from fast-food to fabulous, fair-trade coffee?

Our thought: start by comparing. And to compare, you’re going to have to try a lot of new things — and strike up some conversations with new friends who are passionate about their brews. (And guess what? You can — you seriously can call Rick any time — we love talking about coffee, food science, pop culture and current events! 973-230-7266.)

Think about the gear you’ll need. Get a few trusted friends together. Then try, taste, practice and repeat. And take notes!

Soon you’ll discover favorite beans and blends, and different pairing combinations that can put the essence of coffee into different parts of your daily life.

Blends
Blends
Single Origin
Single Origin
Micro Lot
Micro Lot

Brewing Tips

SELECT YOUR BREW METHOD

Drip Coffee

CLEAN, BALANCED, AND BUILT FOR EVERYDAY RITUAL

  • Use medium grind coffee
  • Add 1–2 tablespoons per 6 oz water
  • Brew with fresh, filtered water
  • Adjust ratio to taste

PRO TIP


Start with 2 tablespoons for a fuller cup, then dial back to your preference.

French Press

FULL-BODIED, RICH, AND DEEPLY EXPRESSIVE

  • Use coarse grind coffee
  • Add 1 tablespoon per 4 oz water
  • Pour hot water just off boil
  • Steep for 4 minutes, then press slowly

PRO TIP


Give the coffee a gentle stir after pouring to ensure even extraction.

Espresso

CONCENTRATED, PRECISE, AND FULL OF CHARACTER

  • Use fine grind coffee
  • Dose 18–20 grams, not tablespoons for a double shot (see note below)
  • Extract for 25–30 seconds
  • Adjust grind for balance and consistency

PRO TIP


If your shot runs too fast, grind finer. Too slow, grind coarser.

Cold Brew

SMOOTH, LOW-ACID, AND SLOW-CRAFTED.

  • Use coarse grind coffee
  • Combine 1 cup coffee to 4 cups water
  • Steep for 12–18 hours in refrigerator
  • Strain and serve over ice

PRO TIP


Dilute with water or milk to taste.

A Few Ways to Get the Most from Every Brew

  • START WITH FRESH, FILTERED WATER
  • GRIND COFFEE JUST BEFORE BREWING WHEN POSSIBLE
  • STORE COFFEE IN A COOL, DRY PLACE
  • ADJUST RATIOS TO MATCH YOUR TASTE PREFERENCE
  • CHECK YOUR EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURER’S INSTRUCTIONS
  • SMALL CHANGES CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE

Drip Coffee

CLEAN, BALANCED, AND BUILT FOR EVERYDAY RITUAL

  • Use medium grind coffee
  • Add 1–2 tablespoons per 6 oz water
  • Brew with fresh, filtered water
  • Adjust ratio to taste

PRO TIP


Start with 2 tablespoons for a fuller cup, then dial back to your preference.

French Press

FULL-BODIE, RICH, AND DEEPLY EXPRESSIVE

  • Use coarse grind coffee
  • Add 1 tablespoon per 4 oz water
  • Pour hot water just off boil
  • Steep for 4 minutes, then press slowly

PRO TIP


Give the coffee a gentle stir after pouring to ensure even extraction.

Espresso

CONCENTRATED, PRECISE, AND FULL OF CHARACTER

  • Use fine grind coffee
  • Dose 18–20 grams, not tablespoons for a double shot (see note below)
  • Extract for 25–30 seconds
  • Adjust grind for balance and consistency

PRO TIP


If your shot runs too fast, grind finer. Too slow, grind coarser.

Cold Brew

SMOOTH, LOW-ACID, AND SLOW-CRAFTED.

  • Use coarse grind coffee
  • Combine 1 cup coffee to 4 cups water
  • Steep for 12–18 hours in refrigerator
  • Strain and serve over ice

PRO TIP


Dilute with water or milk to taste.

A Few Ways to Get the Most from Every Brew

  • START WITH FRESH, FILTERED WATER
  • GRIND COFFEE JUST BEFORE BREWING WHEN POSSIBLE
  • STORE COFFEE IN A COOL, DRY PLACE
  • ADJUST RATIOS TO MATCH YOUR TASTE PREFERENCE
  • CHECK YOUR EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURER’S INSTRUCTIONS
  • SMALL CHANGES CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE