Serda's Coffee Co. 5300 Halls Mill Rd. Suite D Theodore, AL 36619 866.783.8925
Serda's Coffee Co. 5300 Halls Mill Rd. Suite D Theodore, AL 36619 tel.866.783.8925
Coffee Brewing...
Great coffee does not stop when it is delivered to you. The brewing process is the last and probably the most important stage in enjoying great coffee. Therefore, we highly recommend you read this entire section so you get the most out of your Quetzal Tarrazu.
The recipe for brewing a great cup of coffee relies on four fundamentals:
Proportion, Grind, Water & Freshness
PROPORTION
We recommend using two tablespoons for every six ounces of water to extract the full flavor of your Quetzal Tarrazu. If your brewed coffee tastes too strong, add small amounts of hot water to taste. Using too little coffee can result in over-extraction of the coffee and bitterness in the cup.
GRIND
Always use the correct grind for the brewing method. Grinding the beans just prior to brewing, results in about a fourth more flavor in the cup. If coffee is ground too fine for the brewing method, over-extraction will produce a less desirable, possibly bitter cup of coffee. Likewise, too coarse a grind will lead to under-extraction, and a lifeless, weak cup of coffee. Since beans should be ground before brewing each time, it is an art you will master after only a few trials.
In general, the longer that coffee and water spend in contact during the brewing process, the coarser the grind you should use. Here's a chart of recommended grinds for various brewing methods:
French Press (Press pot) - Coarse flakes like bread crumbs, feels like a coarse sand paper.
Automatic Drip Brewer - Flat bottom paper or metal (gold) wedge shaped filters - medium grind. Your fingers should be clean if you run them through the coffee.
Paper wedged shaped filters - Just a bit finer than flat bottom filters.
Espresso - Very fine, has a consistency between flour and table salt.
WATER
Always use fresh, cold water. If the tap water where you live is distasteful due to hardness or treatment, consider using bottled water or a filter system. Never use softened water! Remember, a cup of coffee is 98% water. If the water doesn't taste good, the coffee won't either.
The temperature of the water is also important. When brewing coffee using a hot water method, generally the ideal temperature should be between 190-200 Fahrenheit. This permits ideal extraction of essential flavor and oils from the grounds. Water that is too hot will over-extract, yielding a less than desirable cup of coffee. Likewise, water that is too cold will under-extract, yielding a thin lifeless cup.
FRESHNESS
Always start with freshly roasted gourmet coffee. Coffee maintains its peak freshness best, when kept in an airtight container, in a cool, dry place. There is much controversy as to whether it should be stored cold or not (i.e. refrigerator / freezer); Cold storage is probably only necessary when sealed, long-term storage is desired. Ultimately, the most important factors to remember are keeping the coffee away from air (oxygen) and moisture, which can degrade the freshness of your coffee.
A few other things to remember:
Coffee is best if served immediately after brewing, and will retain its peak flavor for up to 20 minutes on the warmer. We recommend you transfer your brewed coffee to a thermal carafe to hold for a longer period of time.
Don't forget to take care of your equipment! A clean coffee brewer is critical to great tasting coffee. Periodically, use a mild detergent or baking soda to remove build-up, film and oil.
