How to Make Filter Coffee That’s Damn Delicious
If you’re wondering how to make filter coffee that’s actually delicious, we’ve got the goods. Read on to find out how!
Filter coffee’s got a bad rap. Especially if you’ve been to the US and struggled to choke down a watery (or sludgy) brew from a coffee cart. Or you just remember the old coffee makers from 90s and 00s-era office buildings. But if that’s your only experience with filter coffee, it’s time to get with the (new, modern) program. Today, filter coffee is a whole new animal.
How to Make Filter Coffee That’s Damn Delicious
For a country that’s been all about espresso for nearly a century, many Australian’s are now waking up with a new style of coffee. So what do they know that you don’t? Well, they know how to make filter coffee that’s actually delicious.
How to Start
Before you start any brewing method at home there are some basics that you need to know. We’ve covered them in our blog, ‘How to Brew Coffee At Home’. But essentially you need to ensure you have good beans that are freshly ground, the right kind of grind for your brewing style, the right ratio of coffee to water, good water for coffee (a dissertation in itself!) at the right temp and don’t forget pre-infusion. Phew! Now, you can move onto how to make filter coffee itself!
When it comes to at-home filter coffee making, there are two common methods: the pourover method and batch brewed.
Pourover Method
The pourover method essentially involves manually pouring hot water over ground coffee beans. The beans are held in a filter paper in a cone, which then filters the coffee through to a cup below. Many Europeans, especially Scandinavians, prefer this method. And it’s great because it allows you to have complete control over the brewing process.
Grind Size
Your best bet for pourover coffee is a medium grind. Freshly ground coffee is best. And you don’t even need a grinder at home to have freshly ground coffee. Just indicate the grind size you’d like when you order it from our online shop or have us grind it in store for you. This gives you the convenience of having your coffee ground to our recommendation from the start, no matter your brewing method.
To keep your coffee fresh, always ensure you’re storing your Coffee DRs ground coffee properly (try one of our one-way valve tins available in store).
Ratio
For pourover coffee the ratio of coffee to water is very important. At Coffee DRs, we use 60 grams of ground coffee to 1 litre of clean hot water (so, 30 grams of ground coffee to 500 ml water, and 15 grams ground coffee to 250 ml water).
At Coffee DRs we also recommend that you grab an inexpensive scale to weigh your coffee rather than using a measuring spoon. A spoonful of coffee will vary in volume depending on the coffee you’re using, meaning you won’t always get an accurate reading (or the result that you want).
Pouring
Heat up your kettle and wait approximately one minute after boiling before pouring (you definitely don’t want burnt coffee). If you have a variable kettle, we recommend between 92 and 96 degrees Celsius. Once you’re achieved the right temp, pour roughly twice the amount of clean hot water to your coffee and let it bloom for 30 seconds. This will saturate the coffee grounds for an even extraction.
After the 30 second bloom, start pouring the remainder of the water slowly on top of the ground coffee for a total of two minutes and 30 seconds. You can spend more time if you like. It’s really up to you. Just remember, the slower the water filters through the grounds, the more flavour is extracted.
Read – How to Make the Best Pourover Coffee.
Buy – Hario V60 (grab one in store).
Batch Brewed
Batch brewed coffee is made using a machine that heats water and then releases it slowly over a hopper filled with ground beans. The brewed coffee then filters down into a jug or carafe that may be resting on a hot plate to keep the coffee hot.
If you’re thinking this sounds just like grandpa’s coffee maker out in the shed, you’re sort of right. But times have moved on. The new coffee makers are highly sophisticated machines that take into account how much coffee you want to brew (new machines are perfectly capable of brewing only one or two cups), the right water temp and the right ratio of coffee to water and delivering you a beautiful cup of coffee.
The important thing here is to determine the right grind and the right ratio.
Grind Size
For machine brewed coffee we generally recommend a medium grind, just as with the pourover method. Again, it’s all about using fresh coffee and great beans (we know where you can get some!).
Ratio
Again, getting the ratio right is very is very important. With coffee makers, as a general rule, we also recommend 60 grams of ground coffee per litre of water just as with the pourover method. Again, using a scale is the best way to measure.
Remember, this is just a starting point, however. How to make filter coffee that’s delicious with your coffee maker will be a matter of trial and error as every machine is just a bit different. You’ll want to figure out the exact ratio that works best for you and for your machine.
The Benefits of Batch Brewed Coffee
Batch brewed coffee is growing in popularity because it’s easy and quick, and the method allows for a longer set of nuanced flavours to shine through. For many people (who find a short black too intense), this means you can move away from milk-based, or sugary, coffee drinks, and access coffee in a more accessible way.
Of course, if you don’t want to dive into it straight away, pop into the store to talk to our team. We’re always happy to share our knowledge and give you a try of some of the seasonal single origins which make beautiful batch brewed (and pourover) coffee. You’ll get a great idea of how it tastes and feel confident giving it a go at home.
Read – The Future is Filter Coffee
Buy – Breville Precision Brewer (a really great value brewer that allows you to also customise your coffee brewing to a certain degree)