Brew Guide

Every bag we roast ships whole bean unless you ask us to grind it. Here is how to pick a grind, dial in a brew, and keep your coffee tasting fresh at home.

Choose your grind

Grind size controls how fast water pulls flavor out of the coffee. Too fine for your brewer and the cup turns bitter and harsh. Too coarse and it tastes thin and sour. Match the grind to your brewer:

  • Whole bean: the best choice if you own a grinder. Coffee holds its flavor longest before it is ground.
  • Percolator (extra coarse): large, chunky grounds that stand up to a long, repeated brew cycle.
  • French press (coarse): about the texture of coarse sea salt, so the metal filter keeps the grounds out of your cup.
  • Drip (medium): about the texture of sand. Works for most automatic coffee makers and flat-bottom pour-over brewers.
  • Espresso (fine): close to powdered sugar, for espresso machines and stovetop moka pots.

Choose your grind from the dropdown on any coffee and we grind it the day it ships.

A simple starting recipe

  • Ratio: a common starting point is 1 gram of coffee for every 16 grams of water. That is roughly 2 level tablespoons per 6oz cup.
  • Water temperature: just off the boil, around 195–205°F.
  • Water: use filtered water if your tap water tastes of chlorine or minerals.

Cup too bitter? Go a little coarser or use a bit less coffee. Too weak or sour? Go a little finer or use a bit more coffee. Change one thing at a time.

Brewer notes

French press

Add coarse grounds, pour in hot water, stir, and put the lid on. Steep about 4 minutes, press slowly, and pour it all out right away so it does not keep brewing.

Drip coffee maker

Use a medium grind and a clean machine. Rinse paper filters with hot water first if you notice a papery taste.

Percolator

Use an extra coarse grind so the grounds stay in the basket, and keep the heat gentle so the coffee does not boil hard.

Espresso and moka pot

Use a fine grind. For a moka pot, fill the basket level without tamping it down.

Keep it fresh

  • Store coffee in an airtight container, away from light, heat, and moisture.
  • Skip the fridge. Moisture and fridge smells do coffee no favors.
  • Grind right before you brew when you can. Whole beans hold their flavor longer than ground coffee.

Light roasts and decaf

Most of our coffees are light roasts, which are denser than dark roasts. If a light roast tastes sour, try a slightly finer grind or hotter water first. Brewing decaf? The same grind and recipe work. Read how our decaf is made or shop decaf and half caf.

Shop all coffee · Questions about your brewer? Get in touch.