Coffee
Simple levers, big results: beans, water, grind, time. Learn what changes flavour — and ignore the rest.
Grind, don’t guess
The grind is your master dial. Bitter? Go coarser. Sour/weak? Go finer. Change one thing at a time.
- Filter: medium-fine to medium
- French press: coarse
- Espresso: fine (tweak for 25–35s)
Water is the silent ingredient
Great beans can’t survive bad water. You want clean water, not distilled, at 90–96 °C.
- Too flat? Slightly more minerals or hotter water.
- Too harsh? Back off heat or reduce contact time.
- Tap trouble? Filter + consistent temperature = 80% of taste.
Consistency beats gadget collecting.
Brew Map — start here
| Method | Grind | Ratio | Time | Fast Fix |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pour-over | Medium-fine | 1:16 | 2:30–4:00 | Bitter → coarser; Sour → finer |
| French Press | Coarse | 1:15 | 4:00 | Muddy → coarser & decant sooner |
| AeroPress | Medium | 1:14 | 1:30–2:00 | Flat → finer & hotter |
| Moka Pot | Fine-medium | Basket level | Until first sputter | Harsh → lower heat, stop early |
| Espresso | Fine | 1:2 output | 25–35s | Channeling → finer + better distribution |
| Cold Brew | Coarse | 1:8 (conc.) | 12–18h | Hollow → longer or warm bloom |
Your 3-step setup
1) Ratio
Start 1:16 for filter. Adjust 1 notch at a time.
2) Time
Keep it consistent. Change grind to fix taste.
3) Water
90–96 °C. Filtered. No guesswork.
Brew better with what you already own
Get the Big Sips Coffee Guide: the ratio ladder, grind visuals, water cheat-sheet, and a one-minute troubleshooting tree.
- Water, decoded: quick mineral targets + easy fixes.
- Grind visual: method-by-method reference.
- Ratio ladder: 3 anchors for 90% of brews.
- Rescue flow: fix sour/bitter/muddy fast.
- Buy smart: what matters vs. marketing.
FAQ
Do I need a fancy grinder?
Burr > blade. Hand grinders are fine. Consistency wins.
How fresh is “fresh”?
Filter: 5–21 days after roast. Espresso: often 10–30 days. Trust taste.
Is bottled water worth it?
If your tap is very hard/soft, yes. Otherwise filtered + proper temp is enough.