Learn2 Make A Great Pot Of Coffee

The Perfect Brew

Often the simplest things are the most elusive. But the key to a great pot of coffee is no mystery; it merely depends on first-rate ingredients, good equipment, and proper technique.

Buy your coffee frequently from a quality source, store it in a dark, cool, dry place for up to two weeks (freeze for longer storage), and follow the instructions below. You'll make a fine pot every time.

Before You Begin:

• Make sure your coffee maker is scrupulously clean; residual oils turn rancid over time.
• If using paper filters, rinse in hot water to remove loose paper pulp and bleaching agents (if white). Also, flavor oils thus release into the brew, not the filter.
• If you must use tap water, run the faucet to clear the water sitting in the pipes. Colder and fresher water makes a tastier, livelier brew.
• Warm the pot! Just a few swishes in hot water will help maintain the coffee's temperature and flavor.
  

What You'll Need

• Pure fresh water (purified, if possible)
• Freshly roasted coffee beans, ground for your brewing method (see Tips)
• A coffee maker (automatic drip or any manual system)
  

Key Terms:

• Drip System: Any coffee brewing method that works by introducing hot water to ground coffee from above the filter, allowing the infusion to drip out the bottom. Manual drip systems include the Melitta filter or Chemex. Examples of automatic drip machines include Krups, Braun, and Mr. Coffee brands.
• French press: Also known as the plunger pot, the French press works by putting water and coffee in direct contact, steeping to extract flavor, then separating grounds from the brew by pushing a filter through the solution.
• Gold filter: A gold-plated, reusable filter, most often V-shaped. A gold filter screen is fine enough to allow the essential oils to pass through but not the bitter grounds. And unlike paper, cloth, or other metals, gold imparts no flavor of its own.
  

Time:

Depending on the method, five to ten minutes for preparation, and five to ten minutes for brewing.

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