When you're learning a skill (a new sport, a musical instrument, keeping houseplants alive), it's never the wrong time to get back to basics. So the Tag Coffee team is here with some tried & true reminders of what goes into making spectacular coffee. Bookmark them, put them on your fridge (are magnetic fridges still a thing?), or just remember these go-to tips for brewing a delicious cup of coffee.
Beans are EVERYTHING.
Without good raw materials, it's hard to make anything exceptional. And for coffee, that means starting with fresh, expertly roasted beans. This is the single most important factor in brewing good coffee—even the most experienced barista in the world can't make a great cup from bad beans. Look for beans that have been roasted in the last few weeks, rather than those that have sat on grocery shelves for months. Sure, we're a little biased, but we think our beans (roasted every day in San Antonio) are the best you can get.
Choose your brewing method, then your grind size.
If you're getting into coffee for the first time, you already know that coffee is sold in whole beans and in grounds. But did you know that each brewing method actually calls for its own unique grind size? For example, drip coffee needs a medium grind while an espresso machine only works with very finely ground coffee. So always choose how you're brewing, and then pick the grind size that works best for that method. When you buy any bag of Tag Coffee, we can grind it for you to a Coarse, Medium or Fine size based on how you're brewing.
Use good water (not distilled!).
You can use tap water or bottled water to brew your coffee, but "pure" water is not necessarily better. During the brewing process, the minerals in your water actually help to pull flavor out of the grounds. But distilled water doesn't have the minerals to do this, so the coffee tastes flat and often sour. Use good, clean water but don't overthink it, minerals are good, chlorine is bad.
Brew with the right proportions.
Even longtime coffee lovers can develop bad habits and forget this one. So just a reminder: the best coffee is made with 2 to 2.5 tablespoons of coffee per 8 oz of water. If you want to level up and use a scale for your measurements, aim for close to 22-23 grams of coffee for every 350 grams of water.
Stir your coffee. Always!
Whether you’re brewing with a drip maker, an AeroPress or something else, always stir your coffee before you drink it. This evenly mixes all the coffee goodness that you extracted from the coffee while you were brewing and ensures your coffee tastes good, rather than too bitter or too sweet. Stirring provides that even full bodied flavor that you’ve worked so hard to brew up.
BONUS TIP: Get out of your comfort zone.
If you're a devoted Starbucks drinker or you like gas station coffee, no judgments—almost all caffeine is good caffeine. But just a reminder that there's a whole world of coffee experiences out there, and once you branch out, you'll probably realize what you're missing. From a gateway coffee designed for Starbucks drinkers to Mellow & Balanced flavors and Single Origins from across the globe, we have coffees that will surprise your palate and open up new possibilities for you. And if you're into the ease of brewing with pods, good news: all of our coffees are available as K-Cups.
Coffee is a craft, but it’s also an ongoing journey: one where little improvements can make a big difference. So this year, explore, try new flavors, and remember the basics to brew the best coffee you've ever had.
