Auto-drip machines
Drip coffee makers are very popular in the US so we've added some basic information, even though this method can deliver the most inferior of cups.
There's no big secret to making decent fresh coffee with a drip coffee maker. It's simple and straightforward but there are a few things to keep in mind.
1. Invest in a coffee grinder.
When you grind freshly roasted coffee, you increase the surface area of the coffee bean that is exposed to air, hastening the release of the oils that give arabica coffee its rich flavor. If possible, grind coffee right before you use it.
2. Keep your drip coffee maker and coffee pot clean.
Coffee oils cling to everything, and once they’re deposited, they eventually become rancid. Wash out the pot and filter basket every time a fresh pot
is enjoyed and clean your coffee maker once a week; descale the internals using a bicarbonate solution every month. And, do remember to clean the
diffuser head where the water comes out. That’s an area that can accumulate lots of nasty gunk and will taint a freshly roasted, arabica coffee.
3. Use paper filters.
You’ve probably seen ads for “permanent coffee filters” in gold or nylon. They sound like a great idea and are convenient but coffee residues tend to
collect in hard to clean places on them. A better quality brew will be had using a premium paper filter; using a fresh one for every brewing cycle.
4. Use the correct measure.
The biggest mistake made when making coffee in a drip coffee maker is using too little coffee. You should use two level tablespoons of freshly roasted, ground coffee
for each 8-10 ounces of water. Measure it out the first few times and you’ll be surprised how much fresh coffee that actually is. Americans got into the habit of using less ground coffee because of bitterness. When using Granite Ledge Coffee, fire roasted and fresh, you'll experience no bitterness when ground properly.
5. Use fresh, cold water.
Filtered or spring water is best.
6. Avoid the temptation to use the brew pause.
The first cup or so of the brewed coffee will carry most of the flavor. If you pour that off and return the pot to fill the rest of the way, the first cup of
coffee will be very strong, and the rest of the pot will be weaker.
7. Take the coffee off the warming plate when it’s done brewing.
Once the coffee is done brewing and you've made yourself a cup, pour the remaining into a thermal pot, preferably one with a vacuum seal. If a pot is
left on a warming burner, it will continue to cook and eventually less palatable.
NOTE: If you haven't tried a French Press, and you really like a good cup of fresh coffee, we strongly recommend your giving it a try. See the related section
within this Library.