How to Store It
Store your coffee in a cool, dry place, and plan to use it within 3 weeks of purchase. Only put it in the freezer if you don't plan to use it for over a month. Most of our coffees are at their very best between 2 and 10 days after roasting.
How to Grind It
The best home grinders work using the same principles as our big commercial models. Burr grinders have two disks, one spinning, one stationary. As a result, they grind consistently without heating the grounds. Blade grinders are less expensive than burr grinders, but they do heat the grounds, which negatively impacts the flavor. They also produce a very inconsistent grind, which makes it difficult to create a consistent brew.
Portion
Weight is the best way to portion, and the ideal ratio of ground coffee to water is 2 oz. per quart. Otherwise, use about 3 tablespoons per 12 oz. cup of water. We recommend altering the fineness of your grind to adjust to your personal taste, rather than altering the portion.
Water and Temperature
You want to use filtered or spring water, which is not too hard or too soft. Never use distilled water: well-brewed coffee requires some dissolved solids to extract properly. The ideal temperature range is between 195 and 205. Boiling water extracts bitter alkaloids from the coffee, which is not desireable. If you are using a French Press or Manual Pourover to brew your coffee, we recommend boiling water and then pouring it in another container--a kettle or Pyrex--before combining it with the coffee grounds. We have found that this practice ensures that your brew water is in the ideal range.
