Brewing Tips


9 ESSENTIAL STEPS


Buy Good Quality Coffee Coffee that is locally roasted is not only more likely to be fresher than imported products, it is also more likely to be made from high quality beans. Caffe L’affare use only top graded 100% Arabica coffee - no compromises. Buy Fresh Coffee Coffee is like most other natural food products: the fresher it is, the better tastes. Buy in small quantities, and buy regularly (ideally weekly). We supply our supermarket and café customers directly from our roastery in Wellington. It is never warehoused. Use the Correct Grind Setting Very fine for espresso and stovetop, medium for filter and plunger. Using the wrong grind setting will leave a lot of the good flavour in the grounds, rather than in the cup. Grind Your Own Beans Coffee loses its flavour more quickly once ground. If grinding at home, use a burr grinder with an adjustable grind setting, which ensures the grounds are a consistent size throughout. Avoid the blade style grinders, which damage the beans by chopping them crudely. Use Enough Coffee Start with at least one tablespoon of coffee per cup of filter or plunger coffee, and adjust to taste. Using too little coffee will produce a thin, unsatisfying brew. Use Freshly Drawn Water, Just Off Boiling Use freshly drawn water every time, don’t just top up the jug – it won’t be fresh! Allow the water to stand till just off boiling. Never add boiling water to coffee, it will damage the delicate aromas and flavour. Always Prepare Fresh Coffee Once freshly brewed the coffee will release aromas and flavours that can never be captured again. The coffee sediment of a plunger coffee contains bitter tannins that will spoil the flavour of the coffee. Store Your Coffee Carefully Store your coffee in an airtight container, in a cool dry part of the kitchen. We don’t recommend freezing or refrigerating. Coffee is sensitive to temperature changes. The condensation that occurs once the coffee is brought back to room temperature will damage the aroma and flavour. Choose an Appropriate Blend Coffees from different regions and countries have different flavours. These flavours can be better realised by different degree of roasting, and by different brewing methods. Darker roasts have more sweetness and body (and less caffeine!) and can be used for any brewing method. Medium roasts retain more of the natural fruit flavour of the bean and are better in filter and plunger. If you are unsure where to start here are some recommendations: City for plunger Brew for filter Primo for espresso Dark for stovetop