THE GOLDEN CUP???
Ever wonder why it is so difficult to replicate that perfect cup of coffee from your favorite cafe???
You purchased their beans and followed the directions, yet it tastes nothing like it!
Let's go off-topic for a second... Consider baking a cake; if you don't have the proper ratio of flour to eggs or the appropriate amount of baking powder, your cake will not taste right and will not rise.
Coffee is no different; you need a plan! "The Golden Ratios" will guide you to the perfect balance to brew your perfect cup at home.
Ratios are the fundamentals to consistently delicious coffee!
The Golden Ratios
There's no single best ratio, but these ratios have towered above the rest. These are the Golden Ratios. 1 gram of coffee to 15-18 grams of water (1:15-1:18). We all have our preferences, but this is the best place to brew the most satisfying coffee.
Imagine using three beans to brew ten cups of coffee. This would produce a weak pot of coffee that is dull and bitter. This is because the beans have been over-extracted due to too much water!
Now let's imagine the opposite; fill your coffee basket to the top with coffee and use one cup of water. This will produce an overpowering cup that is extremely strong and sour. This is because the beans have been under-extracted due to too little water.
The Golden Ratios use the proper balance of coffee and water to extract a balanced, rich cup of coffee that is not overpowering but very satisfying.
Items needed:
kitchen scale (grams)
brewing equipment
calculator/cell phone
fresh, cool, filtered water
freshly roasted coffee
and most important~the, the ratio!
It will only take a few seconds to weigh your water and coffee. But, believe me, it will be worth the time once you taste that first sip!
Let's get started:
Choose your brewing method. If you're not interested in learning manual brewing methods, visit SCA to view Certified Home Brewers. These brewers will achieve the proper brew strength, temperature, and time balance.
The Golden Ratios: 1 gram of coffee to 15-18 grams of water (1:15-18). The SCA starts at 1:18. This is defined as 55 grams of coffee per liter of water. Use your kitchen scale in grams to figure this out. First, weigh the water, then divide the number by 18. This will be the amount of coffee necessary for the perfect cup. If you want a more robust cup, divide by 17, 16, or 15. If you found it was a bit too strong, and enjoy a weaker cup, divide by 19 or 20. You ultimately will adjust to your taste.
Grind the coffee for your preferred brew method. We can grind and help you determine the best grind for your brew method.
Use fresh cool, fresh, filtered water. Remember, coffee is 98-99% water.
Depending on the brewing method, the hot water needs to contact the coffee for 4-6 minutes (this doesn't apply to single-cup preparation situations). You can find some popular brew methods in our Brew Guide.
The water temperature for brewing should be between 195°-205°F (hot, but not too hot) when in contact with the coffee grounds.
The coffee grounds should be filtered out of the prepared coffee beverage. Select the correct filter for your brewer to ensure the proper functionality of your selected device.
Better coffee is literally a math problem and shouldn't take you more than 30 seconds to figure out. Hint...use your cell phone.
Pro tip: write down your everyday recipes on paper and keep them near your coffee setup. You don't have to do math every morning; just read your cheat sheet!
Which Ratio Should You Use?
Figuring out which coffee to water ratio you personally prefer is a matter of trial and error. Brew a few cups of coffee at different ratios to see how they taste. While I personally enjoy 1:18, you may be a 1:16 kind of person - only you will know through trial and error.
Here's a quick breakdown of how the Golden Ratios differ.
1:15 Ratio - Less water used; coffee will be more concentrated. However, since there was less water to extract flavors from the coffee grounds, the final Brew will be less extracted than the higher ratios. As a result, this is likely to be a rich and crisp cup with more pronounced acidity.
1:18 Ratio - More water used; coffee will be slightly less intense and more extracted. This will produce a balanced, mellow cup with gentle acidity.
1:16 and 1:17 Ratios - These ratios are in-between 1:15 and 1:18 in terms of strength and concentration and are the most commonly used ratios worldwide (all four are considered rich and balanced).
