The Magic of Coffee and Water
 Wondering how to brew the perfect cup of coffee? Turn your Van Houtte coffee beans into a great cup of coffee. It's easy if you follow our recommendations on grinding, brewing and storing.
By choosing whole coffee beans over ground coffee, you're opting for maximum flavor and body. Therefore, if you've decided to grind your coffee at home, don't do so more than a few minutes before you're ready to brew.
It's extremely important that you match the grind to your coffeemaker. Proper grinding is essential to achieving correct extraction – the amount of solids that pass from beans to water. If the grind is too fine, you may end up with a bitter cup of coffee. If it's too coarse, you may get a weak brew. Pulse the grinder at three second intervals so that the beans don't overheat. This also ensures a more even grind. And remember: never mix old grounds with new.
Find your grind
Each brewing method – manual or automatic drip filter, French press or percolator – must control the length of time that the water and coffee come into contact. Therefore, each requires its own particular grind. As a rule, the less time water comes into contact with the coffee, the finer the grind should be.
| Turkish grind |
Extra-fine grind, texture like flour. Used to prepare Turkish coffee. |
| Espresso grind |
Very fine grind, texture like semolina. Used to prepare espresso. |
| Fine filter grind |
Fine grind, light, granular texture. For coffeemakers with paper cone filters |
| Medium filter grind |
Moderately fine grind. For coffeemakers with paper basket filters |
| Medium grind |
Fairly large grind. Used for French press coffeemakers (Bodum). |
| Percolator grind |
Coarse grind. Used for percolators or large volume urns |
Brewing basics
There are four basic brewing methods:
| Manual drip |
Grinding at home: 20-25 seconds
In-store grind setting: fine
Produces a consistently rich cup |
| French press |
Grinding at home: 5-10 seconds
In-store grind setting: coarse
Makes a heavy, densely flavored coffee |
| Espresso machine |
Grinding at home: 25-30 seconds
In-store grind setting: espresso grind
Creates a heavy-bodied coffee perfect for espresso drinks |
Automatic drip
(for cone-shaped filter) |
Grinding at home: 20-25 seconds
In-store grind setting: fine
One of the most popular and convenient ways of making coffee |
Tips & techniques
How much coffee should I use?
We recommend using two tablespoons per 8-oz. of fresh water.
Is tap water okay?
Since coffee is 98% water, for best results use only cold, filtered water or bottled water. You'd be surprised what a difference filtered water makes.
How often should I clean my coffeemaker?
Your coffeemaker and pot should always be extremely clean. If you use an automatic drip machine, you may want to clean it with a weak vinegar solution followed by a fresh water rinse.
How long can I wait before serving the coffee?
Once your brew is done, remove it from the heat immediately. Coffee sitting on a burner starts to degrade in about 20 minutes. Instead, keep the brew fresh in a thermal container. Never reheat coffee: this can destroy its flavor leaving you with a burnt, bitter-tasting cup of coffee. |
