BREWINg tips, Storage and Freshness

The keys to obtaining good results are:

• Using quality fresh beans purchased from your local roaster
• Grinding the coffee correctly
• Using clean equipment and filtered water
• Timing the process
• Drinking the coffee immediately after brew time (four minutes) or transferring it into a heating carafe for later consumption

Preparation Guidelines

Step 1.  Grind the coffee using a burr grinder if possible

Step 2.  Add coffee to vessel; 14 g of coffee to 240 ml of water – one tablespoon per cup

Step 3.  Pour water raised to 95 degrees Celsius (below boiling or take off boil and leave two minutes) over grounds in vessel saturating evenly

Step 4.  Start timer – allow steeping for four minutes, stirring after one minute to optimise extraction

Step 5.  Place press on top and at four minutes press slowly down into the vessel to force grounds to the bottom

Step 6.  Pour immediately and enjoy

The keys to obtaining good espresso results are:

• Using quality fresh coffee purchased from your local roaster
• Correctly grinding the coffee with a burr grinder
• Correctly packing the right amount of coffee into the filter basket
• Extracting the coffee at the right pressure and temperature
• Using clean equipment and filtered water

Preparation Guidelines

Step 1.  Warm cup or glass

Step 2.  Wipe portafilter with dry cloth

Step 3.  Grind and dose coffee into the portafilter to a level slightly proud

Step 4.  Settle and level the coffee so that it is evenly distributed over the surface of the portafilter

Step 5.  Tamp the coffee firmly with thumb and forefinger either side of tamper top

Step 6.  Purge grouphead by letting 30 ml of water run through it

Step 7.  Insert portafilter,start and time extraction

Step 8.  Watch the espresso as it extracts.  At first heavy droplets appear and then increase in speed.  Coffee should have the consistency of honey dripping off a warm spoon.

The keys to obtaining good results are:

• Using quality fresh coffee purchased from your local roaster
• Pre-heating the water
• Removing the pot from the heat at the right time
• Proper grind of coffee
• Using clean equipment and filtered water
• Drinking the coffee immediately after brew time or transferring it into a heating carafe for later consumption

Preparation Guidelines

Step 1.  Bring water to boil then remove from heat

Step 2.  Grind enough coffee to fill the filter basket at a grind setting slightly coarser than you would for an espresso

Step 3.  Add heated water to the fill line inside the brew base

Step 4.  Insert filter basket into the brewer base

Step 5.  Fill the basket with ground coffee, slightly proud, level off and apply slight downward pressure to settle the grounds

Step 6.  Screw top into brewer, using hot pads to avoid getting burned

Step 7.  Put brewer on moderate heat, leaving top lid open

Step 8.  Watch for signs of coffee, first a trickle, then a pulse of coffee, soon after a thick reddish brown stream will appear.  When the stream turns to a honey-yellow colour and begins to thin,                   remove from heat and close the lid

Step 9.  Wrap the bottom of the pot in a cool towel or pour cold water over the base to stop the extraction

Step 10. Wait for coffee to finish then pour immediately into cups

Leadership in freshness

We set the standard in fresh coffee by being the first company in New Zealand to stamp the “Roasted On” date on every bag of coffee. This information is your benchmark for freshness: all coffee begins to age from the moment it is roasted.

Storage 

It is of the upmost importance that, going to the effort to travel to your local roaster to pick up your roasted-on date stamped bag of coffee, you store it in the correct way.  This begins with the transport of your coffee from the roastery to your home.  As the essence of coffee flavour is bound up in the volatile coffee oils, leaving it in your car for any length of time, particularly on a hot day will release these oils to the atmosphere and not make their way into your cup.  So the rule is to pick up your coffee last and transport to your home quickly.

A very commonly asked question is whether or not to store in the fridge or freezer or a cupboard. The answer depends on a few factors including:

• What preparation method you choose
• Whether your coffee is whole bean or ground
• The length of time from purchase to consumption

Generally it is recommended that coffee, whether whole bean or ground, be stored in an “air-tight” container in a cool dry cupboard.  

You can store whole bean coffee in the freezer if you are going away for a period of time.  However, as moisture is the enemy of fresh coffee, never thaw the coffee before use; rather simply take the beans out of the freezer and grind frozen to use.

There is no circumstance to store coffee in the fridge.  Moisture in the air will deposit on the surface of your coffee as condensation and this along with any fridge odours will ruin the taste.

Overall, regardless of storage method, you should try and purchase an amount of coffee based on consuming it within ten days.  Abide by this rule and you will be drinking coffee with maximum flavour and delicious in taste.