Two Cities Coffee Roasters

Brew Methods

 

Brewing Coffee At Home

 
 

There are so many ways to brew coffee at home, each unique and full of flavour! We’ve selected a few of our favourites to show you here!

Fresh Roasted Coffee Beans
 

 

Quick tips that apply to all brew methods:

  1. COFFEE FRESHNESS: Always brew fresh roasted coffee. We roast our coffee beans fresh-to-order, ensuring you receive your coffee at its highest potential of taste and aroma. For maximum freshness and the most vibrant character, look for the beans' roast date and use the beans within 28 days of that roast date.

  2. GRINDING TO BREW: Always grind just the amount of coffee you will immediately brew right after you grind it. It is best not to grind an extra quantity of coffee at one time that will sit, as coffee begins to lose freshness immediately upon grinding it. We recommend using a burr grinder as it provides the most uniformity in grind size as compared to a blade grinder or other method.

  3. MEASUREMENTS: To achieve the best tasting cup of coffee, we suggest using exact measurements. So, invest in a good scale with gram measurements to weigh out all of your ingredients.

  4. GRIND SIZE: Each brew method requires a particular grind size of the coffee beans. Remember to grind your beans to the setting that matches your brew method.

  5. WATER: We recommend using spring or filtered water to brew.

  6. BEAN STORAGE: Always store your coffee beans in a cool, dry place out of the sunlight. Never store coffee beans in the refrigerator or freezer, as coffee beans are very absorbent and easily take in tastes and smells from items around them in conditions such as these.

 

CHEMEX

Brew Tips:

Step 1: Get into the grind
Select your favorite whole bean coffee you want to enjoy and grind it to medium coarse ground.
Optional Tip: We suggest using a burr grinder because it delivers a more consistent particle size, allowing for a more even extraction and fuller bodied cup of coffee.

Step 2: Filter up
Open a Chemex Bonded Coffee Filter into a cone shape so that one side of the cone has three layers, and place it into the top of the Chemex brewer. The thick (three-layer) portion should cover the pouring spout. Dampen the filter with warm water to rinse and preheat the brewer. Once the water has drained through the filter completely, pour it out of the brewer while keeping the filter sealed against the coffeemaker wall.

Step 3: The measurements
Boil about 413 grams of water to be used for preparing your coffee.
Place about 29 grams of ground coffee into the filter cone.

These measurements will yield about a 12 oz cup of coffee.

Step 4: Let it bloom
Remove water from the heat and allow it to stop boiling vigorously. Pour a small amount of water over the coffee grounds to wet them completely, and wait for about 30 seconds for them to 'bloom', releasing the most desirable coffee elements from the grounds.

Step 5: First pour
After the grounds bloom, slowly pour the brewing water over the grounds in a circular motion while keeping the water level well below the top of the Chemex.

Step 6: Brew on
Slowly pour the remaining water over the grounds, using a circular or back-and-forth motion as you pour to ensure an even soaking of the grounds.

Step 7: Toss the filter
Once the desired amount of coffee is brewed, lift the filter with spent grounds out of the brewer and discard.

Step 8: Enjoy the perfect cup


V60 Pour Over

Brew Tips:

Step 1: Weigh 18g of medium-fine ground coffee

Step 2: Put paper filter into the V60 dripper and pour some hot water to pre-heat the dripper. This process will also remove any possibility of the paper taste transferring into the coffee

Step 3: Pour out all hot water from server

Step 4: Add coffee grounds into the filter paper

Step 5: Place server and dripper onto scales and reset scales to zero

Step 6: Pre-infuse coffee grounds with hot water from the kettle until grounds are completely covered.

Step 7: Add the rest of the water until scales read 336g. Note- do not pour water on paper filter, only coffee

Step 8: Dispose of filter and use server to pour coffee into cup/s

Step 9: Enjoy!

These measurements will yield about a 12 oz cup of coffee.


French press

Brew Tips:

Step 1: Coffee
Place about 18 grams of ground coffee into the bottom of the glass container.

Step 2: Water
Prepare 336g of hot water. Pour about 168 grams of water into the pot. Stir with a plastic spoon and let sit for 1 minute. Once the timer is up, add the remaining water and stir.

Step 3: Press
Place the plunger unit on top of the pot. Turn lid to close off the pour spout opening. Do not press down. Let the coffee brew for 3 minutes.

Step 4: Enjoy
After the 4 minutes is up, press the plunger down slowly and enjoy.
These measurements will yield about a 12 oz cup of coffee.


Mocha Pot

Brew Tips:

Step 1: Water
Fill the lower chamber with cold water just below the valve.
For a quicker cup of coffee, fill the chamber with hot water. Please handle the hot chamber with care.

Step 2: Coffee
Insert the funnel and fill it with ground espresso (do not tamp). Remove any coffee grounds on the edge of the funnel. Tightly screw the upper part of the pot on to the base. Avoid using handle for leverage.

Step 3: Heat
Select burner size to fit bottom of pot. For gas stovetop, make sure the flame is not larger than bottom of pot. The flame should not come around the sides of the pot. Heat until the water boils and coffee begins to come out of the center post. There will be a gurgling sound during this process.

Step 4: Enjoy
When the top of the pot is full of coffee, remove from stove. Before pouring coffee, stir it in the upper chamber with a small spoon to equalize all the different coffee layers for optimum flavor.


AeroPress

Brew Tips:

Step 1: Remove the plunger and the cap from the chamber.

Step 2: Put a micro-filter inside the cap and twist the cap onto the chamber.

Step 3: Stand the chamber on a sturdy mug.

Step 4: Put ground coffee into the chamber - one level scoop for each espresso.
Grinding Coffee: We recommend drip grind when using two or more scoops because it's easy to push and yields rich flavor.
Water Temperature: 75° - 80°C water tastes best. Do not use boiling water.

Step 5: Pour heated water slowly into the chamber.
The chamber is marked 1, 2, 3, and 4 for the number of scoops of coffee which corresponds to the number of servings. Dribble the water slowly into the chamber for the first few seconds to wet the grounds. Then fill to the desired level. Never fill higher than number 4.

Step 6: Stir the water and coffee together with the paddle for about ten seconds.

Step 7: Wet the rubber seal and insert the plunger into the chamber. Press the plunger downward. Pressing slowly is the key to a rich brew and an easy push. Continue pressing gently to maintain pressure and the air will push the brew through the grounds.

Step 8: Enjoy!


Toddy Cold Brew System

Brew Tips: From the manufacturer

For the best flavor, start with 12 ounces (340 g) of coarsely ground coffee and 7 cups (56 fl. oz./1.65 L) of filtered water by volume.

Step 1: Fill
First, insert the stopper into the outside bottom of the brewing container; then, dampen the filter and insert it into the inside bottom of the brewing container. 
Next, add 1 cup of water into the bottom of the Toddy® Cold Brew System brewing container and 6 ounces of ground coffee. Slowly pour 3 more cups of water over the grounds, in a circular motion. Wait 5 minutes, then add the remaining 6 ounces of ground coffee. Finally, slowly add the last 3 cups of water. DO NOT STIR (stirring the bed of grounds can result in a clogged filter). 
Lightly press down on the topmost grounds with the back of a spoon to ensure all grounds get wet.

Step 2: Brew
Steep your coffee grounds at room temperature 12 to 24 hours to create a smooth, rich flavor.

Step 3: Filter
Remove the stopper and let your coffee concentrate flow into the glass decanter - stays fresh for up to 2 weeks in your refrigerator.

Step 4: Serve
We recommend starting with a ratio of 1 part coffee concentrate to 3 parts water, milk or soy. Mix to taste, making your coffee as strong or as weak as you prefer. For rich, smooth iced coffee, simply pour coffee concentrate and water, milk or soy over ice. Stir concentrate with steaming hot water for a flavorful yet gentle cup of hot coffee.