Coffee Brewing Guide

From the farmer to the roaster, everyone along the coffee's journey made decisions that shaped how it tastes. Now it's in your hands. Grab a grinder and a scale, and you'll be brewing a great cup in no time.

Brewing Tips

Grind your coffee within 15 minutes of brewing
Match your grind size to your brew method: longer brew times need a coarser grind (French press), shorter brew times need a finer grind (espresso)
Start with a 1:16 ratio, 1 gram of coffee to 16 grams of water, and adjust from there
Use filtered water between 195°F and 205°F, just off a rolling boil
Keep your equipment clean and fully dry between uses
Adjust one variable at a time: grind size first, then the amount of coffee

Adjusting Your Brew

Change either the grind size or the amount of coffee, not both at once, or you won't know which change fixed the taste.

Bitter? Use a coarser grind.
Sour or weak? Use a finer grind.

Coffee to Water Ratios

Method	Coffee	Water	Ratio
Drip Machine	1 oz (28g)	16 oz (450g)	1:16
French Press	60g	1 liter	1:16
Pour Over	22g	350g	1:16
AeroPress	15g	250g	1:16
Moka Pot	20g	160g	1:8
Espresso	18g	36g (yield)	1:2
Cold Brew	100g	500g	1:5 (concentrate)
Percolator	65g	1 liter	1:15
Siphon	35g	590g	1:17

Grind Size Guide

Every Rey's Coffee bag can be ordered pre-ground to match your brew method, or as whole bean if you grind it yourself.

Grind Option	Texture	Best For
Coarse	Like sea salt	French press, cold brew, percolator
Standard	Like sand	Drip machines, pour over, siphon
Espresso	Like fine powder	Espresso machines, Moka pot
Whole Bean	Uncrushed	Grind fresh yourself, any method

Brewing Methods

Home Drip Brewer

For every 16 ounces of water, use 1 oz of Standard grind coffee.

Place a clean, dry filter into the brew basket
Add ground coffee and start the brewing cycle
Swirl the pot before pouring
Do not let coffee sit on a heated plate for more than 20 minutes

French Press

60g of Coarse ground coffee per liter of hot, not boiling, water. Works well with Italian Roast or 6 Bean Blend.

Add grounds, start a timer, pour all water within the first 30 seconds
Stir to saturate, place the lid on with the plunger up, steep 3 minutes
At 3:30, slowly press the plunger down
Pour into a separate vessel immediately
Clean the beaker, plunger, and filter screen right after brewing

Pour Over

22g Standard grind coffee, 350g water.

Rinse the filter with hot water to remove papery taste and preheat the dripper
Add grounds, pour double the coffee weight in water to saturate
Bloom for 30 to 45 seconds
Pour the rest in slow circles, center to edge
Total brew time: about 3 minutes

AeroPress

15g finely ground coffee, 250g water, about 2 minutes total.

Rinse the paper filter and lock the cap on
Add coffee, pour in 60g water, stir, bloom 30 seconds
Add remaining water, stir again
Press down slowly for about 30 seconds, until you hear a hiss
Rinse and dry all parts after use

Moka Pot

20g Espresso grind coffee, 320g water.

Fill the bottom chamber with hot water, below the safety valve
Fill the basket with grounds, level, do not tamp
Screw the top on tightly (bottom chamber will be hot)
Place on medium heat, lid open
Remove from heat when you hear hissing and the flow slows
Drink within the hour

Espresso Machine

18g Espresso grind coffee for a 36g yield, pulled in 25 to 30 seconds. Blonde Coffee pulls bright and sweet, Italian Roast pulls bold and smoky.

Dose and distribute grounds evenly, then tamp firm and level
Lock in the portafilter, start the shot immediately
Under 20 seconds: grind finer. Over 35 seconds: grind coarser
Adjust and re-pull as needed

Cold Brew

Cold Brew Coffee comes pre-ground extra coarse, made for this method.

100g extra coarse coffee to 1 liter cold water
Stir, cover, steep 12 to 24 hours in the fridge or on the counter
Strain through a filter or fine mesh
Dilute the concentrate roughly 1:1 with water, milk, or ice
Refrigerate finished concentrate up to 2 weeks

Stovetop Percolator

65g Coarse coffee per liter of water.

Fill the bottom chamber with water to the fill line
Insert stem and basket, add grounds, level off
Place on medium heat until percolating
Reduce heat once perking starts, continue 7 to 10 minutes
Longer perk time means stronger, more bitter coffee

Siphon

35g Standard or fine grind coffee, 590g water.

Fill the bottom globe with hot water, place over the flame
Rest the top globe, with filter inserted, on the bottom globe, unlocked
Once boiling, lock the top globe into place
Add grounds, stir gently with wood or plastic, avoid metal
Steep 1 to 2 minutes, then remove the heat
As it cools, brewed coffee filters back down to the bottom globe
Pour into a warmed cup and serve immediately

Single-Serve Capsules

No grinding or measuring required. Use our 12-pack or 60-pack capsules in any compatible single-serve machine.

Storing Your Coffee

Coffee absorbs moisture and odors easily and loses its aromatic oils to open air. Keep it away from:

Moisture
Heat
Direct sunlight
Oxygen
Strong odors

Store in a sealed, opaque container on the counter or in a pantry
Avoid the refrigerator: condensation and competing odors affect flavor
Unopened, well-sealed whole bean coffee can be frozen for up to a month. Let it reach room temperature before grinding
Buy only what you'll use within 2 to 4 weeks

Choosing a Roast

Roast	Flavor Profile	Best For	Shop
Blonde (Light)	Bright, sweet, mild acidity	Espresso, pour over, drip	Blonde Coffee
Medium	Balanced, smooth, rounded	Everyday drip, French press	Browse Medium Roasts
Dark	Bold, low acidity, deeper body	French press, drip, cold brew	6 Bean Blend
Extra Dark / Italian	Smoky, intense, thick body	Espresso, French press	Italian Roast

Troubleshooting

Problem	Likely Cause	Fix
Bitter	Grind too fine, or over-extracted	Use a coarser grind or shorten brew time
Sour or weak	Grind too coarse, or under-extracted	Use a finer grind or lengthen brew time
Flat	Beans are stale	Use beans within 2 to 4 weeks of roasting
Espresso pulls too fast	Grind too coarse, dose too low	Grind finer, dose slightly more
Espresso pulls too slow	Grind too fine, over-tamped	Grind coarser, tamp evenly
Sediment in French press	Grind too fine	Switch to Coarse

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the ideal coffee to water ratio?

Start with 1:16, one gram of coffee for every sixteen grams of water. Adjust up to 1:15 for a stronger cup or down to 1:17 for a lighter one.

2. Should I buy whole bean or pre-ground coffee?

Whole bean stays fresh longer and lets you grind right before brewing. Pre-ground is more convenient and still works well if used within a few weeks.

3. What grind size should I use for my brewer?

Match the grind to your brew time. Coarse for French press, cold brew, and percolators. Standard for drip, pour over, and siphon. Espresso grind for espresso machines and Moka pots.

4. What water temperature is best for brewing coffee?

Aim for 195°F to 205°F, just below a rolling boil. Water that's too hot can scorch the grounds and cause bitterness.

5. Can I use regular tap water to brew coffee?

Yes, as long as it doesn't have a strong chlorine smell or taste. Filtered water gives the cleanest flavor, and distilled water should be avoided since it lacks the minerals needed for proper extraction.

6. Why does my coffee taste bitter?

This usually means the grind is too fine or the brew time is too long. Switch to a coarser grind or shorten the brew time.

7. Why does my coffee taste sour or weak?

This is the opposite problem, the grind is too coarse or the brew time is too short. Use a finer grind or let it brew a little longer.

8. How long does coffee stay fresh once opened?

For best flavor, use it within 2 to 4 weeks of the roast date. Store it in a sealed, opaque container away from heat, light, and moisture.

9. Can I freeze coffee to keep it fresh longer?

Only if it's unopened and well sealed, and only for up to a month. Let it return to room temperature before grinding or brewing.

10. Which roast is best for espresso?

Blonde and Extra Dark both work well for espresso, just with different results. Blonde pulls bright and sweet, while Extra Dark, like our Italian Roast, pulls bold and smoky.