How To Brew the Freshest Cup of Coffee

It’s no secret that the best tasting coffee is the freshest. But what exactly does ‘Fresh’ mean? To brew the freshest cup of coffee at home, there are many factors to consider. From roasting to brewing, let’s talk about how you can ensure that each and every cup you drink is as fresh as possible.

 

Charleston Coffee Roasters Pouring Fresh Coffee

Roasted To Order for the Freshest Cup

At Charleston Coffee Roasters, when you order coffee from us today, we’ll roast it for you tomorrow. Not until then will your coffee be packaged and on its way to you. This is our commitment and the main reason our coffee tastes so rich and flavorful. Only recently roasted coffee can taste so good.  We slow roast carefully selected beans, one small batch at a time, so excess inventory doesn’t sit on the shelf.

If you are a regular online customer, a Coffee Subscription may work well for your household.  You receive the freshly roasted coffee of your choice on an ongoing basis, without having to reorder. It’s perfect if you drink coffee each day at home and don’t want to run out of your favorite blend! Plus, you save 10% on each order when you set up a subscription. We roast the coffee the day before we ship it to you, which ensures you can always brew the freshest cup of coffee.

 

Store in the Original Packaging

The best way to store your coffee after purchase is in the original packaging.  After roasting, coffee beans slowly release carbon dioxide. Most of the gasses escape within the first few weeks after roasting, but we don’t want to wait to ship the coffee to you since it also tastes freshest those first few weeks.  So when we package the coffee, some carbon dioxide is expelled and if not released, the bag expands and eventually tears or bursts open.  However, if a simple hole or opening is put on the bag, any oxygen or moisture that gets into the beans causes them to go stale or to mold. So our coffee bags are equipped with a one-way valve that releases carbon dioxide but prevents moisture or oxygen from entering. You may not have noticed the valve because it is in the center of our Sea Turtle Logo.

 

Charleston Coffee Roasters Valve Freshest Cup

 

Order Whole Bean and Grind to Order

Once the coffee is ground, it begins to lose freshness and flavor. So the best way to ensure the absolute freshest cup each morning is to order whole bean coffee and grind just as much as you need each day. The best grinder for home use is a Burr Grinder. These grinders use two revolving surfaces, aka burrs, that slowly grind the beans as they pass in between.  A Burr Grinder produces grounds that are uniform in size, enabling the water to more evenly and fully extract the flavor. The end result is a better tasting, fresher cup of coffee.

You may prefer to grind larger amounts at once or want to purchase already ground coffee. In that case, we recommend that you only keep about a week’s worth of ground coffee at a time. If you grind your own, place the ground coffee in an airtight container at room temperature away from light and heat. Preferably the container should be ceramic, plastic, or opaque (not clear) glass.

For longer storage, you can keep your coffee in the freezer. But it should also be in an airtight sealed container. Just try to open the container as infrequently as possible when it’s in the freezer. When you are ready to pull the coffee out of the freezer, let it come to room temperature before using.

 

Charleston Coffee Roasters Bags Freshest Cup

Brewing Tips for the Freshest Cup of Coffee

By now you have selected fresh good quality beans and stored them correctly. So preparing the best tasting cup of coffee at home is pretty simple!

Use the Correct Ratio: Bitterness is extracted when there are too few grinds in the pot. So memorize this formula, and use it every time: 2 tablespoons of ground coffee for every 6 ounces of fresh water (per cup).

Use Fresh, Cold Water: Filtered is best if possible. Try to avoid distilled or soft water when brewing coffee.

Heat Water to 195 – 200 degrees F:  The water should be just under the boiling temperature of 212 degrees F. This will unlock all of the great flavors inside of the beans.  If you don’t want to use a thermometer, simply bring your water to a boil. Then remove from heat, and let the water sit for about 30 seconds to 1 minute.

Store in an Insulated Container: If you aren’t drinking the coffee right away, or are brewing for a crowd, be sure to put the coffee in a thermal or insulated pot. Don’t ever keep brewed coffee on a hot plate or burner!