Brew guide

How to Brew Drip Coffee

An automatic coffee maker is the easiest way to brew for the whole table, and a few small tweaks take it from fine to great: weigh your coffee, start with filtered water and serve it fresh.

Makes 4 mugs (32 oz)

The basics

  • Coffee60 g (about 12 tbsp)
  • Water32 oz (950 ml), filtered
  • Ratio1:16
  • GrindMedium, like sand
  • TemperatureSet by the machine (195–205°F is ideal)
  • Time4–6 minutes

You'll need

  • Drip coffee maker
  • Paper filter
  • Burr grinder
  • Kitchen scale or tablespoon

Step by step

  1. Step 1

    Fill the reservoir

    Pour 32 oz of cold, filtered water into the machine's reservoir.

  2. Step 2

    Grind medium

    Grind 60 g of beans to a medium grind, about the texture of sand.

  3. Step 3

    Add the filter and coffee

    Place a paper filter in the basket, add the grounds and give it a gentle shake to level the bed.

  4. Step 4

    Start brewing

    Close the lid and switch the machine on. A full pot takes 4 to 6 minutes.

  5. Step 5

    Stir the pot

    The first coffee out is stronger than the last, so give the carafe a quick stir before you pour.

  6. Step 6

    Serve it fresh

    Pour right away. A hot plate keeps cooking the coffee, so move whatever you won't drink in the next 20 minutes to a thermal carafe.

Pro-tip

Descale your coffee maker about once a month. Mineral build-up and old coffee oils make every cup taste flat and bitter.

Freshness

Keep your beans in the sealed bag or an airtight container, away from light, heat and moisture, and out of the fridge. Grind just before you brew and finish the bag within a few weeks of opening.

Brew it with

More brew guides

All brew guides