The Duchess of Coffee’s Guide to Brewing Coffee Like a Pro

Place the filter, pour the water, add ground coffee and push. For most of us, this is what goes into making a pot of coffee at home, and we enjoy the ease of letting our Mr. Coffee Maker do  the heavy lifting while we get ready for the day. But what if we told you that brewing a more delicious, full, and flavorful cup of coffee was easier than you think? Lori, Alpha Coffee’s very own Duchess of Coffee, explains how to transform your daily brew from just good to something worth waking up for.

Q&A Portion:

Q: What factors go into making a pot of coffee?

A: Consistency is key with brewing the best coffee. Starting with the right volume, quality and temperature of water, fresh high quality beans, a consistent grind type and timing.

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Q: Does water quality matter? 

A: One of the most important things is using good water. If your water tastes bad, your coffee is not going to be optimal. We use a Reverse Osmosis system both in our home and in our shops. All of our machines have filtered water going to them to provide the most neutral and clean taste possible, ensuring that pipe materials never compromise the quality of our coffee.

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Q: What about the beans?

A: There are two different types of coffee: Robusta and Arabica. Arabica is considered the better coffee, because it's grown at a higher elevation, and it’s a more nuanced bean. At Alpha, all of our coffee is Arabica. In our case, it's about quality and how the bags are sealed. Our bags have a one way bleeder valve and the coffee is bagged so quickly after roasting that it's still settling and off gassing. The one way bleeder valve allows the gas to escape, but no oxygen can get in. With a lot of grocery store coffee, they roast it in bulk and it just sits out, and then they bag it. A lot of times, it sits in warehouses or sits on grocery store shelves for a much longer period of time.

We sell our coffee beans usually within a week of being roasted. They are in a sealed bag with no oxygen allowed in, and our beans are super fresh. That makes a huge difference. 

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Q: Is there a difference between grinding at home vs. buying pre-ground coffee?

A: I would say it really depends on what you have at home for a grinder. Do you have a burr or a blade grinder? If you have a burr grinder, then you can dial in a more consistent grind type. efficiently. With a blade grinder, the consistency is always going to be off, so your end cup of coffee will be more consistenly delicious if we ground it for you.

For a consistently delicious cup, we recommend using a burr grinder for whole bean coffee and grinding just before you brew.

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Q: In terms of Coffee Makers like Mr. Coffee and other Drip Brewers does the machine matter?

A: Most of the standard coffee brewers out there have changed over the years to brew a better cup. For instance, the water dispersion head now disperses over the full bed of coffee which creates a more even extraction. 

And yes, there are also some high-end machines that might brew a slightly better cup. Honestly, you can find a mid-range option that does a great job of brewing without the expensive price tag. The most important things to remember for a consistently great cup are - great quality coffee and water, and storing coffee away from light, heat and moisture.

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Q: Final thoughts?

A: If you really want to create a cup that tastes consistent and delicious every time, it's all about consistency. Buy your self a scale that weighs down to the 1/10th of a gram. Weigh your water volume, weigh your coffee and keep your grind type consisten. Then keep an eye on contact time - basically how long the water and coffee are hanging out together. If you keep all those variable the same, you can brew a consistenly delicious cup every time.

It’s safe to say that small changes can make a big difference in your coffee experience. Brewing great coffee doesn’t have to be complicated, it’s all about consistency and getting the basics right. Measure your coffee carefully (a good scale goes a long way!), use filtered water, and choose high quality arabica coffee. If you don’t have a burr grinder, buy your coffee pre-ground to ensure an even extraction. And finally, always keep your coffee in an airtight container and store it in a dark and dry area to keep it fresh and full of flavor.

That's the Alpha Difference!