Storing, Grinding & Brewing

Storing

Oxygen, moisture, heat, and sunlight have the most damaging effects on coffee, and proper storage is required to protect coffee from these elements. Once you open a bag, we recommend storing any extra product in an airtight container and keep it in a cool and dry place. Refrigeration is not recommended because coffee beans absorb smells very easily and could also suffer from condensation.

Grinding

Grinding increases the surface area of coffee beans, making it possible for the hot water to extract soluble flavor compounds from the beans. Every brewing method has an optimum grind size. Generally, the longer the brew time, the coarser the recommended grind. Here is a simple chart to guide you:

The importance of water quality

Brewed coffee consists of approximately 98% water, so the quality of the water you use to brew your coffee plays a large part in the quality of the finished product. Using hard water can lead to over-extraction and can create a buildup of lime in the water tank of your brewer. Distilled water does not have enough dissolved solids to properly extract the soluble flavor compounds in coffee. Tap water may contain small amounts of chlorine and/or fluoride. Filtering of tap water should remove some of these chemicals and produce a satisfactory product. We recommend using only bottled or filtered water. If you want the best coffee possible, don’t overlook the water which plays such an important role in the finished product.

How to make a good cup of coffee

You probably already know how you like your coffee, but if you must follow instructions, here’s how we like ours: – Clean, cold water (bottled or filtered). – Grind whole beans immediately before brewing for freshest taste. – 2 tbsp of ground coffee per 6oz of water.

We still hold a place in our hearts for that unique time and place known by that friendly name: Verena Street. Enjoy our coffee named in its honor!”