Coffee-to-water ratios, or brew ratios, are the backbone of every brewing recipe. This concept allows you to easily tweak the intensity of your cup by adding or reducing the amount of coffee that you use — or the amount of water sometimes.
The brew strength presets on our calculator are based on industry standards, popular recipes, and our very own testing. But you don’t have to limit yourself to these! Differences in coffee, equipment, and taste preferences mean that there’s plenty of room to play around.
The old way of thinking, is that there is one temperature that is more ideal than all the other ones.
Usually, that temperature is 200 °F or 93.33 °C depending on who you ask.
We are not sure about the scientific validity of these claims, but if you always brew coffee at 200 °F/93 °C, you will be in a pretty decent range most of the time. Most high quality coffee makers are programmed to aim for this temperature.
However, everyone's taste is different. So, don't be shy to try new temperature for yourself!
We think the smell of freshly-ground coffee is one of the best things about making coffee yourself, so you owe it to yourself to get a coffee grinder if you’re serious about it.
But if you already have pre-ground coffee, then fret not! You can use our calculator no matter what you have on hand, and still you can enjoy your coffee.
The longer a bean is roasted the more the heat pulls out the caffeine and the acidity. This means light roasts have the most caffeine (by volume) and the most acidity. Light roasts can have a different taste profile because the shortened roasting process prevents some chemical changes from occurring inside the bean. Origin flavors of the bean are more recognizable in light roasts since the flavors that come from the roasting process often aren’t prominent. The acidity in light roasts is often accompanied by a citrus or lemon tone which some people find pleasing to the palate.
Medium roasts are what the average American coffee drinker is used to. These roasts are considered to have balanced flavors. The acidity and body of a medium roast can vary but are usually somewhere in the middle. Some examples of medium roasts are House blend, Breakfast roast, and American Roast.
These roasts have a richer, fuller flavor, more body, and less acidity. Vienna Roast and Full-City Roast are some examples of a medium-dark roast coffee blend.
Dark roasts have sweeter flavors because the sugars in the coffee beans have time to caramelize. The longer roasting process helps it to develop a richer flavor and full body, which often leads to it having a buttery finish. They also have the least acidity of all coffee roasts. Dark roasts have the least amount of caffeine because they’re roasted the longest.
