Award-winning Cup of Excellence coffees are the most exceptional coffees in the world, chosen by a global panel of experts for its rarity and outstanding flavor. Every step in the process matters, from farming and harvesting, to roasting, and now brewing. To savor what makes this coffee so special, we put together a guide for how we recommend you brew to maximize your experience.
Whole Bean Brewing
1. Your Brew Method
The method you choose shapes how the coffee’s flavors are extracted.
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Pour-Over (Chemex or V60): Considered the gold standard for showcasing complexity, this method allows the coffee to bloom fully, unlocking layered aromatics and highlighting clarity, brightness, and sweetness. A pour-over’s flow rate ensures you taste the coffee exactly as the farmer intended, clean, vibrant, and complete. This is our recommendation.
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French Press: An alternative method that can add fuller body and depth to coffee. Be sure to limit the steep time to 4 minutes to avoid over-extracting!
2. Grind Fresh and Measure Precisely
Freshness is essential. Grind whole beans immediately before brewing to preserve flavor. Use a fine-medium grind size for a pour-over and a medium grind size for a french press.
Using a scale for precision, weigh out 15 grams of whole beans per cup.
Pour-over coffee to water ratios range from 1:15 for stronger, smaller cups to 1:17 for more typical, larger cups. For example, your standard coffee shop pour-over using 15g of coffee uses 225-255g water. For french presses, you can use a similar 1:16 ratio.
Though this process may seem tedious, we cannot recommend it enough to ensure you are tending to the coffee without over or under extracting. If you do not have a scale, you can of course eye-ball the amounts but note that you may not have as consistent of an experience.
3. Respect Water Temperature
Water temperature plays a critical role. Aim for between 195°F and 205°F (90-96°C). Water that is too hot can extract bitterness, while water that is too cool will result in under-extraction and muted flavors.
4. Let the Coffee Bloom
When using a pour-over, begin by saturating the grounds with just enough water to let them bloom for about 30 seconds. This releases carbon dioxide and promotes a smoother, more even extraction that highlights the coffee’s delicate notes.
Brewing with Keurig®
1. Choose the Right Brew Size
Brewing with a Keurig offers convenience without sacrificing quality. To preserve the coffee’s nuanced flavors, use a smaller brew size, ideally 8 ounces. This prevents over-dilution and ensures the coffee’s complexity, structure, and finish come through clearly.
2. Use Fresh Cups
Always use fresh Keurig® compatible cups for optimal flavor. Our Cup of Excellence coffees are roasted, packed, and sealed daily under controlled conditions to protect their quality and unique flavor profiles, ensuring you get the full experience.
3. Maintain Your Brewer
Regularly clean and descale your Keurig machine to avoid any buildup that could affect the coffee’s taste. A well-maintained brewer ensures consistent temperature and extraction quality.
4. Mind Water Quality and Temperature
Use fresh, filtered water to avoid any off-flavors. While the Keurig controls temperature automatically.
Keep Calm and Drink Black Coffee
We know black coffee isn’t for everyone but if you’re a cream and sugar type drinker, we hope you’ll stop to sip and savor the complex notes before altering its flavor.
Savor and Explore the Flavors
Take your time to enjoy the coffee slowly, allowing its complexity to unfold with each sip. Notice the subtle layers of flavor, from brightness and acidity to body and finish. Whether you’re enjoying these coffees alone or with company, we encourage you to jot down the aromas and tastes you detect, whether it’s bright citrus, floral notes, rich chocolate, or something unexpected. This focused tasting will help you appreciate the coffee’s unique profile and understand why after hundreds of cuppings, it was crowned a Cup of Excellence.
