In the USA, drip coffee is the single most popular way to brew that morning cup of coffee. Most people brew coffee in a drip coffee maker because it’s easy and habitual. Many people, however, consistently prepare their coffee incorrectly. Depending on the individual, it can be misinformation or just the way they’ve been brought up to brew their coffee by their parents. Keep in Mind… everyone enjoys their coffee differently. My guide is to steer those who are unaware of the proper techniques towards enjoying a much better cup. There are a group of people who purposefully do things differently. While that may not be considered “the ultimate” way to enjoy coffee, for that person it may be. Coffee grinders are going to make a HUGE difference in flavor. I’m writing this post assuming you have a good burr grinder. I’m also going to assume that you are receiving whole bean coffee from CICR. If you’re currently getting it ground, you can skip over any steps that mention grinding the coffee. I do, however, strongly recommend that you purchase a decent burr or even a conical burr grinder and start grinding your own coffee. The flavor difference is huge… especially a couple weeks into your coffee shipment. The brewing process is simple and many people will find this part boring. In an effort to be complete, however, I’m going to spell it out briefly.

---

1.) Fill the water tank on the brewing unit to the fill line (or to the level acceptable for the amount of coffee you’re brewing). Make sure you don’t use distilled water or unfiltered tap water as the water will severely alter the flavor of your coffee.
2.) Grind your coffee. Typical grinders will have numbers 1-9. Assuming 1 is the finest grind on your grinder, grind a number 4 for your cone filter or a number 6 for your flat filter. If your grinder isn’t numbered, put the dial in the center for a flat filter and make it a notch or two finer for a cone filter.

3.) Use Enough Coffee! Yes, I bolded this. Many people have varying views as to the strength of their coffee. That is fine and totally up to personal taste. The problem lies in the extraction. Not enough grounds will give you over-extracted coffee. It’s better to make it strong and water it down afterward with hot water.

4.) Start your coffee maker and set a timer for the length of time it will take to remind you to come back when it’s finished.

5.) If you have a thermal pot, you’re ready to go and your coffee will stay hot for a long while. If you have a glass pot, make sure you turn the burner off immediately or else your coffee will continue to cook and you’ll lose a lot of flavor.

---

Ok, if you were skipping over the instructions, let me summarize a couple things that everyone needs to know and add a few more things:
- Use at least 1 tablespoon of grounds per 8oz of water (I prefer 6oz personally).

- If possible, grind the amount of coffee you need just before brewing it.

- Do NOT brew your coffee weak if you like it weaker. Instead brew less and add hot water.

- Cone Grind – #4; Flat Grind – #6 on a typical burr grinder.

- Use water that is purified but not distilled for the flavor. That will ensure your coffee tastes as good as possible. Thanks for reading! Please ask any questions you may have. Either respond to this post or catch us on Facebook or Twitter! Dan – CICR