Demystifying Coffee Brewing

When we dive into the world of coffee brewing, it's essential to start with the basics. The journey of brewing coffee might seem daunting at first, with countless recipes for every possible method. But here's a little secret: focusing solely on recipes from the get-go can actually limit your understanding of the brewing process. A recipe, at its core, reflects someone's personal experience using specific equipment and beans. By understanding the fundamental principles first, you'll feel empowered to experiment with any brewing device and create a recipe that resonates with your taste. After all, the beauty of coffee lies in its variety: different methods and recipes highlight different facets of a coffee's character, and finding the right one is all about personal preference. Our aim with this post is to sketch the broader strokes of coffee brewing, sidelining the minutiae for a more hands-on learning approach. We're here to make this knowledge accessible to everyone, regardless of your brewing background.

When savoring the flavors of your coffee, you're instinctively pondering two critical aspects, often without realizing it: strength and extraction. These concepts are the pillars of brewing, essential for anyone looking to deepen their brewing skills.

• Strength refers to the concentration of coffee dissolved in your cup, influenced by your coffee-to-water ratio and extraction level.
  
  
• Extraction is about how much of your ground coffee ends up in your final drink, shaped by brewing physics. While extraction is a complex topic worthy of a lifetime study, the key takeaway is the importance of experimentation. By tweaking grind size, water temperature, and brewing technique, you're searching for that perfect balance in your cup.

So, how do these principles apply to home brewing? Let's break it down with an espresso example, simplifying the process into bullet points:

1. Adjusting Grind Size: When dialing in espresso, you typically keep all variables constant except the grind size setting. Each adjustment can change the shot time, and consequently, the flavor balance.  Phrased differently, as you adjust your grind size setting, you're altering extraction. Altering the extraction of your espresso recipe will also alter the strength of your beverage, as you aim for the perfect flavor profile.
   
   
2. Recipe Refinement: Imagine your standard espresso recipe doesn't hit the mark. By experimenting with different coffee-to-water ratios you can adjust the brew's body and strength to suit your preference. For example, perhaps your espresso is well-extracted and tasting great but feeling a bit thin. You decide you want to increase the body by increasing the strength of the beverage. You can accomplish this goal by either increasing the amount of coffee or decreasing the water volume in your standard recipe, and dialing in the extraction of your new recipe. 
   
   
3. Finding the Right Balance: Through trial and error, you discover the ideal settings that deliver the richer, more satisfying espresso you crave. If the espresso alone is too intense, you have the option to dilute the strength into an americano or a latte by adding hot water or steamed milk, showcasing the versatility of coffee.

Ultimately, this overview offers a glimpse into the broader landscape of coffee brewing. While there are numerous additional factors we'll explore together in future discussions, remember at its heart, coffee brewing is about combining coffee and water. So, enjoy the process!