MAKE AN EXCEPTIONAL CUP OF COFFEE, NO MATTER WHICH METHOD YOU USE

Grind For the freshest tasting coffee, grind whole beans with the right consistency just before brewing. The type of brewer you’ll be using determines the appropriate grind degree. Try familiarizing yourself with different grind sizes by rubbing the grind between your fingers. Grind coffee as finely as possible without losing any through the filter of the coffee maker. Mill or burr grinders are best as they grind to a consistent size. Blade grinders are less preferable because some beans get ground more finely than others. You can always have your coffee ground at the store with their burr grinder—the difference might surprise you.

Coffee Since fresh roasted coffee is essential to the best coffee experience, we recommend purchasing coffee as soon after it’s roasted as possible. Purchase coffee in small amounts – only as much as you can consume in a given period of time. Ideally, every 1-2 weeks. Use the proper amount of coffee; generally, 1-2 level tablespoons (or standard coffee measure) of ground coffee for every 6 ounces of water unless your coffee maker manufacturer instructs otherwise.

Coffee Maker  Keep your coffee maker clean and rinse with hot water before brewing. Coffee contains oils that stick to your brewer. Over time these oils turn rancid and taint the flavor. Try cleaning your brewer with a mixture of baking soda and water as soap can leave a film and aftertaste.

Water Use fresh, cold water, as free of impurities as possible. Use bottled water or a filter system to improve taste. Do not use distilled or softened water.

Brewed Coffee Always brew your coffee with hot water, never boiling, as boiling water will damage coffee flavors. Ideal temperature for optimum extraction is 200 degrees F, which translates to boiling water then letting it sit 10 seconds before brewing. When using a manual drip maker, wet the grounds first, letting the water soak in, then add remaining water without overflowing the basket.

If possible, pour brewed coffee into a warmed cup to maintain its temperature as long as possible. Freshly brewed coffee starts to lose optimal taste moments after brewing, so only brew as much as will be consumed quickly. Don’t leave coffee on an electric burner for longer than 15 minutes as it will develop a burned taste. If you don’t plan to drink your coffee immediately, pour into a warmed, insulated thermos or carafe and use within 45 minutes.

Filter & Drip Systems Coffee in these types of unit always taste better when you brew the full pot. So, brew the full capacity of the unit (i.e., if 8 cup capacity brew 8 cups).

Cold Brew Coffee Kohana Coffee has fallen in love with cold brew coffee – and once you try it, you’ll know why! With concentrated origin flavor and up to 67% less acidity, cold brew coffee is perfect for those who enjoy beautiful coffee flavors. It’s also a treat for those with sensitive stomachs who can’t enjoy regular hot coffee. Your cold brew concentrate will stay fresh for 10-12 days when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

If you don’t have a cold brew maker, you can easily use a French Press or large jar (using several layers of cheesecloth for the filter). The filter is important as you want to be able to easily separate the grounds from the concentrate after it has steeped overnight. As long as you maintain a ratio of 2 ozs coffee/9 fluid ounces of water (standard brew is 16 oz coffee to 9 cups cold water), your concentrate will cold brew properly. You’ll need to grind your Kohana Coffee to a coarse consistency, similar to French Press grind. Next, layer the ground coffee with cold water, cover and allow mixture to steep for at least 12 hours.

After 12 hours, drain the mixture into an airtight container. If you’ve used cheesecloth, remove the grounds and cheesecloth but allow the excess fluid to drain out of grinds by putting the cheesecloth into a strainer placed over your container. Remember that the coffee is concentrated – both in flavor and caffeine. We recommend filling a cup or mug with ice and mixing 1/3 concentrate with 2/3 milk or water, depending on your taste preferences. You can also drink the concentrate hot by adding hot water.

We suggest the following Kohana Coffees that make excellent cold brew:
-      Flores Bajawa
-      Kenya AA
-      North Shore Blend
-      100% Hawaiian Select
-      Kohana Panama
-      Decaf Kohana Blend

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OTHER BREWING TIPS
Don’t boil, reheat or hold coffee for very long on heat as it has the potential to cook off all the delicate flavors, leaving a bitter taste, which is a chemical reaction: the polymerization of phenols or pyruvic acid.

Don’t combine left over coffee with freshly brewed—doesn’t taste good. Never reuse coffee grounds. Once brewed, desirable coffee flavors have been extracted and only the bitter, undesirable flavors are left.

Glass and porcelain are best for brewing and serving, but if you must use metal, use stainless steel. For the best iced coffee, brew double strength then cool. Make no more than 3 hours in advance.

When making drip coffee it’s best to swirl or mix the pot right after brewing. The coffee toward the bottom will be stronger since it was brewed first.

Weak coffee may be due to using too little coffee, too coarse of a grind, too cool water or too short of a brewing time, all of which affect strength or weakness. The shorter the brewing time, the finer the grind.

Take your time. A perfectly prepared cup of coffee should be enjoyed as thoughtfully as it was brewed. Smell the aroma, sip and notice the flavors. Compare the body, acidity and balance to other coffees you’ve tried. A freshly brewed cup won’t last long, but every sip will bring you a moment of joy.