How to Make Coffee
Learn how to make coffee with a simple beginner ratio, drip, French press, and pour-over basics, plus mistakes, troubleshooting, and FAQs.
Quick Answer
To make coffee, start with fresh water, use medium-ground coffee for a drip machine, measure about 1 to 2 tablespoons of coffee per 6 ounces of water, brew with clean equipment, taste, then adjust grind size, coffee amount, and water amount until it is strong, weak, bitter, or smooth enough for you.
Ingredients and Tools
- Coffee grounds or whole beans
- Clean water
- Coffee maker, French press, or pour-over cone
- Filter if needed
- Measuring spoon or scale
- Mug
Safety Precautions
- Handle hot water carefully.
- Keep cords and hot carafes away from counter edges.
- Clean equipment regularly to avoid stale flavors.
- Do not overfill brewers beyond their marked capacity.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Step 1
Choose a brewing method
A drip machine is easiest, French press is fuller-bodied, and pour-over gives more control.
- Step 2
Measure coffee and water
Start with 1 to 2 tablespoons coffee per 6 ounces water, or about 1 gram coffee to 16 to 18 grams water if using a scale.
- Step 3
Use the right grind
Use medium grind for drip, coarse for French press, and medium-fine for many pour-overs.
- Step 4
Add water and coffee
Place filter and grounds correctly, then add clean water to the brewer.
- Step 5
Brew
Start the machine or pour hot water according to your method. Avoid rushing extraction.
- Step 6
Serve promptly
Coffee tastes best fresh. Avoid leaving brewed coffee on heat too long.
- Step 7
Adjust next time
If weak, use more coffee or finer grind. If bitter, use less coffee, coarser grind, or shorter contact time.
Practical Example
Example: You brew 12 ounces of coffee in a drip machine with 3 tablespoons of medium-ground coffee. It tastes weak, so next time you use 4 tablespoons and get a better cup.
Common Mistakes
- Guessing wildly instead of measuring
- Using stale beans
- Using the wrong grind size
- Leaving old oils in the coffee maker
- Using water that tastes bad
- Keeping coffee on a hot plate too long
Troubleshooting
Coffee tastes bitter
Try a coarser grind, shorter brew/contact time, slightly less coffee, or cleaner equipment.
Coffee tastes weak
Use more coffee, slightly finer grind, or less water.
Coffee tastes sour
Use a finer grind, hotter water within your brewer range, or longer contact time.
Coffee tastes stale
Use fresher beans and clean the brewer.
Helpful Internal Links
FAQs
What is a good coffee ratio?
A common starting point is 1 to 2 tablespoons per 6 ounces of water, or about 1:16 to 1:18 by weight.
Should I grind coffee fresh?
Fresh grinding usually improves flavor, but pre-ground coffee is fine for convenience.
What grind should I use?
Use medium for drip, coarse for French press, and medium-fine for many pour-over brewers.
Why does my coffee taste bad?
Common causes are stale coffee, dirty equipment, poor water, wrong grind, or an unbalanced ratio.
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