STORAGE
Coffee and tea should be kept separately in airtight containers away from light, heat, and moisture.
SET UP
Good water is essential. Coffee and tea are 98% water, so the better your water tastes — the better your coffee and tea will taste. When brewing coffee or tea, start with cold, filtered water. Brewing temperature should be 195-205° F. All brewing equipment should be thoroughly cleaned. Preheating mugs will ensure consistent temperature. You can preheat them by pouring boiling water into the mug, and then pouring it out immediately before you brew.
GRIND
Coffee is best when ground just before brewing. Your brewing method will determine how you should grind your coffee.
COFFEE BREWING METHODS
ESPRESSO MACHINE
Follow manufacturer's instructions. In general, espresso shots should take 20-25 seconds to brew 1 ounce. If it takes longer, the grind needs to be more coarse. If it brews faster, the grind needs to be more fine. A 1 ounce shot of espresso is a single. Two 1 ounce shots are a double.
AUTOMATIC DRIP BREWERS – flat bottom and cone filters
Follow manufacturer's instructions. Use 2 tablespoons of ground coffee per 6 ounces of water.
FRENCH PRESS
Use 1 tablespoon ground coffee per 4 ounces of water. Allow to brew for exactly 4 minutes. Transfer brewed coffee to a carafe so that it doesn't continue to brew.
TEA BREWING INSTRUCTIONS
Carefully measure tea into preheated cup. Measure one rounded dinner teaspoon of tea leaves per 6 ounces of water. Bring water to a boil, for all but white and green teas, and allow to steep using the following steeping guide. For white and green teas, remove the water from heat just before it boils so that the delicate leaves aren't burned.
TEA STEEPING GUIDE
GREEN AND WHITE TEAS
Steep for 2-3 minutes. Do not use boiling water as the leaves burn easily.
BLACK TEAS
Steep for 3-5 minutes. Tea will get bitter if over-steeped.
OOLONG TEAS
Steep for 2-3 minutes.
ROOIBOS AND HERBAL TEAS
Steep for 5-10 minutes. Tea can steep longer without getting bitter.
ICED TEA
Steep as mentioned above, and pour over plenty of ice.
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