How to Brew the Ultimate Cup: Coffee Tips from the Roastmaster A cup of coffee has but two ingredients, so the quality and handling of those ingredients are the key to making a great cup. Here are some tips to make coffee worth taking up for from Elevation.

Storage:
Coffee beans begin to lose character in storage, robbing you of a lively cup with those nice creamy bubbles. We roast coffee 5 to 6 days a week and provide frequent deliveries to Tony's so there is no reason to ever settle for old beans. Only buy enough coffee to last a week or so and store in an air-tight container, such as a mason jar with a rubber gasket lid, to keep it fresh. Refrigeration is not needed, but fine if you like, just don't grind the beans when they are cold, they shatter rather than grind to a poor result.

Grinding:
In order to get ideal extraction when brewing, a consistently even grind specific to the brewing system / filtration you use is very important. The four main grind levels are French Press, Gold Filter, Paper Filter, and Espresso - let your barista / coffee clerk know which filter you use. Commercial burr grinders such as the ones employed at Tony's are the ultimate grinding tool, with easy adjustments pre-set for an ideal grind based on your system. Home grinders are fine and really add a wondrous smell to your kitchen, but can be inconsistent. If you do grind your own, have some coffee custom ground at Tony's and do your best to match it at home.

Water:
Coffee has two ingredients, water and beans, so water quality and temperature is very important. Most of Denver's water is very good and makes good coffee. As a general rule, if you don't like the water from your tap, don't make coffee with it. We suggest cold filtered or bottled water, such as you would get delivered from a company like Highlands Water or Deep Rock.

Temperature:
Always start with cold water and use a coffee maker that heats the water to a very high temperature. If you can adjust the heat of your coffee maker, turn it all the way up. Never leave coffee on the burner over 30 minutes, an air pot is the ultimate way to keep coffee hot for longer periods of time.

Filtration and Cleaning:
Clean your carafe and filter funnel regularly, soaking and scrubbing with a brush as needed. This will ward off bitter and 'off' flavors. Paper filters are excellent. The 'Gold filters' and French press filters work very well too, but take the time to clean well after every single use!

For the Lover's of Bold Coffee:
A French Press is a wonderful way to make coffee, producing a particularly rich, aromatic and heartily bodied cup. If you love dark and bold coffees such as Sumatra, French Roast, Italian Roast, Cajun style or Espresso, this may be for you. Ask about French Press brewing pots at Tony's.