After having chosen a specialty coffee that you enjoy, the next most important ingredient is water. Water will make up over 98% of your cup of coffee; thus it is critical to have good, clean, cold water. While you do not need “pure” water per se, you want to have one that is free of organic matter, tastes and aroma, as well as chlorine.

Water quality will vary from place to place and during the time of year. If in doubt, Stockton Graham & Co. is ready to assist you with analyzing and making recommendations on what steps you might want to take to correct any impurities in your water.

You will need to ensure that you have the correct grind of coffee, water temperature and amount of coffee for your brewing method. These are essential to ensure a proper extraction of coffee solubles into your beverage. Under or over extraction could cause your coffee not to taste up to its potential.

Finally, you do not want to continue “cooking” your coffee or leaving it exposed to air. This will change the flavor make-up of the brew and cause it to taste differently. We recommend the use of a thermal carafe for optimal storage of the brewed coffee. And if you desire, Stockton Graham & Co. associates are ready to assist you with analyzing your brewing situation to ensure that you can brew the “Perfect Cup.”