Brewing guides
Make better coffee, at home
Everything on ratios, methods, gear, and fixes, tested and written by Simon Ingram.
troubleshooting
How Long Does Cold Brew Last? (Fridge Storage Guide)
Cold brew concentrate lasts about 1-2 weeks in the fridge, diluted a few days, and with milk about 2 days. How to store it and spot when it has gone bad.
Jul 11, 2026
troubleshooting
Why Is My Coffee Bitter or Sour? Causes and Fixes
Bitter coffee is over-extracted; sour coffee is under-extracted. Learn to tell them apart and fix both with grind, water, time, and ratio tweaks.
Jul 9, 2026
gear
How to Clean a Coffee Maker With Vinegar (Step by Step)
How to clean a coffee maker with vinegar: run equal parts white vinegar and water, pause, then rinse 2-3 times. Full routine, the right ratio, and how often.
Jul 7, 2026
gear
How to Descale a Keurig (With or Without Solution)
How to descale a Keurig with descaling solution or plain white vinegar, how often to do it, and how to fix a descale light that stays on after cleaning.
Jul 5, 2026
ratios
Moka Pot Ratio: How Much Coffee and Water to Use
The best moka pot ratio is about 1:10 by weight: fill the basket level and water below the valve. Get the chart by pot size, the grind, and the stove technique.
Jul 2, 2026
methods
The Best AeroPress Recipe (Plus the Ratios That Work)
A reliable everyday AeroPress recipe: 16 g coffee to 240 g water (1:15), medium-fine grind, 175-185°F, steep 1-2 minutes, then press slowly.
Jun 30, 2026
ratios
Espresso Ratio: Dose, Yield, and Time Explained
The standard espresso ratio is about 1:2, dose to yield: 18 g in, 36 g out, in 25-30 seconds. Get the ristretto/normale/lungo chart and how to dial it in.
Jun 26, 2026
grind
Espresso Grind Size: How to Dial It In
The best espresso grind is very fine, close to powdered sugar. Dial it in by shot time: 25-30 seconds for a 1:2 shot, finer if fast, coarser if slow.
Jun 23, 2026
grind
The Right Grind Size for Pour Over Coffee
The best grind size for pour over is medium to medium-fine, like table salt. Use brew time to dial it in, adjust for your dripper, and fix a fast or bitter cup.
Jun 19, 2026
comparisons
French Press vs Drip Coffee: Which Should You Brew?
French press vs drip coffee: the press makes a fuller, oilier cup through a metal filter; drip is cleaner and lighter with less effort. How to choose.
Jun 16, 2026
methods
How to Make Iced Coffee at Home (Without Watering It Down)
How to make iced coffee at home fast: brew hot coffee stronger and flash chill it over ice. Get the ratio trick, coffee ice cubes, and iced coffee vs cold brew.
Jun 12, 2026
methods
How to Make Cold Brew Coffee at Home (Step by Step)
How to make cold brew coffee at home: steep coarse grounds in cold water 12-18 hours at a 1:8 ratio, strain, then dilute. Full method, chart, and storage tips.
Jun 9, 2026
ratios
Cold Brew Coffee Ratio: The Simple Formula (With Chart)
The best cold brew coffee ratio is 1:8 for concentrate or 1:16 ready-to-drink. Get the chart, coarse grind, 12-18 hour steep, and how to dilute concentrate.
Jun 5, 2026
ratios
Pour Over Coffee Ratio: The Chart for a Clean, Sweet Cup
The best pour over coffee ratio is 1:15 to 1:17 by weight, with 1:16 as the default. Get the chart by cup size, the grind and pour technique, and how to adjust.
Jun 2, 2026
ratios
How Many Tablespoons of Coffee Per Cup? (With Chart)
How many tablespoons of coffee per cup? About 2 level tablespoons per 6-oz maker cup, or 3 per full 8-oz mug. Chart by mug size, plus the cup-size trap.
May 29, 2026
methods
How to Use a French Press: A Step-by-Step Guide
How to use a French press, step by step: the right ratio, grind, water temperature, and 4-minute steep, plus the common mistakes that make coffee bitter.
May 26, 2026
ratios
Coffee to Water Ratio: The Golden Ratio Chart for Every Brew
The golden coffee to water ratio is 1:15 to 1:18 by weight, with 1:16 as the all-purpose default. Get the chart, ratios by brew method, and how to measure.
May 22, 2026
brewing
French Press Coffee Ratio: The Simple Golden Formula
The best French press coffee ratio is 1:15 to 1:17 by weight. Get the chart by cup size, the no-scale tablespoon rule, and how to fix a weak or bitter brew.
May 19, 2026