Let's Talk Brewing

Brewing a great cup of tea doesn't have to be super technical but if your tea tastes off or you're looking to get the best cup possible let's talk about some steps in the general tea brewing process that will help set us up for success!

Step One: Gather all of your equipment.

Loose leaf tea with a steeper OR a tea bag
A way to make hot water, either a kettle on the stove, microwave, etc.
A cup that is made for hot water

Step Two: Access your teas steeping needs. All of our teas have guidelines on the individual product page, we highly recommend reviewing the specific tea you have.

These are general guidelines each tea on our retail pages also lists this information:

General amount of tea: 1 teaspoon loose tea per 8 oz water OR one proportioned tea bag

Black tea
• Water: just off boiling, about 200 to 212°F
• Time: 3 to 5 minutes
Green tea
• Water: hot but not boiling, about 170 to 180°F
• Time: about 3 minutes
White tea
• Water: about 160 to 170°F
• Time: 2 to 4 minutes
Oolong tea
• Water: about 180 to 190°F
• Time: 2 to 4 minutes
Herbal tea (no caffeine)
• Water: boiling, 200 to 212°F
• Time: 5 to 7 minutes

Step Three: Once you know the right water and tea amount, it is time to brew.

Heat the water, add the tea to your steeper or bag to the cup, and pour the hot water (not boiling) over it. Steep for the recommended time, then remove the tea. Leaving tea in too long can add bitter flavors.

Pro Tip: If your water isn't fresh or is just off, you're tea will be too! If you're kettle

Step Four: Add anything you like to your tea.

Popular options include honey, sugar, lemon, fruit (fresh or dried), and milk, cold or steamed.

If you want to try something new, use maple syrup, coconut sugar, dates, or extra spices and flowers, which can be steeped with the tea.

Do's

Discard old tea leaves, tea that has been exposed to air and not properly sealed, and tea that shows any signs of moisture.
Store tea in a cool dry place, away from light or heat. Keep it sealed until ready to use.
Use a fine mesh strainer, cloth filter, or disposable tea bag. Strainers with large holes work only for very large tea leaves. Most of our teas include fine ingredients or spices that will pass through wide openings.
Clean the steeper and equipment after each use. Old water, or wet tea can not only cause stains but mold or other unpleasantness.
Use only mild soap or cleaner designed for your equipment.

Dont's

Do not microwave the tea in the water. If you are microwaving the water add the tea after the water has been heated.
Do not add cold milk or water while the tea is steeping. This will slow or stop the extraction.
Do not increase the steep time to make the tea stronger. Increase the amount of tea using.

General Coffee Brewing

Although there's a lot to discuss about improving coffee brewing, I'll focus on general brewing principles. I ask that you also refer to the guide that came with your brewing device as each might have specific guidelines to accurately brew coffee and maintain your equipment. Here is a very general guide to brewing coffee, for more specific questions, feel free to email us any time!

Grind fresh coffee beans just before brewing.
Choose the right brewing method and equipment for the type of coffee you want to make.
Heat fresh water to the correct temperature, typically between 195°F and 205°F (90°C to 96°C) for most coffee.
Add the ground coffee to your brewing equipment.
Pour hot water over the coffee grounds, making sure to evenly saturate them. (Specific to pour-over method)
Allow the coffee to brew for the recommended amount of time.
When the brewing is complete, pour the coffee into your cup or carafe.
Enjoy!

Correct extraction is crucial for a great cup of coffee. If the extraction is too weak, the coffee will taste sour or underdeveloped. If the extraction is too strong, the coffee will taste bitter or overdeveloped. To ensure correct extraction, use the right brewing method and equipment, grind the beans to the correct size, use fresh water at the correct temperature, and monitor the brewing time.

Tips for Brewing Coffee

Use fresh, high-quality coffee beans. Typically coffee that is at least 2 days old and no more than 6 months old.
Grind the beans just before brewing. If you don’t have a grinder and need to have your coffee ground ahead of time, no worries, just be sure to use it within a month or two, as ground coffee grows stale much faster.
Use the correct amount of coffee for the amount of water you're using. Investing in a simple gram scale is very helpful for creating consistently great cups. For pour-over methods we recommend 1 gram of coffee to ever 16-18 grams of coffee.
Use fresh, clean water. Coffee is mostly water so be sure your water smells and tastes good before you brew.
Brew at the correct temperature for your brewing method. Too hot and you will scold the coffee, too cold and you will halt the extraction.
Monitor the brewing time and adjust as needed. Refer to your brewers guide to find the recommended time frame for that equipment.
Clean your brewing equipment regularly. Refer to your guide on your brewing method as some machines require decaling or are approved for certain types of cleaners, but not others.
Store your coffee beans properly in a cool, dark, airtight or 1 way valve container.

“One of the best ways to improve your coffee is to taste it!”

I know it sounds silly, of course I am tasting my coffee, I am drinking it. But more often than not, we are not really paying attention. We do not analyze what we are tasting, we just decide if it is good today or bad today. I am guilty of this too. Sometimes I just need a cup of coffee and do not think much beyond that.

When you slow down and taste with the goal of improving your coffee and your skills as an evaluator, you step into the role of a scientist. You observe, record, and measure. You work with controls and variables, test changes, and weigh the results until you can tell that what you are doing is making a difference.

When you adjust the ratio of coffee to water, change the temperature, or make small tweaks to your process, you begin to understand your impact on the cup. Over time, you learn your preferences and what truly makes you happy when you taste coffee.