The Official Sibling Rivalry Brewing Guide

Good coffee is forgiving. Bad brewing habits are not. You do not need a marble counter, six pieces of copper equipment, or the approval of someone who says “mouthfeel” at brunch. You need fresh coffee, decent water, the right grind, and a repeatable ratio.

The family rule

Start with 1 gram of coffee for every 16 grams of water. For a 12-ounce mug, that is about 22 grams of coffee and 350 grams of water. No scale? Use roughly 2 level tablespoons of ground coffee for every 6 ounces of water, then adjust next time like an adult.

Use filtered water around 195 to 205°F. If your kettle has no temperature control, bring the water to a boil and let it sit for about 30 seconds.

Automatic drip

1. Use a medium grind.
2. Rinse the paper filter if you can. It removes loose paper taste and warms the brewer.
3. Add coffee using the 1:16 ratio.
4. Make sure the grounds sit level in the basket.
5. Brew, then swirl the finished pot before pouring.

Family correction: A machine full of old coffee oil will make excellent beans taste like the break-room pot. Clean it.

Pour-over

1. Use a medium-fine grind.
2. Rinse the filter and discard the rinse water.
3. Add the coffee, level the bed, and start your timer.
4. Pour just enough water to wet all the grounds. Wait 30 to 45 seconds.
5. Add the remaining water slowly in controlled circles.
6. A typical brew should finish around 3 to 4 minutes.

If the water races through and the cup tastes thin, grind finer. If it crawls through and tastes harsh, grind coarser. Look at that. You diagnosed a problem without calling Mom.

French press

1. Use a coarse grind.
2. Add coffee and hot water at the 1:16 ratio.
3. Stir gently so every ground gets wet.
4. Steep for 4 minutes.
5. Break the crust, skim any foam if you want a cleaner cup, then press slowly.
6. Pour everything out. Leaving coffee in the press keeps extracting it.

French press is especially good when you want body. Wild Child and Only Child both enjoy the attention.

AeroPress

1. Use about 15 grams of medium-fine coffee and 240 grams of water.
2. Rinse the paper filter.
3. Add coffee, then enough water to saturate it. Stir and wait 30 seconds.
4. Add the rest of the water and attach the plunger to slow dripping.
5. Wait about 90 seconds, swirl gently, then press slowly.

AeroPress rewards experimentation. Change one thing at a time. Otherwise you are not experimenting. You are just making a mess with confidence.

Cold brew

1. Use a coarse grind.
2. For ready-to-drink cold brew, start around 1 part coffee to 8 parts water.
3. Stir until every ground is wet.
4. Steep 12 to 16 hours in the refrigerator.
5. Strain carefully, then taste before adding water or milk.

Fix a bad cup

• Sour or thin: Grind finer, brew longer, or use hotter water.
• Bitter or dry: Grind coarser, brew for less time, or use slightly cooler water.
• Weak: Use more coffee.
• Too strong: Use less coffee or add water after brewing.

Write down what worked. Memory is unreliable, especially before coffee and around siblings.

The best method is the one you will actually use. Brew it the same way twice, adjust one variable, and keep going until the cup tastes like something worth fighting over.