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WHAT GETS US UP IN UKI?

Waking to the smell of fresh coffee. And using Bastion Lane Espresso makes it even better.
In this series we’ll show you how to get the best out of your Coffee at Home with our insider tips.

Coffee at Home Tips 1 - Stove Top

#1 STOVE TOP

A stove top brews coffee by passing boiling water pressurised by steam through ground coffee. Like espresso coffee, it uses pressure to extract the good stuff enjoyed by espresso or black coffee drinkers.

Grind: espresso or medium-fine

Our Bastion Lane Espresso online store has a drop down menu so you can choose the perfect grind for your coffee maker. Then our team knows which grind to use for your order.

To get the best out of your Stove Top:

– always grind your coffee to the correct grind just before you brew it – fresh is best
– if you have your own grinder, use the espresso or medium-fine setting. If you buy your coffee beans in a store, ask for a stove top/espresso grind setting
– use filtered, fresh water
– lightly press the coffee down in the basket and remove any grinds left on the basket edge
– don’t over fill or over tamp the basket, this will over extract the coffee
– to get a smooth brew, take the coffee maker off the burner just before all the water comes into the top chamber

Storage

Coffee beans are best stored at room temperature in an airtight or vacuum sealed container in a cool, dark, dry place.

Remember

– always grind your coffee to the correct grind just before you brew it – freshly ground is best
– make sure your coffee maker is clean each time you use it, your coffee could taste bitter if your equipment is dirty

For Stove Top we recommended Bastion Lane Espresso:

Post Master’s
Alt: for all alternative milk lovers
Decaf: for 24/7 coffee drinkers

Need advice on making coffee at home?  We’re here to help. Send your questions to Roast Master Gary coffee@bastionlane.com

Coffee at Home Tips 2 - Grind

#2 GRIND

The right grind is the starting point for making the perfect coffee.
Always grind your coffee to your preferred brewing method just before you brew it – the grind must match the method.

To get the perfect Grind:

– there are various types of grinders – blade, burr, conical burr. A burr grinder has the most control and is the most precise so it gives the best results
– different coffee styles require different sized grinds. If your grind is too fine you’ll get a bitter brew; too coarse you’ll get a weak brew
– if you have your own grinder, use the guide below or if you buy your coffee beans in a store, ask for the beans to be ground to suit your coffee maker. At Bastion Lane Espresso we can custom grind your beans to suit your coffee maker.

Stove top: espresso or medium-fine
Espresso: extra fine
Plunger/French Press: coarse
Filter: medium-coarse
Aeropress: medium

Our Bastion Lane Espresso online store has a drop down menu so you can choose the perfect grind for your coffee maker. Then our team knows which grind to use for your order.

Storage

Coffee beans are best stored at room temperature in an airtight or vacuum sealed container in a cool, dark, dry place.

Remember

– always grind your coffee to the correct grind just before you brew it – freshly ground is best
– make sure your coffee maker is clean each time you use it; your coffee could taste bitter if your equipment is dirty

Need advice on making coffee at home?  We’re here to help. Send your questions to Roast Master Gary coffee@bastionlane.com

Coffee at Home Tips 3 - Espresso

#3 ESPRESSO

Espresso coffee is made by pressurised water which is forced through ground coffee. Using pressure extracts the good stuff. The quality of the coffee you use is paramount.

Grind: espresso or extra-fine

Our Bastion Lane Espresso online store has a drop down menu so you can choose the perfect grind for your coffee maker. Then our team knows which grind to use for your order.

To get the best out of your Espresso:

– always grind your coffee to the correct grind just before you brew it – fresh is best
– make sure your machine is clean
– warm up your machine and heat the cup you’re using
– use filtered, fresh water
– make sure the coffee is evenly distributed in the portafilter basket
– if you’re making latte or cappuccino, getting the milk silky and “stretched” may take a bit of practice but be patient, the results are worth it

Storage

Coffee beans are best stored at room temperature in an airtight or vacuum sealed container in a cool, dark, dry place.

Remember

– always grind your coffee to the correct grind just before you brew it – freshly ground is best
– make sure your coffee maker is clean each time you use it, your coffee could taste bitter if your equipment is dirty

For Espresso we recommended Bastion Lane Espresso:

Post Master’s
Alt for all alternative milk lovers
Decaf for 24/7 coffee drinkers

Need advice on making coffee at home?  We’re here to help. Send your questions to Roast Master Gary coffee@bastionlane.com

Coffee at Home Tips 4 - Plunger

#4 PLUNGER / FRENCH PRESS

French press or plunger coffee is made by pouring very hot water (90°C) over ground coffee, waiting a few minutes for the coffee to brew and then pressing down the plunger handle.

Grind: coarse

Our Bastion Lane Espresso online store has a drop down menu so you can choose the perfect grind for your coffee maker. Then our team knows which grind to use for your order.

To get the best out of your Plunger/French press:

– always grind your coffee to the correct grind just before you brew it – fresh is best
– make sure your machine is clean
– heat the French press and cup you’re using
– use hot water, not quite boiling. Boiling water may make the coffee taste bitter, water that’s not hot enough won’t extract properly
– stir thoroughly once the water has been poured
– brew for 4 minutes if you like a strong brew, less to suit your taste
– once you’ve plunged the coffee, drink it straight away. Leaving the coffee sitting in the press will make it taste bitter

Storage

Coffee beans are best stored at room temperature in an airtight or vacuum sealed container in a cool, dark, dry place.

Remember

– always grind your coffee to the correct grind just before you brew it – freshly ground is best
– make sure your coffee maker is clean each time you use it, your coffee could taste bitter if your equipment is dirty

For French Press / Plunger we recommended Bastion Lane Espresso:

Post Master’s
Alt for all alternative milk lovers
Decaf for 24/7 coffee drinkers

Need advice on making coffee at home?  We’re here to help. Send your questions to Roast Master Gary coffee@bastionlane.com

Coffee at Home Tips 5 - Filter

#5 FILTER

Filter or batch brew coffee is made by adding water to ground coffee and extracting the brew via gravity through a cloth, paper or metal filter. It’s light compared to espresso, with a clearer, delicate flavour.

Single origin coffees are best suited to this method. If you drink your filter coffee black, a light roast will taste sweet with well balanced acidity. If you take milk with coffee you may prefer a darker roast for a fuller-tasting brew.

Grind: medium-coarse

Our Bastion Lane Espresso online store has a drop down menu so you can choose the perfect grind for your coffee maker. Then our team knows which grind to use for your order.

To get the best out of your Filter / Batch Brew

– always grind your coffee to the correct grind just before you brew it – fresh is best
– make sure your brewing equipment is clean
– heat the cup you’re using
– use filtered, fresh water
– a brewer with a stable temperature and even distribution of water to the coffee bed will give the best results. More expensive brewers do both these things

Storage

Coffee beans are best stored at room temperature in an airtight or vacuum sealed container in a cool, dark, dry place.

Remember

– always grind your coffee to the correct grind just before you brew it – freshly ground is best
– make sure your coffee maker is clean each time you use it, your coffee could taste bitter if your equipment is dirty

For Filter / Batch Brew we recommended Bastion Lane Espresso:

Popayán Private Batch Roast

Need advice on making coffee at home?  We’re here to help. Send your questions to Roast Master Gary coffee@bastionlane.com

Coffee at Home Tips 6 - Aeropress

#6 AEROPRESS

Aeropress coffee is made by immersing water in a chamber with the coffee and then pressing down on the plunger into the cup. This gives a full bodied brew from the immersion with quick brewing time and clean crisp flavours from the flow of the coffee.
It’s a fast, flexible, filter style coffee.

Grind: medium

Our Bastion Lane Espresso online store has a drop down menu so you can choose the perfect grind for your coffee maker. Then our team knows which grind to use for your order.

To get the best out of your Aeropress

– always grind your coffee to the correct grind just before you brew it – freshly ground is best
– make sure your equipment is clean
– heat the cup you’re using
– use filtered, fresh water
– rinse the paper filter thoroughly with hot water and discard the water, this removes the paper taste
– use water boiled to 94ºC or boiled water that’s left to stand for a minute or two
– if you like a strong brew, let the coffee steep in the chamber for an extra minute

Storage

Coffee beans are best stored at room temperature in an airtight or vacuum sealed container in a cool, dark, dry place.

Remember:

– always grind your coffee just before you brew it, fresh is best
– make sure your coffee maker is clean each time you use it, your coffee could taste bitter if your equipment is dirty

For Aeropress we recommended Bastion Lane:

Post Master’s
Alt for all alternative milk lovers
Decaf for 24/7 coffee drinkers

Need advice on making coffee at home?  We’re here to help. Send your questions to Roast Master Gary coffee@bastionlane.com

Coffee at Home Tips 7 - How to Store

#7 HOW TO STORE

Properly stored beans make great coffee. Coffee starts to lose its freshness as soon as it’s roasted. It’s better to buy small amounts of coffee regularly to get the best results than to buy in large quantities.
Correctly stored coffee will preserve the flavour of your beans and give you the best brew results.

Ideal storage time from roast date:

5-12 days for brewing Espresso. 3-10 days for Filter and French Press.

To get the best out of your coffee beans:

– keep your beans in an airtight, vacuum sealed container at room temperature, especially important if you’re buying pre-ground coffee as oxygen affects its freshness
– if you’re keeping the beans in its bag, make sure it’s tightly sealed
– light affects beans so be sure to store your coffee in a cool dark place
– avoid using clear containers, the light will affected the freshness of your coffee
– if you buy whole beans grind on demand and when you need it – fresh is best
– we don’t recommend storing in a freezer as this can result in freezer burn and icicles can form on the coffee which can add moisture
– coffee absorbs moisture so don’t store in a refrigerator
– if your beans are getting out of date they can be used to make cold brew

Remember:

– always grind your coffee to the correct grind just before you brew it – freshly ground is best
– make sure your coffee maker is clean each time you use it, your coffee could taste bitter if your equipment is dirty

Need advice on making coffee at home?  We’re here to help. Send your questions to Roast Master Gary coffee@bastionlane.com