The world loves coffee! It originated in Ethiopia and spread around the world. People discovered that this magical bean (actually a seed) energizes the brain and body.
However, coffee is more than just an entertaining stimulant. Coffee contains numerous polyphenol compounds and antioxidants that produce many documented health benefits, some of which we likely don’t even understand.
Check out this article from Johns Hopkins.
Yet all coffee is not equal. Let’s talk about upping your coffee to get the most benefit.
Start with Beans
The bad news is that all of those convenient prepackaged systems are out. Once coffee is ground, it has a very short shelf life—hours, maybe a day. The grinding process exposes the contents to air, which causes immediate oxidation.
Start with the freshest beans you can find (but not too fresh). Check out James Hoffman’s video on buying beans. He’s a coffee expert who explains the process well.
Next, get a grinder so you can grind fresh coffee daily. If you’re used to pod or packaged systems, this may seem foreign to you. Stick with it, though, because once you get into the habit of using freshly ground beans, you won’t want to use anything else.
Another good reason to use whole beans instead of preground is quality control. Buying high-quality beans lets you control what you drink. Many coffees have been found to contain contaminants. Good beans help keep your coffee clean.
The type of grinder you need depends on your brewing style. With so many different methods, it can be overwhelming at first. To make the transition easier, I suggest considering the French press system. They are inexpensive, even the stainless steel ones. The French press uses coarse grounds, which are the easiest to grind, so an inexpensive grinder will work great.
Your last purchase was a coffee scale. Most coffee recipes require a specific coffee-to-water ratio. For a French press, the ratio is typically one part coffee to fifteen parts water, so 40 grams of coffee goes into 600 grams (or milliliters) of water to make about two and a half cups of coffee. Presses come in different sizes, so buy the size you need. As a simple conversion, 600 milliliters is about 20 ounces of coffee and 350 milliliters is about 12 ounces of coffee. Divide the volume of your press by 15 to determine the amount of coffee needed.
Brew time is always 4 minutes after a good stir when adding the ground coffee. Press slow and easy and you will get your reward.
