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Brew methods

Pick a method, brew like a pro

Au Cao® Coffee is a specialty coffee company and a member of the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA). Our recipes start from the SCA brewing standards below.

Brew ratio55 g per literAbout 1:18 coffee to water (±10%). Roughly 2 Tbsp for every 6 oz of water.

Water temperature197–205 °F92–96 °C at the moment water meets the coffee.

Extraction18–22%How much of the coffee dissolves into the cup. Too little tastes sour, too much tastes bitter.

Strength (TDS)1.15–1.35%Total dissolved solids: the balance point for a full-flavored, not-too-strong cup.

SCA Golden Cup guidance for brewed coffee. Espresso, phin and Arabic/Armenian coffee follow their own traditional recipes, shown in each method.

Pour-over · medium-fine grind

Hario V60 dripper

A clean, bright cup that lets single origins shine. Try it with Beautiful Downtown Burbank® Coffee.

Makes1–2 cups

Ratio1:16

GrindMedium-fine

Water200 °F

Time2:30–3:30

Rinse the paper filter with hot water and discard the water.
Add 20 g of coffee and level the bed.
Bloom with 50 g of water for 30–40 seconds.
Pour in slow spirals to 320 g total, finishing around 3 minutes.

Gear for this method

Hario V60 dripper Gooseneck kettle Server Paper filters

1 cup = 8 oz. Amounts are for the recipe shown; scale the coffee and water together for more.

Medium-coarse grind

Automatic drip · medium-coarse grind

Drip coffee maker

The everyday batch brewer. An SCA-certified home brewer holds the water at 197–205 °F and finishes in 4–8 minutes, so the coffee extracts evenly.

Makes4–12 cups

Ratio55 g / L

GrindMedium-coarse

Water197–205 °F

Time4–8 min

Use 55 g of coffee per liter of water (about 2 Tbsp per 6 oz cup).
Rinse a paper filter, add the grounds and shake the basket level.
Fill the reservoir with fresh, filtered water and start the brew.
Stir the carafe and serve within 30 minutes. Avoid a hot plate, which cooks the coffee.

Gear for this method

SCA-certified drip brewer Burr grinder Paper filters Thermal carafe

1 cup = 8 oz. Amounts are for the recipe shown; scale the coffee and water together for more.

Medium grind

Vietnamese phin · medium grind

Phin filter

A slow, single-cup drip that makes a strong, syrupy coffee. Pour it over sweetened condensed milk and ice for cà phê sữa đá. Try it with Saigon Sunshine.

Makes1 cup

Ratio1:5

GrindMedium

Water200 °F

Time4–5 min

Add 20 g of coffee to the phin and shake it level.
Set the press on top and push down gently. Do not pack it tight.
Bloom with about 20 ml of hot water for 30 seconds.
Fill to the top (about 100 ml) and cover. It should drip for 4–5 minutes. Too fast: grind finer. Stuck: loosen the press.

Gear for this method

Phin filter Kettle Glass Sweetened condensed milk

1 cup = 8 oz. Amounts are for the recipe shown; scale the coffee and water together for more.

Coarse grind

Immersion · coarse grind

French press

Full body and rich texture. The metal filter lets the coffee’s oils through.

Makes2–4 cups

Ratio1:15

GrindCoarse

Water200 °F

Time4 min

Add 30 g of coarse coffee to the press.
Pour in 450 g of water just off the boil and stir.
Put the lid on and steep for 4 minutes.
Skim the crust, press slowly, and pour everything out so it does not keep brewing.

Gear for this method

French press Kettle Burr grinder Scale

1 cup = 8 oz. Amounts are for the recipe shown; scale the coffee and water together for more.

Cold immersion · coarse grind

Smooth cold brew

Low acidity, naturally sweet and made ahead. Moto Coffee makes a rich concentrate.

Makes4–8 cups

Ratio1:8

GrindCoarse

WaterCold

Time12–18 hrs

Add coarse-ground coffee to the brewer.
Pour in cold, filtered water and stir gently.
Steep in the fridge for 12–18 hours.
Filter, then serve over ice. Dilute the concentrate about 1:1 to taste.

Gear for this method

Cold brew bottle Burr grinder Glass carafe

1 cup = 8 oz. Amounts are for the recipe shown; scale the coffee and water together for more.

Fine grind

Espresso · fine grind

Espresso & automatic espresso makers

Hot water forced through a fine, tamped bed at about 9 bar. On a super-automatic machine, set the built-in grinder to fine and choose a double shot.

Makes1–2 shots

Ratio1:2

GrindFine

Water195–205 °F

Time25–30 s

Dose 18 g of finely ground coffee into the basket.
Level and tamp firmly and evenly.
Brew about 36 g of espresso in 25–30 seconds.
Fast and sour: grind finer. Slow and bitter: grind coarser.

Gear for this method

Espresso machine or super-automatic Burr grinder Tamper Scale

1 cup = 8 oz. Amounts are for the recipe shown; scale the coffee and water together for more.

Extra-fine grind

Arabic / Armenian coffee

Ground as fine as powder and brewed unfiltered in a cezve (ibrik), so the grounds settle in the cup. Often spiced with cardamom.

Makes1–2 demitasse

Ratio1:10

GrindExtra fine

WaterCold start

Time3–4 min

Add 7 g of extra-fine coffee and 70 ml of cold water to the cezve (sugar or cardamom too, if you like).
Stir once, then heat slowly over low heat.
Just as the foam rises, take it off the heat before it boils.
Pour gently and let the grounds settle for a minute before sipping.

Gear for this method

Cezve (ibrik) Small cups Burr grinder with an extra-fine setting

1 cup = 8 oz. Amounts are for the recipe shown; scale the coffee and water together for more.

Matcha · coming soon

Matcha set

Whisk a frothy bowl in minutes. Our matcha is on its way.

Makes1 bowl

Matcha2 g

Water70 ml

Temp175 °F

Whisk15–20 s

Sift matcha into the bowl.
Add a splash of water and make a smooth paste.
Add the rest of the water.
Whisk briskly in a “W” motion until frothy.

Gear for this method

Matcha bowl Bamboo whisk Bamboo scoop Sifter

1 cup = 8 oz. Amounts are for the recipe shown; scale the coffee and water together for more.

Coffee FAQ

Questions, brewed

01 / 05

Pour-over Cold brew French press Phin filter

Question 01

Brewing methods

Pour-over, cold brew, French press and the Vietnamese phin each need their own grind, ratio and timing. Our brew guide walks you through each one step by step, with how much coffee and water to use.

See brew methods

Drink Library

Pick a method, brew like a pro

Hario V60 dripper

Drip coffee maker

Phin filter

French press

Smooth cold brew

Espresso & automatic espresso makers

Arabic / Armenian coffee

Matcha set

Questions, brewed

Brewing methods

Coffee benefits

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How to clean cloth filters

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