Excellent Coffee Tips
Storage Tip
Never store your coffee in the refrigerator. Coffee will absorb flavors and aromas from other food products in your refrigerator. Freezing coffee can also have a damaging effect, and we do not recommend this practice unless you will not use-up your supply of coffee for a prolonged period of time (two weeks or more). Coffee should be stored in a clean, dry, airtight container, in a cool, dark place.1. Start with a clean coffee maker and use fresh, good-tasting water; if your water tastes funny, so will your coffee.
2. Using fresh-roasted Nantucket Coffee Roasters coffee beans, grind coffee as close to the moment you brew as possible.
3. Select the appropriate grind for your brewing method (coffee drinkers' preferences vary), but as a guide, use one coffee measure (two tablespoons) of coffee to every six ounces of water; adjust according to taste.
4. Brew with water just off the boil, coffee should be consumed within a half-hour or stored in a vacuum carafe. Don't boil, perk, or reheat coffee!
It is an old Italian secret to mound the coffee grounds high in the filter basket of the Moka pot before screwing the two pieces together. Do not compact the coffee! To ensure a tight seal, be sure to wipe the rim of the bottom of the pot with your finger to remove any grounds. When the top half of the pot is screwed on, the grounds will be compacted by the filter screen. You should end up with a dry, compacted puck of coffee grounds at the end of brewing.
When selecting a machine for home, look for one that will drive the water through the coffee with the aid of a pump vs. a steam driven machine. A good pump machine will usually cost $200 to $1,000, but the investment is worth it if you are serious about enjoying tasty espresso. A steam driven machine (the typical $49 model) will not produce a palatable product. We suggest you use a Moka pot if you have a limited budget to invest in equipment. Beautiful milk froth can be created for cappuccinos with a plunger pot.
