Brewing coffee is a simple art. Ground beans plus water and the time it takes for these elements to come together are all that you need. Some like their coffee full-bodied and some like it on the lighter side. The more ground coffee you use per cup of water, the stronger the drink will taste.

Another important factor in making coffee is the length of time it is brewed. Stretching a pound of coffee by using less and brewing it longer or grinding it finer will produce a less desirable cup quality.Unfortunately, extended brewing or too fine a grind will extract less favorable characteristics and cause the brew to taste bitter. Making drip coffee requires only four to six minutes; vacuum and espresso coffees need only one to three minutes; French press only about two minutes. When percolating coffee, allow no more than six to eight minutes. Since percolation has a tendency to boil and over extract brewed coffee, gourmet coffees may lose their fine and delicate flavors.