If you’ve ever used a brewing method such as a pour-over or aeropress, you may be familiar with the term coffee bloom. But, what exactly is a bloom—what is happening to the coffee during this stage of the brewing process?  A coffee bloom is simply the release of excess carbon dioxide. The bloom occurs in the first initial introduction of the hot water to the freshly ground beans.  But to understand the importance of this, let’s back up.  After coffee beans are roasted, they begin to slowly emit carbon dioxide. This is a result of the gas becoming trapped inside...

Start with the grind. That’s what I’ve learned the past few months as I read and learn about making (and improving) a great cup of coffee. The foundation to an exceptional cup of coffee lies with how and when you grind the beans.  Grind fresh. Grinding your beans fresh serves several purposes. First, it allows you to grind based on your preferred brewing method. Grind size matters. Understanding which grind size corresponds to your brewing method will maximize the taste and aroma of your coffee. If your coffee tastes bitter or sour it could be a result of over-extraction or...

There is an old saying, “measure twice, cut once.” When making coffee it is best to measure two times, once for your ground coffee and second for your water.  Measure your coffee. According to Brew Better Coffee at Home by Brian W. Jones, a good guide for brewing is using a 1:16 ratio. This would translate to roughly two tablespoons for a six ounce cup of coffee. Typically, I use a scale to measure the weight of the coffee beans before grinding. Measurement by weight rather than volume is often more accurate. I’ve found this method of measurement to be...

Learn how to make iced coffee.  Iced coffee is a summer staple. Currently, I am using a cold-brew method to make my iced coffee. However, there are various methods to making iced coffee. If you typically make coffee using an AeroPress, Chemex, or Pour-Over method, you can easily switch it up during the summer months for iced coffee. The Perfect Daily Grind has some great video tutorials I’ve found helpful in making iced coffee using these various brewing methods. My favorite coffee right now that I'm using for iced coffee is Ethiopia Agaro Jimma.  Your plants love coffee almost as much as you.  Feed your plants...

There is something comforting about a routine. (I’m that person who goes to the same restaurant and orders the same meal every single time.) It’s often difficult to break a habit and try something different. But sometimes you need a change to freshen up your daily grind.  In switching up my coffee routine, I’ve learned quite a bit about my favorite drink. I've been constantly trying new things and as much as my type A personality would fight against it, change is good. Here are a few easy ways I've found to switch my coffee routine: Brew your own iced...