Player Guide: Brewing

Level up your home brew.

Choose your grind. Great coffee starts with the right grind, fresh water, and a repeatable recipe. Choose your setup, follow the mission, and dial in your next cup.

Select Brew Method
1:16Easy starting ratio
195–205°FIdeal water range
Freshly groundGrind just before brewing
Filtered waterCleaner, sweeter flavor

Quick Start

Choose a method. Match the grind. Start brewing.
EspressoFine · 25–30 sec · 1:2
Pour-OverMedium-fine · 3–4 min · 1:16
DripMedium · 4–6 min · 1:16
French PressCoarse · 4 min · 1:15
Cold BrewExtra coarse · 12–18 hr · 1:8
Stage 01: Grind

Choose your loadout.

Grind size controls extraction speed. Use these large close-up references to compare your grounds before you brew.

Start with the recommended size, then adjust one step finer or coarser based on taste.
Fresh roasted coffee beans beside a coffee grinder

The Grind Matters

Finer grounds expose more surface area to water, which speeds up extraction. Coarser grounds slow things down. The right grind helps you hit the perfect balance of flavor—sweet, clear, and fully developed.

Fine coffee grind close-up
Loadout 01

Fine

Powdery and compact—similar to table salt.

Best loadoutEspresso · Moka Pot
Medium-fine coffee grind close-up
Loadout 02

Medium-Fine

Slightly finer than sand, but still visibly granular.

Best loadoutPour-Over · AeroPress
Medium coffee grind close-up
Loadout 03

Medium

Even particles that resemble regular sand.

Best loadoutDrip · Flat-Bottom Brewer
Coarse coffee grind close-up
Loadout 04

Coarse

Chunky, distinct pieces similar to coarse sea salt.

Best loadoutFrench Press · Cupping
Extra-coarse coffee grind close-up
Loadout 05

Extra Coarse

Large, irregular pieces—closer to cracked peppercorns.

Best loadoutCold Brew Concentrate
Stage 02: Brew

Common brew methods

These recipes are dependable starting points. Adjust one variable at a time until the cup tastes right to you.

Pour-over coffee being brewed through a paper filter

Pour-Over

Medium-fine1:16 ratio3–4 min
  1. Rinse the filter and preheat the brewer.
  2. Add 25 g coffee and bloom with 50 g water for 30–45 seconds.
  3. Pour slowly in circles to reach 400 g total water.
French press coffee on a wooden table

French Press

Coarse1:15 ratio4 min
  1. Add 30 g coffee to the press.
  2. Pour in 450 g water and stir gently.
  3. Steep 4 minutes, plunge slowly, and serve right away.
Espresso pouring from an espresso machine

Espresso

Fine1:2 ratio25–30 sec
  1. Dose 18 g coffee into a clean, dry basket.
  2. Distribute evenly and tamp level.
  3. Aim for about 36 g espresso in 25–30 seconds.
Hand-brewed coffee in a compact coffee press

AeroPress

Medium-fine1:14 ratio2 min
  1. Add 17 g coffee and 240 g water.
  2. Stir briefly and steep for 60–90 seconds.
  3. Press gently for about 30 seconds.
Stovetop moka pot beside a cup of coffee

Moka Pot

Medium-fineFill basket5–7 min
  1. Fill the base with hot water to just below the valve.
  2. Fill the basket loosely; do not tamp.
  3. Brew over medium-low heat and remove when the flow begins to sputter.
Cold coffee served over ice in a glass

Cold Brew

Extra coarse1:8 concentrate12–18 hr
  1. Combine 100 g coffee with 800 g cold water.
  2. Steep covered in the refrigerator.
  3. Strain well and dilute concentrate to taste.
Player Buffs

Six habits that improve every brew

01

Use a scale

Measuring coffee and water by weight makes your results easier to repeat.

02

Grind fresh

Whole beans hold flavor longer. Grind only what you plan to brew.

03

Mind the water

Use clean, filtered water that tastes good on its own.

04

Preheat everything

Warm your brewer and mug so the coffee stays at a stable temperature.

05

Change one thing

Adjust grind size first, then ratio, temperature, or brew time.

06

Keep notes

Record the coffee, dose, grind setting, time, and what you tasted.

Troubleshooting

Fix the flavor

Sour, sharp, or weak?

The coffee may be under-extracted. Grind a little finer, brew longer, use hotter water, or increase the amount of water passing through the grounds.

Bitter, dry, or harsh?

The coffee may be over-extracted. Grind a little coarser, shorten the brew time, use slightly cooler water, or reduce agitation.