A better filter at home in four steps

You do not need expensive kit to make a good filter at home. You need four things right: grind, ratio, water and a bit of patience.

1. Grind just before you brew

Ground coffee loses most of its aroma in fifteen minutes. A simple hand grinder makes a bigger difference than any new brewer.

2. Weigh, do not guess

Start with 15 g of coffee to 250 g of water. Write it down, then change one thing at a time.

3. Use soft, hot water

Water just off the boil, around 94 °C, and filtered if your tap water is hard. Hard water flattens every coffee.

4. Pour slowly

Wet the grounds with a little water first and wait thirty seconds, then pour the rest in slow circles. The whole brew should take about three minutes.