At a loose end ?
Learning the Ropes
Ahoy sailors. Before you cut and run, learn the ropes with us and we’ll teach you how to enjoy your brew.
Sailing the high and low seas, the crew at Red Beards Premium Beans source only the best for our landlubber friends and family. Keep reading to find out how you can turn our beans into a delightful home brew. Waking up to a brew is part of a fisherman’s daily routine, with long days and nights at sea, they’ve perfected the art of a good cuppa. While you don’t need to worry about a gooseneck or a mast, the right tools will have you sailing into your day the right way.
Drinking freshly ground coffee is the way to go. We always recommend investing in a grinder, to make sure you get the perfect brew. Don’t forget, practice leads to perfection and it takes time to learn your way around a ship. Our crew have a few pointers on investing in the right equipment to help you on your brewing journey:
- Grind size and adjustments will impact the taste and time of the brewing.
- Making sure you have the right filtration medium for your desired brew
- Did you know you can achieve clearer flavours with a paper filter? This means less sediment.
- Metal filters will allow for a greater texture because of the excess sediment
- Getting your coffee to water ratios right!
- Did you know the right water temperature is between 93-97C?
- There is a perfect contact time between coffee and water
Fair winds and calm seas are ideal for the crew when sailing. Keep reading to get some more guidance on what kind of equipment you need for the perfect brew!
* Remember your Red Beards Premium Beans need to be stored in a cool and dry place. We keep our rations in the galley when out at sea.
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Espresso Grind - Brew ratio 1:2*
- Preheat portafilter.
- Fill with 20g ground coffee.
- Tamp with 15kg of pressure smooth and level.
- Extract 40g brewed espresso in 25 – 35 seconds.
- To extract faster, grind coffee coarser. To extract slower, grind coffee finer.
- Blend with steamed milk (60°) and serve.
*Remember the brew ratio is the relationship between the amount of dry coffee used (the dose) and the amount of coffee extracted (the yield).
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Use an Espresso Grind
- Fill the base with cold water to just below the relief valve.
- Fill the basket with ground coffee, maintain a loose fill, once at the top, level it off.
- Screw the brew chamber on top tightly.
- Brew on a low heat until it starts to gurgle, switch heat off and allow to rest for 2 minutes.
- Drink neat or blend at a ratio of 1/3 coffee to desired ratios of hot water (94°) or warm milk (60°).
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Best Ground Coarse. For a more intense cup, grind finer.
- Preheat plunger by filling with boiling water, assemble, and then empty.
- Add 1 tablespoon of ground coffee per person / cups desired.
- Add the required number of cups of slightly cooled boiled water (94°) then gently stir to mix the grounds.
- Replace lid, allow to brew for 4 minutes, before slowly depressing the plunger.
- Serve all cups, even if you want a second one later, as leaving the brew in the plunger will over brew the coffee. It's definitely best to make and serve fresh as and when required.
- Drink neat or add milk to taste.
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Brew Ratio: 1:15 | coffee:water
e.g. 20g coffee will use 300ml of water.
- Place the cold drip's mesh filter in the bottom of the central chamber of your cold drip tower.
- Place the desired amount of freshly ground coffee into the central chamber.
- Place a wet paper filter on top of the coffee grounds. Fill the top chamber with the desired amount of filtered cold water.
- Place the bottom chamber in place to catch the dripping.
- Turn the little tap so that it is dripping 1 drip per second. For a richer cup play with your drip rate, try 1 drip every 3 seconds.
- Check the flow periodically to ensure that the drip rate remains constant until brewing is complete.
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+ Other Preparations
Please consult the apparatus manufacturers recommendations. We have baseline grind settings if you order pre-ground coffee, but for best results, grind fresh every time and experiment with your recipes to make it how you like it.
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THE MOST IMPORTANT TIPS FOR BREWING AND STORING COFFEE
- Grind coffee as you go, grind to suit your brewing equipment.
- Store coffee in a cool dry place, below 20° degrees.
- Use a scale when you brew for accuracy.
- Use a temperature controlled kettle when heating water.
- Use a thermometer to measure temperatures.
- Use a timer when brewing.
- Enjoy your coffee landlubbers!