At J&N, we work with a few select coffee brewers that we believe enhance the coffee in the best possible way. You likely have a BUNN or Bonamat brand brewer.
Why? Because they are temperature stable, provide even water distribution over the coffee, are easy to program to consistently dose the right amount of water, and are simple to keep clean.
Brewing coffee with a fully automatic brewer isn't complicated, but there are some parameters that must be right, which are as follows:
- The Right Amount: The right amount of coffee and the right amount of water determine the coffee's strength and are necessary for a balanced taste. For a balanced strength, we recommend 60g/L water, so the following ratio: 1:17. If you buy our coffee bags with 120g of pre-ground coffee, then you should use 2 litres of water for this brew.
- Water Quality: Always be careful to ensure the water you use is of good quality. We always recommend using a water filter (e.g., Everpure). If you live in an area with high lime content, like Gotland, take this into account. A good rule of thumb is to taste the water; if the water tastes good, it will not negatively affect the taste of the coffee.
- Grind Size:: This parameter controls how long the water and coffee are in contact with each other, i.e., how much flavour the water extracts from the coffee. When you buy pre-ground coffee from us, you always get the right grind size for your filter coffee. If you buy whole beans from us, it's important that you set the right grind size. malningsgraden here.
- Water Temperature:: Always make sure you have the right temperature on your coffee brewer. A general benchmark is 95°C. The water temperature is an important parameter for the water to be able to optimally extract the flavours from the coffee.
- Clean Equipment:: Always ensure that your brewer and thermos are clean. The coffee brewer's brewing head and filter basket should be the focus of your cleaning efforts. Your thermos can easily become dirty due to the fats in the coffee. Therefore, make sure to clean it at least once a week with Clean Express. You can order all cleaning products from us.
See the following videos for clearer assistance:
BUNN SmartWAVE:
BUNN ICB:
7. Specialty Coffee: When you buy coffee from us, you always get a fresh, very high-quality product, also known as specialty coffee. This gives you the best conditions to brew a delicious cup of coffee if you make sure all other parameters are correct.
Here's how you brew your coffee:
- Remove the filter basket. Place a suitable filter in the basket. Rinse the filter with water to avoid any potential off-tastes from the paper filter.
- Open a bag containing 120g and pour it into the filter basket. Ensure the coffee bed is level for the most even brewing possible.
- SInsert the filter basket into the brewer. Press the brew button that is programmed with a water amount of 2 litres. This applies to a BUNN ICB and BUNN SmartWAVE. If you are using a Bonamat TH-10, you manually dose the water by pouring it into the upper part of the brewer.
- Let the brewing complete. Place the pump tube in the thermos and close the lid. Gently shake the thermos to mix the coffee, ensuring a more balanced taste.
- Always serve the coffee when it's freshly brewed. Keep an eye on the coffee not sitting too long in the thermos with a timer. We recommend rebrewing after about 1 ½ hours.
- Last but not least, always taste the coffee you've brewed to ensure the flavour matches the given flavour description or what you feel is relevant. If you're using whole beans, always feel free to experiment with the grind size to fine-tune the brewing so that the coffee tastes as good as possible.
What if the coffee doesn't taste as it should?
Here are some common mistakes that can occur when brewing coffee.
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The coffee tastes weak/watery
Check that you have used the right amount of coffee relative to water. You've probably dosed too little coffee for the amount of water. We recommend 60g/l, ratio 1:17.
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The coffee tastes too strong
Check that you have used the right amount of coffee relative to water. You've probably dosed too much coffee for the amount of water. We recommend 60g/l, ratio 1:17.
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The coffee is too bitter and harsh
You've probably used too fine a grind size, resulting in too long a total brewing time. You have over-extracted too much flavour. We recommend that you adjust to a coarser grind size, which will give you a shorter brewing time.
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The coffee is too sour and lacks sweetness
You've probably used too coarse a grind size, resulting in too short a total brewing time. You have under-extracted too little flavour. We recommend that you adjust to a slightly finer grind size, which will give you a longer brewing time.
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The coffee doesn't taste as usual; the coffee has a slightly dirty taste
You've probably forgotten to clean one of the following parts: the brew head, filter basket, or thermos. Parts of the coffee machine where coffee fats are excreted can get dirty, and it's especially important to check these parts daily. Use an appropriate cleaning agent (Clean Express) for the job. Make sure to rinse the parts with water to remove all traces of the cleaning agent before you start brewing again.
