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Lowe & Leigh

Lowe & Leigh · Carlisle, Cumbria

Coffee brew guides for UK home baristas

Good coffee at home starts with a few useful numbers. These practical guides cover grind size, ratios, temperature and recipes for V60, AeroPress, French press, moka pot, espresso and cold brew.

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Start with one cup. Choose your grind at checkout if you don't have a grinder yet.

Home barista pouring hot water over freshly ground coffee in a V60 dripper on a kitchen counter

The useful basics

Grind size, ratio, temperature and extraction

Change one variable at a time, then taste again. Small changes matter.

Grind size

Espresso needs a fine grind. Filter methods sit in the middle; French press and cold brew need a coarser grind. A finer grind slows water and extracts more.

Quick fixes
  • Sour or thin? Grind a little finer.
  • Bitter or dry? Go a little coarser.
  • Keep the dose and recipe steady while testing.

Coffee-to-water ratio

Try 1:16 as a starting point: 15g coffee to 240g water. Use more coffee for a stronger cup; don't change the grind at the same time.

Quick fixes
  • For a stronger cup, try 1:15.
  • For a lighter cup, try 1:17.
  • Weigh the water as well as the coffee.

Water temperature

Start between 92°C and 96°C for most filter coffee. Very hot water can pull harsh flavours from a dark roast; cooler water may leave a light roast tasting sharp.

Quick fixes
  • Let freshly boiled water rest briefly.
  • Try hotter water if the cup tastes flat.
  • Try slightly cooler water if it tastes harsh.

Extraction

Under-extracted coffee often tastes sour and short. Over-extracted coffee can taste bitter or drying. Grind and brew time are the first things to check.

Quick fixes
  • Sour and watery: grind finer or brew longer.
  • Bitter and dry: grind coarser or brew faster.
  • Rinse paper filters before adding coffee.

Recipes to get you started

Choose a method. Keep the first recipe simple.

Use a scale if you have one. Each card gives you a repeatable starting point, with steps you can open as you brew.

V60 pour-over

3 min

15g coffee · 250g water · medium-fine grind · 92–96°C

Show recipe steps
  1. Rinse the paper filter and warm the brewer.
  2. Add coffee; pour 40g water and wait 30 seconds.
  3. Pour gently in circles to 150g, then to 250g.
  4. Let the bed drain. Aim for about 3 minutes total.

AeroPress

2 min

15g coffee · 200g water · medium-fine grind · standard method

Show recipe steps
  1. Fit and rinse the filter, then add coffee.
  2. Pour in 200g water and stir gently.
  3. Wait 1 minute 30 seconds; press slowly for 30 seconds.
  4. For a shorter cup, use 15g coffee and 120g water, then dilute to taste.

French press

4 min

30g coffee · 500g water · coarse grind · 92–96°C

Show recipe steps
  1. Add coffee and pour in all the water.
  2. Stir once so every ground is wet.
  3. Wait 4 minutes, then break the crust and skim foam.
  4. Press slowly and pour straight away to avoid a bitter finish.

Moka pot

5–7 min

Fill the basket · medium-fine grind · low, steady heat

Show recipe steps
  1. Fill the base to just below the safety valve with hot water.
  2. Fill the basket level; don't tamp the coffee down.
  3. As coffee flows, keep the heat low and the lid open.
  4. Remove from the heat when the stream turns pale and sputters.

Espresso

25–30 sec

18g in · about 36g out · fine grind · adjust to your machine

Show recipe steps
  1. Distribute the grounds evenly and tamp level.
  2. Start the shot and weigh the espresso as it pours.
  3. Aim for roughly a 1:2 ratio in 25–30 seconds.
  4. If it runs fast and tastes sour, grind finer; if slow and bitter, go coarser.

Cold brew

12–16 hr

Coarse grind · cold water · steep in the fridge

Show recipe steps
  1. For ready-to-drink coffee, combine 60g coffee with 1 litre water.
  2. For concentrate, combine 100g coffee with 500g water.
  3. Stir, cover and steep in the fridge for 12–16 hours.
  4. Filter carefully. Dilute concentrate with equal parts water or milk, then adjust to taste.
Find coffee matched to your brew method

A couple of useful adjustments

Cold brew and decaf brewing notes

Give it time. Cold water extracts slowly, and decaf can respond differently to the same recipe as a caffeinated coffee.

Choose a cold brew steep

Keep the grind coarse so the brew is easier to filter cleanly. Start with the schedule below, then adjust for the coffee and strength you like.

SteepCup styleNext step
12 hoursLighter, ready to drinkServe over ice
14 hoursRound and balancedTaste before diluting
16 hoursDeeper, more concentratedAdd water to taste
12 hours · lighterServe over ice.
14 hours · balancedTaste before diluting.
16 hours · deeperAdd water to taste.

Filter for a clean finish

Strain through a fine mesh first. If the brew still feels gritty, pass it through a paper filter. Store it covered in the fridge and make only what you'll use in the next few days.

Shop coffee for cold brew

Give decaf its own dial-in

Decaffeination changes the bean, so your usual grind setting may not suit it. Start with your normal ratio, taste, then move finer in small steps if the cup seems thin or sour.

One change at a time.

Keep the water and dose steady while you adjust the grind. That makes the result easier to read.

Explore decaf coffee

Taste with intention

Compare two coffees at home

Side-by-side tasting makes differences easier to spot. Keep the method the same and let the coffees do the talking.

  1. Brew both the same wayUse equal doses, the same water and matching cups. A simple cupping bowl or two small mugs will do.
  2. Smell before you sipNotice the dry aroma, then smell again after adding water. Write down the first clear association you find.
  3. Compare as the cups coolLook for acidity, sweetness, body and finish. A coffee can change as it cools, so take another small sip.
  4. Notice the processingWashed coffees often taste cleaner and more defined. Natural coffees can show more fruit-forward, ferment-like notes; the origin and lot matter too.

Your tasting notes

Rate each cup from 1 to 5, then jot down what stood out.

Write a few words beside each coffee, such as citrus, cocoa, soft or lingering. Your notes matter more than the total.

Explore coffee tasting sets

Your next cup starts here

Brew it better with coffee matched to your method

Pick beans for your brewer and set the grind at checkout. Lowe & Leigh sends specialty coffee from Carlisle to homes across the UK.

Need a hand with a recipe? Call +44 7911 841917 or email [email protected].

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