V60 starting point
Clean, bright filter coffee
Try a light or medium roast with a medium-fine grind. Pour in two or three steady stages for an even draw-down.
- Dose and water
- 15g / 250ml
- Brew time
- 2:30–3:00
Coffee by brew method
Find coffee that suits your brewer
The brewer on your counter should guide the roast and grind you choose. Pick V60, AeroPress, French press, moka pot, cold brew, stovetop or bean-to-cup and start with a coffee matched to the way you brew.
Choose your grind at checkout. We’ll match it to your brewer.
Start with the equipment you own
Choose your brewer, see the match
Each brewer extracts coffee differently. Select a method for a practical starting recipe, then shop coffee ground to suit it.
Pour-over starting point
Balanced, steady extraction
A medium roast and medium grind suit most cone and flat-bottom drippers. Keep the pour controlled and the bed level.
- Dose and water
- 30g / 500ml
- Brew time
- 3:00–4:00
AeroPress starting point
Flexible, full-flavoured cups
Use a medium-fine grind for a short brew, or go a little coarser for a longer steep. Press gently when the timer ends.
- Dose and water
- 15g / 225ml
- Brew time
- 1:30–2:00
French press starting point
Rich coffee with a rounded body
Choose a medium or medium-dark roast and a coarse grind. Let the grounds steep before lowering the plunger slowly.
- Dose and water
- 30g / 500ml
- Brew time
- 4:00
Moka pot starting point
Concentrated stovetop coffee
Try a medium-dark roast and a fine grind, slightly coarser than espresso. Keep the heat low and remove the pot as coffee rises.
- Dose and water
- Fill basket / safety valve
- Brew time
- 4:00–6:00
Cold brew starting point
Slow-steeped and smooth
Coarse-ground coffee gives a clean steep that is easy to filter. Serve the concentrate over ice and dilute to taste.
- Dose and water
- 80g / 1 litre
- Brew time
- 12–16 hours
Stovetop starting point
Make heat work gently
Use a fine, even grind and medium-dark coffee. Pre-heated water can shorten the time the grounds sit over the flame.
- Dose and water
- Fill basket / pot base
- Brew time
- 4:00–6:00
Bean-to-cup starting point
Dial in a reliable daily cup
Start with a medium roast and the machine’s filter-coffee setting. Change one grinder step at a time and taste before adjusting again.
- Coffee
- Whole beans
- First adjustment
- Grind one step finer
Your starting recipe
Pick a method to see its match
We’ll show a suggested roast, grind, dose and brew time for the equipment you already use.
Small changes make a difference.
Practical settings for your counter
Method guides for better everyday coffee
Use these settings as a first cup, then adjust to your taste. Every grind recommendation can be selected at checkout.
V60 and pour-over
A medium roast keeps sweetness and clarity in balance. Start with a medium-fine grind and two steady pours.
See the starting settings
Use 15g coffee to 250ml water for one cup. Wet the filter first, add grounds, then pour in stages. Aim for a 2:30–3:30 draw-down.
AeroPress
AeroPress coffee is easy to adapt. Medium-fine grounds suit a short brew; a coarser setting works well for a longer steep.
See the starting settings
Begin with 15g coffee and 225ml water. Stir briefly, steep for 90 seconds, then press slowly. A longer steep can bring more body.
French press
Coarse grounds and a four-minute immersion make a satisfying first recipe. Plunge slowly so the cup stays settled.
See the starting settings
Use 30g coffee to 500ml water. Stir once after pouring, wait four minutes, then lower the plunger without forcing it.
Moka pot and stovetop
A fine grind and moderate heat help avoid a harsh, overcooked taste. Fill the basket without tamping the coffee down.
See the starting settings
Fill the lower chamber to just below the valve. Pre-heated water can reduce time on the hob; take the pot off the heat when it begins to sputter.
Cold brew
Choose coarse-ground coffee for a long, cool steep. This method rewards patience and gives you a concentrate to dilute by the glass.
See the starting settings
Start at 80g coffee to 1 litre water. Steep covered in the fridge for 12–16 hours, then filter and dilute to taste.
Bean-to-cup machines
Whole beans give your machine room to grind fresh for each cup. A medium roast is a useful place to begin.
See the starting settings
Start with the machine’s middle grinder setting and a standard coffee volume. If the cup tastes thin, adjust one step finer before changing the dose.
Build confidence at your own pace
Starting out or chasing precision
Keep the recipe simple first. Once the cup is consistent, small adjustments will tell you more.
Make your first recipe repeatable
One coffee, one grind and a simple ratio give you a clear baseline. Start here.
- Choose a medium roast suited to your brewer.
- Use 15g coffee to 250ml water for a single filter cup.
- Keep the brew time steady before changing grind size.
Change one variable at a time
Keep notes as you test. A small grind change can shift sweetness, body and finish.
- Adjust grind before changing several recipe settings.
- Record dose, water temperature and brew time.
- Compare a tighter or looser ratio with the same coffee.
A better fit starts with the grind
Grind size, from fine to coarse
Grind changes how quickly water passes through coffee. Too fine can taste bitter and slow; too coarse can taste weak or sour.
FineMoka pot · quick brew
Medium-fineV60 · 2–3 minutes
MediumPour-over · 3–4 minutes
Medium-coarseAeroPress · flexible steep
CoarseFrench press · 4 minutes
Extra coarseCold brew · 12–16 hours
Too fine?
Water takes longer to pass through the bed. The cup can taste dry or bitter, especially when the recipe runs long.
Too coarse?
Water runs through quickly and can leave a thin, sharp cup. Try a finer setting before adding more coffee.
Select your brewer at checkout and choose the matching grind. Prefer to grind at home? See hand grinders.
Roasted for the way you brew
Order coffee ground for your brewer
Choose a method, then pick the grind that fits your kit. We send coffee from Carlisle across Cumbria and the wider UK.
Need help choosing? Ask us about your brewer.