Want strong, but it's brewing weak
Question: I just found your website while searching for coffee brewing methods. I’m a college student at Virginia Tech entering my Junior year right now and I’ve just moved into an apartment and invested in the most basic Black & Decker coffee-maker I could find (it’s a 975 watt model for reference). I found out that I really enjoy coffee over the summer and it really makes me more productive. I bought some Starbucks ground “Sumatra” at the local grocery store since I don’t have a coffee grinder. While I realize this coffee is supposed to be “Extra Bold”, frankly, I find the coffee coming out of the coffeemaker a little too weak for my tastes. I really like a coffee with a complex flavor that packs a whallop. The flavor of the coffee itself is definitely not a problem, in fact, I like it a lot (it smells unbelievable for one thing), but I’m already using four “heaping tablespoons” per four cups as per the instructions and honestly, the coffee is just “OK”. I didn’t want to use more because there’s already a decent amount in there and I think I’d just be wasting it if I put in more. Thanks a lot. -- John
Answer: First off, John, the wattage of your brewer is very relevant. Most home brewers are around 850 watts, the ideal is 1,000 watts or more so your machine should be fine. If you like a strong coffee, I'd suggest something closer to two tablespoons per cup so a total of eight if you're making four cups. You wouldn't be wasting the additional ground coffee that you put in and you should find it is more to your liking. Sumatran coffee is among the most highly regarded and you've already noticed its strong aromatic qualities. The fact that it smells great and you are picking up its flavor means that the coffee itself -although pre-ground and cared for by a grocery store- is fine. Otherwise, there's no accounting for a defective machine and I would suggest if your brew cycle is less than 8-10 minutes that the water is not being heated enough before drip-brewing through the grinds. Starbucks is grinding the beans for you, so I'll rule out that it's ground too coarse. I hope this helps and I'd like to hear how it turns out.