Believe it or not, a lot can go wrong in brewing your cup of coffee. Here are some steps to consider:

1. The water. Use clean fresh cold water with minimal mineral content. If you know that the water in your area has mineral problems, use a filtration system.

2. The grind. The grind should be fine, but not powdery. It should feel sandy to the touch.

3. The coffee maker. Be sure that your coffee maker is clean. A dirty coffee maker can ruin the cup.

4. How much coffee to use. While this is an individual choice, use one heaping tablespoon for each cup of coffee.

5. What kind of coffee maker? We suggest the French-press method because it brings out the character of the coffee and provides the best extrication. When using a French press, keep the grind coarse.

6. How long can you keep hot coffee before drinking it? Generally speaking, coffee looses its character after half an hour. It should be thrown out after an hour unless you store it in a thermos. Never re-heat or boil your coffee, this makes it bitter.