If you’ve ever had a cup of coffee that tasted more like dishwater than a delicious pick-me-up, then you know making a great coffee isn’t as easy as it seems. It does, in fact, require a certain amount of skill and knowledge. Whether you use a French Press, a pod machine or a manual espresso machine, each brewing method offers unique results in the cup. Here are our tutorials and tips dedicated to each extraction to avoid common mistakes and achieve exceptional results in your cup.
What Is A “Good Cup Of Coffee”?
A good cup of coffee is first and foremost a coffee that suits you and you enjoy drinking. But to get a cup of coffee that suits your palate, you must respect certain essential criteria: quality coffee, freshly roasted and ground, well-maintained equipment, good quality water… Here’s a list of things to do to ensure your coffee is a success.
How do you make a good cup of coffee?
#1
Use good water
Coffee is 98% water, so use the best possible water. We recommend using filtered or bottled water. Or, if your machine allows it, use a filter cartridge.
#2
Choose a roast that suits your tastes and brewing method
Not all roasts are created equal! Lighter roasts with brighter, fruitier notes are ideal for filter methods, while darker roasts bring out bolder flavours perfect for espresso drinks. Ultimately, the best roast is a matter of personal preference. Don’t be afraid to experiment and find your perfect cup of coffee!
At MaxiCoffee, we offer a 10-point roast scale (1-lightest, 10-darkest) to guide you through our wide variety of coffees.
#3
Don’t forget maintenance
Each time coffee is extracted, oils or grounds will be deposited in your machine. Over time, the oils become rancid, limescale builds up and the grounds can become mouldy. So it’s important to clean your equipment weekly and descale regularly.
#4
Bonus: if you use coffee beans
Choose freshly roasted coffee
You’ll get the most out of your coffee’s rich aroma between two weeks and two months after roasting. You can find freshly roasted coffees on our site.
Freshly ground coffee
Ground coffee tends to oxidise more quickly than coffee beans. We therefore advise you to invest in a grinder or a bean-to-cup machine with a built-in grinder, so that you can grind your coffee beans at the last minute.
Use a scale
For certain methods, a scale will help you to be precise and calculate your coffee/water ratio. You can then test and taste different recipes to find your own!
MAXICOFFEE TIPS FOR MORE INDULGENT COFFEE
Even if all these criteria are met, controlled extraction is still essential to enjoy your cup of coffee: follow our dedicated tutorials to make your extraction successful. And if you’re just starting out, we’ve also got a coffee suggestion for each method.
HOW TO MAKE A GOOD ESPRESSO WITH A MANUAL ESPRESSO MACHINE
Ingredients
Your favourite coffee beans or coffee grounds
Filtered or bottled water
Material
1 manual espresso machine
1 coffee grinder (optional)
1 scale
1 tamper
1 tamping mat
1 grind distributor (optional)
1 mug
1 spoon
Preparation
Step 1Place filtered or bottled water in the water tank.
Step 2Preheat your machine according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Step 3Finely grind the quantity of coffee in your filter holder using your coffee grinder. The amount of coffee depends on the size of your basket. As a general rule, for a 20g basket, you will need between 18g and 22g of coffee.
Step 4Distribute and even out the ground coffee in the filter holder basket by tapping the holder or using your hands.
Step 5(Optional) Then use the grind distributor to ensure the coffee is evenly packed (2 to 3 turns).
Step 6Use your tamper to apply pressure to your grind to compact it. Be careful to press straight and as evenly as possible. If you are just starting out, we recommend the Baristator dynamometric tamper.
Step 7Start a flush (the act of cleaning the filter of any grounds that may have remained and emptying the water group).
Step 8Place a scale under your cup and position it under the extraction unit.
Step 9Insert the filter holder into the extraction unit.
Step 10Start the extraction process.
Step 11Stop extraction when your beverage weighs more or less 2 times the weight of your ground coffee. For example: 20 g before, 40 g after, or approximately 30 ml for a single espresso.
Step 12Stir the crema with a spoon without putting it in your mouth (to avoid a metallic taste). Enjoy immediately!
Step 1
Place filtered or bottled water in the water tank.
Step 2
Preheat your machine according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Step 3
Finely grind the quantity of coffee in your filter holder using your coffee grinder. The amount of coffee depends on the size of your basket.…
Step 4
Distribute and even out the ground coffee in the filter holder basket by tapping the holder or using your hands.
Step 5
(Optional) Then use the grind distributor to ensure the coffee is evenly packed (2 to 3 turns).
Step 6
Use your tamper to apply pressure to your grind to compact it. Be careful to press straight and as evenly as possible. If you are…
Step 7
Start a flush (the act of cleaning the filter of any grounds that may have remained and emptying the water group).
Step 8
Place a scale under your cup and position it under the extraction unit.
Step 9
Insert the filter holder into the extraction unit.
Step 10
Start the extraction process.
Step 11
Stop extraction when your beverage weighs more or less 2 times the weight of your ground coffee. For example: 20 g before, 40 g after,…
Step 12
Stir the crema with a spoon without putting it in your mouth (to avoid a metallic taste). Enjoy immediately!
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The ideal coffee for an espresso: Spring Blend from Green Lion Coffee
Discover Green Lion Coffee’s Spring Blend, a limited edition celebrating the arrival of spring with its chocolate, caramel and floral notes.
This organic coffee bean, roasted in France, offers an invigorating gourmet experience. Made from Arabica beans from Ethiopia and Peru, it guarantees ethical, quality coffee drinking.
Available now
Coffee beans – Spring Blend – Green Lion Coffee (250 g)
-100% Arabica blend
-Peru and Ethiopia
-Limited edition
Step 1Fill the hopper of your bean-to-cup machine with your coffee.
Step 2Add filtered water to the water tank of your machine, or use a filter cartridge if your machine is equipped with one.
Step 3Select the desired beverage on your coffee machine.
Step 4Start the extraction process.
Step 5Stir the crema with a spoon without putting it in your mouth (to avoid a metallic taste). Enjoy immediately!
Step 1
Fill the hopper of your bean-to-cup machine with your coffee.
Step 2
Add filtered water to the water tank of your machine, or use a filter cartridge if your machine is equipped with one.
Step 3
Select the desired beverage on your coffee machine.
Step 4
Start the extraction process.
Step 5
Stir the crema with a spoon without putting it in your mouth (to avoid a metallic taste). Enjoy immediately!
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The ideal coffee for our tutorial: Perléo espresso Prestigio
Discover Perléo Prestigio, an exceptional coffee for a real summer taste experience. This 100% Arabica blend, roasted very dark, offers a rich and sweet and woody cup, balanced with notes of cocoa and beechwood.
Its intense roast reveals delicate aromas of roasted hazelnuts, for a cup full of flavour, ideal as an espresso.
Available now
Coffee beans – Prestigio – Perléo (250g)
– 100% Arabica
– Notes of cocoa, beech wood and roasted hazelnut
– Packaging: 250g
HOW TO MAKE A GOOD COFFEE WITH A POD COFFEE MACHINE
Ingredients
Your coffee pod
Filtered or bottled water
Material
1 capsule coffee machine
1 cup
1 spoon
Preparation
Step 1Add filtered or bottled water to the water tank.
Step 2Insert your pod.
Step 3Start the extraction process by selecting the desired beverage.
Step 4Stir the crema with a spoon without putting it in your mouth (to avoid a metallic taste). Enjoy immediately!
Step 1
Add filtered or bottled water to the water tank.
Step 2
Insert your pod.
Step 3
Start the extraction process by selecting the desired beverage.
Step 4
Stir the crema with a spoon without putting it in your mouth (to avoid a metallic taste). Enjoy immediately!
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The ideal coffee for our pod coffee tutorial: Pacifique from Cafés Lugat
The Pacifique pods are an invitation to travel to South America in every cup. This 100% Arabica blend, hand-harvested between 1600 and 1800m altitude in Nicaragua and Guatemala, offers a unique taste experience. This medium-roast Arabica coffee offers a balanced, sweet flavour with hints of chocolate spread.
HOW TO MAKE A GOOD COFFEE WITH A FILTER COFFEE MAKER
If you prefer filter coffee, made with a manual or slow coffee filter maker, we’ve put together a selection of tutorials on how to make the perfect cup of coffee with different coffee makers.
Step 1Place the lower compartment of the coffee maker on your scale
Step 2Tare the scale to obtain an accurate net weight.
Step 3Fill the compartment up to the base of the valve with hot water (ideally 95°C). Be careful not to submerge the valve. Be careful when handling to avoid burning yourself!
Step 4Check the weight indicated on the scale. This will enable you to calculate the quantity of coffee to put in the filter holder. Your basic extraction ratio is 1 g of coffee to 9 g of water. For example: if you have 250 g of water in your compartment, the calculation is 250/9 = 27.77, i.e. 28 g of coffee.
Step 5Fill the filter holder with the calculated amount of coffee.
Step 6Distribute the coffee without packing.
Step 7Heat the coffee maker over medium/high heat and wait.
Step 8When you hear a hissing sound, remove the coffee maker from the heat immediately.
Step 9Wait for the extraction to finish. Enjoy!
Step 1
Place the lower compartment of the coffee maker on your scale
Step 2
Tare the scale to obtain an accurate net weight.
Step 3
Fill the compartment up to the base of the valve with hot water (ideally 95°C). Be careful not to submerge the valve. Be careful when…
Step 4
Check the weight indicated on the scale. This will enable you to calculate the quantity of coffee to put in the filter holder. Your basic…
Step 5
Fill the filter holder with the calculated amount of coffee.
Step 6
Distribute the coffee without packing.
Step 7
Heat the coffee maker over medium/high heat and wait.
Step 8
When you hear a hissing sound, remove the coffee maker from the heat immediately.
Step 9
Wait for the extraction to finish. Enjoy!
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The ideal coffee for Moka pots: Voix de la Terre- For Planet by Lavazza
Discover Lavazza Voix de la Terre for Planet organic coffee beans, an exceptional sensory experience combining quality and environmental commitment. Selected from the best organic Arabica coffees, this coffee reveals subtle, fruity tropical fruit aromas.
Available now
Coffee beans – Tierra for Planet Bio – Lavazza (500 g)
-100% Arabica blend
-Organic coffee beans
-Delicate and floral
Now you have the keys to unlocking delicious coffee at home! Simply follow our tutorials to prepare tasty cups and enjoy all the richness and complexity of your coffee.
