In the coffee industry, everyone strives for 'The Perfect Cup of Coffee". Perfection in coffee means different things to different people. Like appreciation of art, music, or food, it comes down to individual taste.

At Late for the Train, we feel the following steps are key in brewing a great cup of coffee:

1. Make sure you're using clean, fresh water every time.
2. Brewing equipment must be clean and free of residue.
3. Grind coffee according to brewing method and your machine. This is also a personal preference. Remember, the finer the grind the more likely it will be that the water will take more time passing through the grinds on their way to making a brew. This can pull bitter components out of the best coffee so be careful. There are many brewers in use and they all create different brewing times. There is no standard. You can partially control the contact time roasted and ground coffee has with hot water by your choice of filtering and the grind. Aim for a 4-5 minute brew cycle.
4. Store coffee in an airtight container. Do not refrigerate it. Freeze it only if you won't need it for weeks to come. Once out of the freezer, keep it in an airtight container in a cupboard. How long a coffee remains fresh depends on your level of perceptivity. Four days, one week, two weeks. Beyond that, aroma dulls the brighter notes and nuances become muted. After a month, if not sealed and kept from heat, it is stale. Next time you go to the grocery store smell the various coffees. Most will smell flat and dull.

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