Canadians drink over 15 billion cups of coffee every year. Whether relaxing and gathering with friends or starting your day with the aroma and taste of fresh coffee, this ancient and exciting drink is Canada's favourite hot beverage. Creating coffee's varying taste characteristics is a fine art, utilizing different countries of origin, roast styles and blending profiles. Appreciating coffee's differing taste profiles is only one part of the coffee beverage experience.

How you store and prepare coffee at home will have a dramatic impact on the freshness and "quality" of your cup.

The information presented here will improve your knowledge on brewing and storing roasted coffee. Using the guidelines that follow will ensure that your coffee's full body and unique characteristics can be fully appreciated.

This information is based on the Coffee Association of Canada's "Guidelines for Storing and Preparing Brewed Coffee", developed in June 1996.

The following offers a step-by-step guide to preparing your favourite cup of coffee.

Amount of Coffee - The amount of coffee that you use will affect the strength of the finished cup, and should be based on personal taste preference. Industry experts agree that 1 to 1.5 tablespoons (15-25mL) of coffee, per 6 ounce (175mL) cup, will ensure full development of coffee characteristics. Many roasters and retailers provide recommended serving sizes to be utilized for further guidance.

Coffee Grind - The grind style you choose will also affect the strength of your coffee. Too fine a grind will result in a strong, perhaps bitter, cup, and too coarse a grind will result in a weak cup. The grind must also match the design of your coffee machine.

Establishing a consistent grind is a key element of coffee quality. When considering grinders for home, be aware that machines that "grind" with discs will offer a more consistent result than those that "chop" with blades.

Water - A cup of coffee is 98% water. To paraphrase a saying, the quality of the water that goes in, determines the quality of the coffee that comes out. Always use freshly drawn cold water, ideally filtered through an activated carbon filter. Avoid artificially softened water which will result in a "flat" tasting cup.

Coffee Machines - The answer to one of the most commonly asked questions ... "why does the cup of coffee I buy in my favourite restaurant or coffee shop taste different than the coffee I make at home?" ... is usually equipment related.

The performance of coffee machines varies depending on the temperature of the water and the speed at which the water passes over the coffee grinds. Restaurant and coffee shop machines are specifically designed to achieve water temperatures of 200oF (75oC) and "draw times" of between 3½ to 4½ minutes per pot. It is difficult for in-home brewers to achieve the same standards, but these parameters can be used as a benchmark for your machine.

To avoid water bypass, which may result in a weak cup of coffee, ensure coffee filters fit snugly in the basket and coffee grounds are evenly spread.

It is important to properly store your coffee, both before you brew it, and once it's been prepared.

- To ensure the freshness of your coffee, exposure to oxygen, moisture, and outside odours must be minimized.

- Freshness is optimized by purchasing quantities that can be consumed within 7 to 10 days after opening.

- After opening your package, be sure to transfer coffee to the proper storage container. To ensure coffee maintains its full flavour characteristics, use an airtight, glass container, stored in a cool dry environment. Minimize empty "head space" in the container.

- Whole beans will begin to lose freshness 21 days after roasting. As with ground coffee, freshness of whole bean coffee can be substantially extended if vacuum packed, to avoid exposure to oxygen.

- A good rule to follow is not to leave coffee on a warming element longer than 20 minutes. Prolonged exposure to heat will cause coffee to burn.

To store brewed coffee for longer periods of time, transfer it to a thermal container, which has been preheated with hot water. This will maintain coffee's flavour and temperature.

Use fresh coffee ...

Use freshly drawn, cold water ...

Use 1 - 1.5 tablespoons (15-25mL) of coffee per 6 ounce (175mL) cup ...

Use proper grind profile ...

Use brewing equipment that is clean and in proper working order ...

Use an airtight container to store coffee in a cool dry environment. Ensure moisture, air and odours do not come into contact with coffee.