Updated September 2026. Great coffee at home does not require a complicated recipe. Start with fresh coffee, clean equipment, good water, a consistent coffee-to-water ratio, and a grind size that matches your brewer. Then adjust one variable at a time based on taste.
For a more personalized starting point, you can also use our interactive Command Coffee Brew Guide.
A Simple Coffee-to-Water Starting Ratio
For most hot filter coffee, a good starting point is about 1 gram of coffee for every 16 grams of water. That means 20 grams of coffee would use about 320 grams of water.
If the coffee tastes too strong, use a little more water. If it tastes too weak, use a little more coffee. A digital scale makes this much easier and more repeatable than measuring by tablespoons.
Water Temperature
For most hot brewing methods, water around 195–205°F is a useful starting range. You do not need to obsess over a single exact temperature. Very dark coffees may taste better with slightly cooler water, while lighter coffees often benefit from water nearer the upper end of the range.
Drip Coffee
Grind: Medium
Starting ratio: About 1:16 coffee to water
Automatic drip is one of the easiest ways to make repeatable coffee. Use fresh grounds, filtered water when possible, and keep the brewer and carafe clean. If the cup tastes sour or thin, try grinding a little finer. If it tastes harsh or overly bitter, try grinding a little coarser.
French Press
Grind: Coarse
Starting ratio: About 1:15 to 1:16
Starting brew time: Around 4 minutes
Combine coffee and hot water, let the grounds steep, then press slowly. French press coffee retains more oils and fine particles than paper-filtered coffee, which gives it a fuller body.
Pour-Over
Grind: Medium-fine
Starting ratio: About 1:16
Rinse the paper filter, add your ground coffee, and pour enough water to wet all of the grounds for a short bloom. Continue pouring in controlled stages while keeping the coffee bed evenly saturated. Brew time depends on the brewer, dose, and grind, but many pour-overs finish in roughly three to four minutes.
Moka Pot
Grind: Fine, but usually not as fine as espresso
Fill the bottom chamber with water to the brewer’s recommended level and fill the coffee basket evenly without tamping it like espresso. Assemble the brewer and use moderate heat. Remove it from heat when the brewed coffee begins to finish flowing so it does not continue cooking on the stove.
Cold Brew
Grind: Coarse
Cold brew is made by steeping coffee in cool or room-temperature water for an extended period, then filtering it. Recipes vary widely depending on whether you are making a concentrate or a ready-to-drink batch. For a ready-to-drink starting point, try roughly 1:10 to 1:12 coffee to water and adjust from there.
How to Fix Coffee That Does Not Taste Right
- Sour, sharp, or thin: Try a finer grind, slightly hotter water, or a longer brew.
- Bitter, dry, or harsh: Try a coarser grind, slightly cooler water, or a shorter brew.
- Too weak: Use more coffee or less water.
- Too strong: Use less coffee or more water.
Change one variable at a time so you can tell what actually improved the cup.
Start With Fresh Coffee
The brewing method matters, but the coffee itself matters first. Command Coffee roasts in Indianapolis and offers blends, rotating single-origin coffees, decaf, and subscriptions. Shop the current coffee lineup, or use our interactive brew guide for a personalized recipe.