There are many variables that can influence the final product in your cup of coffee. From the moment you grind your coffee to the time you take your first sip, these variables are in your control. This is why we have taken the time to put together some basic rules of thumb for you to follow to ensure that you get the very best results in your cup.

There are also so many elements that can affect the freshness of your coffee. The four major enemies of coffee are heat, air, light and moisture. Each one of these elements stale your coffee, virtually rendering it useless when enjoying the true complexity of specialty coffee. All of the aromatics and flavors your coffee was intended to provide in the cup are ultimately destroyed when you expose them to these harmful elements.

To ensure the freshness and stability of our product after roasting, all of our coffees are vacuum-sealed and nitrogen flushed in airtight, opaque, one-way valve bags. Roasting is done on a just-in-time production basis, making certain that the product you receive is always at peak freshness.

Coffee is a perishable food item, so keep in mind that once you have opened the package the deterioration process begins. It is unavoidable - coffee will always diminish in quality and freshness as time goes on, but careful handling and proper storage can delay the inevitable. Please be sure that you always start with fresh coffee prior to grinding and/or brewing; doing this will make your coffee drinking experience much more pleasurable.

You should always start with a clean and properly working grinder. There are two main types of grinders available on the market: Burr grinders and Blade grinders. Either grinder can do the job, however, Burr grinders tend to be more consistent when it comes to evenly grinding and they are not as messy as Blade grinders.

Grinding is an essential step in the preparation sequence that contributes solely to the proper extraction of your coffee. Depending upon what brewing device you are planning to use, the coarseness of your ground coffee will vary. Please take a moment to review the grinding chart below to reference which brewing method you intend on using.

Make sure you have the proper grind for your brewing method. Using the correct grind for your brewer is essential to a good cup. If your coffee is too fine the result will be a bitter, over extracted cup. If the grind is too coarse, you will end up with a weak cup of coffee, lacking flavor and body. Refer to the chart below and find the suggested grind coarseness setting that correlates to your brewing method.

As mentioned previously, the freshness of your coffee can really influence the end result. We suggest that you grind your coffee just prior to brewing. Significant staling starts to occur immediately after grinding because more surface area is exposed to the elements. That being said, we urge you to only grind what you intend to use for that brewing cycle.

The general rule for the coffee to water ratio is approximately 2 tablespoons for every 6 ounces of water. Keep in mind that you can always adjust the ratio according to the desired taste. If you increase the amount of coffee you will have a stronger, bolder cup of coffee. A weaker, more diluted taste will be the result if you decrease the amount coffee to water.

Water quality is just as important as fresh coffee, the right grind and the appropriate measurement. Brewed coffee is made up of nearly 98% water so it will obviously influence the taste and aromatics you get in the cup. We urge you to always use filtered or bottled water when you brew, because if your water doesn't taste good, neither will your coffee.

There are few things to take into consideration when setting up your brewer. Always be sure to start with a clean and properly functioning piece of equipment. Next, if your machine does not come with its own metal coffee filter, you have the option of purchasing a couple of different types of paper filters. Each type of filter, including the metal type, has advantages and disadvantages; make the choice that best suits you. Take a moment to review the filter types and descriptions below to help you make your decision.

Heat, air and light are coffee's enemies, so it is important that you handle your coffee in manner that will maintain the integrity of the product. If you start with stale coffee, you are going to taste stale coffee in your cup, which is not the way specialty coffee should be experieced.

Many people tend to think that the best place to store their coffee is in the refrigerator or freezer. Not only do extreme temperatures negatively impact your coffee, but coffee also has a tendency to absorb foreign odors and flavors. Similar to what baking soda does when you place it in the ice box, coffee is very porous and can be tainted by many elements in this environment.

We suggest that you store your coffee in a cool, dry place like your kitchen pantry or cabinet; average room temperature is ideal. Make sure to keep your coffee in an opaque, airtight container that is capable of evacuating as much air from the coffee as possible. The 8oz packaging that your coffee comes in provides you with this storage capability. Simply push as much air out of the opaque package as you can and securely close the zip seal. Should there be any remaining air in the package, squeeze the package until you hear that all of the air has been evacuated through the one-way valve. The one-way valve is designed to only let the air and gases out of the bag and it will not let the air in.

Performing these basic steps will delay the staling process as much as possible. Coffee is perishable and its quality will start to diminish as it ages. Be sure to consume your coffee in a timely fashion; we estimate that the average coffee drinker will go through about 8 ounces of coffee each week when brewing a pot each morning. Once you pass the one-week mark, the essence of the blend and/or origin will decrease. As you move toward the two-week mark you may want to consider opening a fresh bag to truly get the taste sensation you are expecting.

1. Grinder

It is very important that you keep your grinder clean and well maintained. After each use you should wipe down the exterior of your machine and remove any residual coffee that may be in the grinding chamber. Please make sure that the machine is unplugged when doing this. You should always refer to the manufacturer's care instructions and operations manual for better details on equipment up keep.

Also be aware that cross contamination can occur quite easily. You never want to use your coffee grinder for anything else but coffee. Other food items such as spices, nuts, etc. can taint your coffee and, in turn, give you very different and sometimes horrible tasting results.

One more thing to take note of when it comes to cross contaminating is the intermingling of different coffees in the same grinder. For instance, if you or a family member grinds some Hazelnut flavored whole bean coffee and then someone later wants to grind non-flavored whole bean coffee inside the same grinder, you may wind up with tainted results. This is a common problem that can be avoided by purchasing pre-ground flavored coffee and whole bean only for your blends and single origin coffees. You can always opt to have two grinders on hand, one that is designated for each type of coffee, if you prefer whole bean for both types of coffees.

2. Brewer

As mentioned earlier, it is important to keep your equipment clean and well maintained. The same thing holds true for your brewer. Your brewer should come with a manufacturer's manual that details how exactly to clean and service your brewer, so for specifics, please refer to the manual provided to you.

It is important to keep your shower nozzle(s) clean in addition to your brew basket, coffee pot or thermal container. Dirty equipment is more susceptible to break down and can ultimately destroy the cup characteristics of your coffee. The oils, solids and aromatics from coffees you have brewed previously on your machine will surely influence the results you get in the cup.

Cross contamination is also a problem with brewers as it is with grinders. If you brew a flavored coffee in your machine and then try to brew a single origin or blend, you will probably taste the flavor you brewed previously. A way to combat this issue is to clean all components of the machine immediately after use and/or invest in additional brew cone (check with the brewer manufacturer for availability of parts). If you are using a woven screen or gold filter basket versus a paper filter, you may even want to have a separate one on hand dedicated to brewing flavored coffee. These steps may sound extreme, but they are necessary measure to achieve high quality results.

3. Accessories

Good equipment maintenance is essential to taste all of the aromatics and complex characteristics of specialty coffees. Of equal importance is the cleanliness of your accessories. Just as you would never want to cook your food in a dirty pot or pan, the same ideology holds true for coffee preparation and server. After every use, you should always clean your coffee pot or thermal server. There are many good cleaners available today; check with your local super market or specialty coffee shop to pick up the cleaner that best suits your needs.

This information is simply food for thought. The bottom line is that well kept equipment and accessories perform better which in turn gives you better tasting results. We want to provide the best possible experience each time you drink Chesapeake Bay Roasting Company coffees. Follow these simple rules of thumb and enjoy "preserving your environment one sip at time."