We know. Coffee and everything that comes with it, can sometimes seem like a mysterious cult, full of gadgets, jargon and people who somehow taste ‘stone fruit’ in their morning brew. But, let's be honest: you don't need a degree in barista-skills to make a great cup of coffee at home. With the right beans, a bit of know-how and a curious spirit, anyone can learn how to use coffee beans like an expert.
Whether you are totally new to brewing or just tired of instant coffee (which can actually be more expensive than a bag of fresh beans nowadays) that tastes like disappointment, then this guide is for you. Freshly penned by us here at The Coffee Bean Shop, we will walk you through all that you really need to know, right from bean to cup. Let’s get started.
Coffee doesn't have to be scary but it does take a bit of practice
First off, don't panic. Using coffee beans may feel intimidating at first, especially if you are used to grabbing a tin of pre-ground or instant when doing your weekly shop. But whole beans are worth the initial anxiety. They will be your gateway to smile-inducing fresh, tasty coffee every single time. Trust us: you won't be going back.
Pro tip: start small. Choose one brewing method and grab a bag of whichever beans appeal to you the most. There are a lot out there, all with their pros and cons and an assortment of complex, beautiful flavours. But that is a lesson for another day. So with your brewing method and your beans you are now ready to move on to…
How to make coffee using coffee beans (a full guide)
Ok, we are going to break it down step by step. No need for overwhelming techniques or complicated wording. We’ll go into more detail further down, but for now here is the most basic guide to making great coffee:
1. Choose your weapon — or brewing method
The method you choose affects how finely you'll grind your beans and how much coffee you’ll need. Here are a few beginner-friendly options:
- Cafetière (French press): Bold and full-bodied. Great for lazy mornings.
- Aeropress: As close to espresso as you can get, without having to own/work an espresso machine.
- Pour-over (like a V60): Cleaner and brighter flavour. Ideal if you like to pretend you're in a coffee ad.
- Espresso machine: Intense and rich. Bit more fiddly, but satisfying when you get it right.
2. Grind your beans fresh
Freshly ground beans make all the difference. We'll go deeper into how to grind coffee beans like a pro in a moment, but the TLDR is: match your grind size to your brew method. Coarse for cafetière, fine for espresso, and medium for most pour-overs.
3. Measure your coffee and water
Start simple: about 15g of coffee for every 250ml of water. You can tweak the ratio to taste. A digital scale makes you feel like a scientist, and it keeps things consistent.
4. Mind the water
Use water just off the boil (around 92–96°C if you want to be precise). If you live in a hard water area, filtered water can improve the flavour.
5. Brew, sip, and adjust
Let the coffee brew for the right amount of time (usually 3–4 minutes for a cafetière), then taste it. Too bitter? You might be over-extracting. Too sour? Try a finer grind or longer brew time. Adjust one variable at a time and keep sipping.
Making the most of your coffee beans
The main thing to remember here is that coffee beans are a raw material, just like anything you buy from the fresh produce section of sainsburies, it will go off. Beans are like fruit (in fact, they are the seed of a berry) so to enjoy them at their very best you want to brew them when they are freshly roasted and freshly ground. Here’s a quick guide on how to treat your coffee beans right:
- Store in an airtight container, away from heat and light.
- DON’T keep them in the fridge as condensation with ruin the flavour.
- Buy little and often, where possible. Beans start to lose their magic a few weeks after roasting. Think you’ll forget or want to try a wide range of flavours? Why not try a coffee subscription service?
But most importantly, grind only what you need just before you need it. Sure, if you grind a little too much you can save it for the next day, but pre-grinding your whole bag of beans is like opening a bottle of wine on a Sunday, ready to drink a bit all week. By Friday, it is not going to taste great.
How to choose great coffee beans
So, what actually makes a good coffee bean?
Freshness
We know we bang on about it, but truly, the easiest way to make great coffee is to use fresh beans. Want to know how to spot them? Look for a roast date on the bag, not just a best-before label.
When brewing fresh beans they will soak up the water easily and tend to not be oily (unless it is a blend or variety that is supposed to be oily, such as a dark roast) At the Coffee Bean Shop we roast in small batches the day before or day of shipping, because we truly believe that stale beans make sad coffee.
Roast Profile
One of the things that coffee nerds love about coffee is the sheer number of variants that there are to experiment with, in the pursuit of finding your unicorn dream brew. One of these is the roasting profile of the beans. This is the name given for how long (and sometimes how, e.g. over flame) your coffee beans are roasted for.
Like getting a suntan, they go from light roasts to dark roasts over time. Light roasts tend to be brighter and more acidic as they are closer to the raw nature of the beans. Dark roasts are bolder and more intense. These are usually found in Italian or French style coffees or blends. If you are unsure what you prefer, then you can always choose a medium roast and experiment outwards from there.
Origin
It’s worth noting that what constitutes a ‘great coffee’ will depend hugely on personal taste. But if you want premium beans then there are a few that are unlikely to disappoint. These varieties fiercely defend their branding as even just their name stands for high quality coffee beans: Jamaican Blue Mountain is known the world over as the champagne of the coffee world, while Hawaiian Kona has been described as aloha in a cup.
While they are all grown in hyper specific climates and soil, beans from different regions taste different. Colombian beans are sweet and nutty; Ethiopian ones are fruity and floral. No wrong answers, just different vibes. We’ve delved into the top of what is the best coffee bean in the world, and believe us, there is much debate on the subject!
Regardless of what type of beans you go for, try to opt for single origin or a blend where you can trace back to where the beans are grown and how. Then you can be sure that you are getting your money's worth with good quality coffee beans, wherever they are from.
How to grind coffee beans like a pro
So you’ve chosen your coffee beans, both origin and roast profile. Now what?
It’s time to grind them up. Here’s your quick guide on how to grind coffee beans:
Grind size matters
Grinding coffee beans increases the surface area and really awakens the goodness inside the bean, but you’ve got to get the right consistency for your brewing method. Too coarse and you’ll have weak, sour coffee. Too fine and you’ll over extract (this just means the beans are exposed to water for too long) which will make your brew bitter. Different brewing methods require different grinds. Here’s a quick go-to guide:
- Coarse - like sea salt - perfect for cafetières.
- Medium - like sand - perfect for pour over brewers
- Fine - like icing sugar - made for espresso & Aeropress
Of course, this is an oversimplification, there are other grind variations for other traditional brewing methods. Turkish coffee gets its own super fine grind, for example, but these are the basics to get you started.
Modern espresso machines usually have a built-in grinder, meaning you can go from bean to cup with the tap of a few buttons.
Burr vs Blade grinders
If you’re serious about coffee, get a burr grinder. Blade grinders chop beans unevenly, leading to inconsistent flavour. Burr grinders crush beans to a uniform size, which makes for much better brews.
Manual grinders are more affordable and great for small batches. Electric ones are quicker and easier if you’re brewing daily.
No grinder at all?
You’ve got two options:
- Buy pre-ground from a reputable supplier, such as the coffee bean shop, where you can be sure that the beans are as fresh as they possibly can be and that they come in a variety of grind sizes.
- With a bit of elbow grease and creative thinking, learn how to grind coffee beans at home without a grinder. This is okay at a push, definitely not a long term solution.
How much coffee to use?
If you are new to your brewer, then you may also be wondering how much coffee to use, both before and after grinding. Here’s our quick guide:
Over time, you will learn exactly how much coffee to use to create the exact brew that you prefer, based on the brewing method used, roast profile and desired strength. However, there are some rules of thumb for beginners:
Cafetiéres: (French presses) typically use a 1:15 ratio, meaning about 30 grams (roughly 6 tablespoons) of coarsely ground coffee per 500 ml of water.
Pour over or filter coffee: For pour-over methods such as the V60, a 1:16 ratio is common—25 grams of medium-ground coffee to 400 ml of water.
Espresso: Espresso is more concentrated, using around 18–20 grams of finely ground coffee for a double shot (approximately 60 ml)
Aeropress: 1-2 scoops of fine to medium ground coffee per person, with water up to level 3 or 4 on the tube, depending on size of drink desired.
Cold brew: often uses a 1:8 ratio, or 1 cup of coarsely ground coffee to 4 cups of water, steeped for 12–24 hours.
Common FAQs about using coffee beans like a pro
Do coffee beans expire?
They don’t "go off" like milk, but they do go stale. Use within 4–6 weeks of roasting for best results.
Can I reuse coffee grounds?
Sure! If you’re making compost or a body scrub. Not for drinking though. Once brewed, coffee grounds have given their best.
What’s the best way to store coffee beans?
An opaque, airtight container in a cool cupboard. Avoid clear jars, fridges, and sunlight.
The Final Sip
Learning how to use coffee beans is like learning to cook. That is: a bit messy at first, but incredibly rewarding. You absolutely don’t need fancy equipment or expert training. Just a bag of good quality beans, a grinder, and a willingness to experiment.
Here at The Coffee Bean Shop, we believe great coffee starts with great beans, and ends with someone like you discovering the joy of brewing better at home.
So grab a cafetière, pop the kettle on, and give it a go. You might just surprise yourself with a new found hobby!