Brewing Methods & Recipes

Brew Better Coffee at Home

Great coffee starts with quality beans, but how you brew them matters just as much.

Use these Halfmoon Roasting Lab starting recipes to get the best flavor from your coffee. Every grinder, water source, and brewer is a little different, so treat these recipes as a starting point and adjust to taste.

Pour-Over

Clean, Bright & Flavor-Focused

Pour-over brewing is one of the best methods for bringing out fruit, floral notes, sweetness, and clarity.

Best for:
Light to medium roasts, single-origin coffees, and fruit-forward coffees.

Starting Recipe

Coffee: 20g
Water: 320g
Ratio: 1:16
Water Temperature: 200°F
Grind: Medium
Total Brew Time: 2:45–3:30

Method

  1. Rinse your paper filter with hot water.

  2. Add 20g of freshly ground coffee.

  3. Pour 40–50g of water over the grounds.

  4. Let the coffee bloom for 30–45 seconds.

  5. Slowly continue pouring in controlled circles.

  6. Finish with 320g total water.

  7. Allow the coffee to drain completely.

Adjust Your Brew

Coffee tastes sour or weak: Grind finer.

Coffee tastes bitter or dry: Grind coarser.

Coffee tastes too strong: Add slightly more water.

Automatic Drip Coffee Maker

Easy, Consistent Everyday Coffee

A quality drip brewer can produce excellent coffee when the coffee-to-water ratio and grind size are right.

Starting Recipe

Coffee: 30g
Water: 500g
Ratio: Approximately 1:16.5
Grind: Medium
Water Temperature: 195–205°F

Method

  1. Rinse the filter if your machine allows.

  2. Add freshly ground coffee.

  3. Add filtered water.

  4. Start the brewing cycle.

  5. Gently swirl the finished coffee before serving.

For larger batches, maintain approximately the same coffee-to-water ratio.

French Press

Full-Bodied & Rich

French press brewing allows coffee oils and fine particles to remain in the cup, creating more body and texture.

Best for:
Medium to dark roasts and coffees with chocolate, caramel, nutty, or bold flavors.

Starting Recipe

Coffee: 30g
Water: 500g
Ratio: 1:16.5
Water Temperature: 200°F
Grind: Coarse
Steep Time: 4 minutes

Method

  1. Add 30g of coarse-ground coffee.

  2. Pour in 500g of hot water.

  3. Stir gently.

  4. Let steep for 4 minutes.

  5. Slowly press the plunger down.

  6. Pour immediately.

Do not leave brewed coffee sitting in the French press, as it will continue extracting.

AeroPress

Fast, Smooth & Versatile

The AeroPress produces a clean, concentrated cup and is excellent for experimenting with different coffees.

Starting Recipe

Coffee: 18g
Water: 250g
Water Temperature: 195°F
Grind: Medium-Fine
Brew Time: 1:30–2:00

Method

  1. Rinse the filter.

  2. Add 18g of coffee.

  3. Pour approximately 50g of water.

  4. Stir and allow to bloom for 30 seconds.

  5. Add the remaining water.

  6. Insert the plunger.

  7. Press slowly for approximately 30 seconds.

Chemex

Clean, Smooth & Elegant

The thicker Chemex filter produces an especially clean cup with excellent clarity.

Starting Recipe

Coffee: 30g
Water: 500g
Ratio: 1:16.5
Water Temperature: 200°F
Grind: Medium-Coarse
Total Brew Time: 4:00–5:00

Method

  1. Rinse the Chemex filter thoroughly.

  2. Add freshly ground coffee.

  3. Pour 60g of water for the bloom.

  4. Wait 45 seconds.

  5. Continue pouring slowly in stages.

  6. Finish at 500g total water.

  7. Allow the coffee to drain completely.

Espresso

Rich, Concentrated & Balanced

Espresso requires more adjustment than most brewing methods. Your grinder, espresso machine, coffee freshness, and basket size will affect the final recipe.

Starting Recipe

Coffee Dose: 18g
Espresso Yield: 36g
Ratio: 1:2
Water Temperature: 198–202°F
Extraction Time: 25–32 seconds

Method

  1. Grind the coffee finely.

  2. Add 18g to your portafilter.

  3. Distribute the grounds evenly.

  4. Tamp level and consistently.

  5. Start your extraction.

  6. Aim for approximately 36g of espresso in 25–32 seconds.

Dialing In

Espresso runs too fast: Grind finer.

Espresso runs too slowly: Grind coarser.

Sour espresso: Try grinding finer or increasing extraction.

Bitter espresso: Try grinding coarser or reducing extraction.

Cortado

Balanced Espresso & Milk

The Cortado is one of the best drinks for tasting both the espresso and the milk without one overpowering the other.

Recipe

Espresso: Double shot, approximately 36g
Steamed Milk: Approximately 2 oz

Steam the milk until smooth and silky with very little foam.

Pour approximately equal parts espresso and steamed milk.

Cappuccino

Espresso, Milk & Microfoam

Recipe

Espresso: Double shot
Steamed Milk: Approximately 4 oz

Steam the milk to approximately 135–150°F with fine microfoam.

Pour slowly to combine the espresso, milk, and foam.

Latte

Smooth & Creamy

Recipe

Espresso: Double shot
Milk: 6–8 oz

Steam milk to approximately 135–150°F.

Aim for silky microfoam rather than stiff foam.

Pour over freshly brewed espresso.

Iced Latte

Simple & Refreshing

Recipe

Espresso: Double shot
Milk: 6–8 oz
Ice: Fill glass

  1. Pull a double shot of espresso.

  2. Fill a glass with ice.

  3. Add milk.

  4. Pour espresso over the milk and ice.

  5. Stir and enjoy.

Add your favorite syrup if desired.

Cold Brew

Smooth, Sweet & Low-Acid

Concentrate Recipe

Coffee: 100g
Water: 800g
Ratio: 1:8
Grind: Coarse
Steep Time: 12–16 hours

Method

  1. Combine coffee and cold filtered water.

  2. Stir until all grounds are saturated.

  3. Refrigerate for 12–16 hours.

  4. Filter thoroughly.

  5. Store refrigerated.

Serving

Start with:

1 part cold brew concentrate
1 part water or milk

Adjust to taste.

Moka Pot

Strong & Espresso-Like

Method

  1. Fill the bottom chamber with hot water to just below the safety valve.

  2. Fill the basket completely with medium-fine coffee.

  3. Level the coffee but do not tamp.

  4. Assemble the moka pot.

  5. Brew over medium-low heat.

  6. Remove from heat when the coffee begins to sputter.

  7. Serve immediately.

Coffee-to-Water Ratio Guide

Use this quick guide when creating your own recipes.

1:15 — Stronger, fuller cup
1:16 — Balanced starting point
1:17 — Lighter, cleaner cup

Example:

20g coffee at a 1:16 ratio = 320g water.

Water Matters

Coffee is mostly water, so water quality has a major impact on flavor.

For best results:

Use clean, filtered water.

Avoid strongly chlorinated water.

Use fresh water for every brew.

A water temperature between approximately 195°F and 205°F works well for most brewing methods.

Grind Fresh

Coffee begins losing aroma and flavor soon after grinding.

For the best results, grind your coffee immediately before brewing.

As a general rule:

Fine: Espresso
Medium-Fine: AeroPress
Medium: Pour-over and drip
Medium-Coarse: Chemex
Coarse: French press and cold brew

Fresh Coffee Makes Better Coffee

Store your Halfmoon Roasting Lab coffee in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, heat, moisture, and strong odors.

Keep the bag tightly sealed between uses.

For the best experience, grind only what you need before each brew.

Need Help Choosing a Coffee?

Different brewing methods highlight different characteristics.

Bright & Fruity

Try a light or medium roast using:

Pour-over
Chemex
AeroPress

Smooth & Balanced

Try Medium Roasts:

Automatic drip
AeroPress
Pour-over

Rich & Bold

Try Medium-Dark to Dark Roasts:

French press
Moka pot
Espresso

Milk Drinks

Look for coffees designed for espresso or coffees with chocolate, caramel, nutty, and rich flavor profiles.

SHOP HALFMOON COFFEE

Coffee brewing process with a cone-shaped pour-over dripper, a paper filter, and a glass coffee carafe filled with brewed coffee.
A modern coffee maker with a glass carafe filled with brewed coffee, a stainless steel top, and a water reservoir on the left side, set against a plain white background.
French press coffee maker filled with brewed dark coffee, with a black handle and a metal lid.
A French press coffee maker with brewed coffee inside.
A glass coffee decanter with a wooden collar and leather tie, used for pouring coffee.
A sleek, stainless steel espresso machine with a black handle, pressure gauge, and steam wand for brewing coffee.
A glass of frothy iced coffee with a creamy topping on an isolated white background.
A white ceramic cup filled with a frothy cappuccino featuring latte art in the shape of a heart and leaf pattern.
A white ceramic mug filled with coffee topped with latte art in the shape of a heart, against a white background.
A tall glass of iced coffee with milk, showing swirling effects as the coffee mixes with the milk.
A glass filled with ice cubes and dark cola soda, with condensation on the outside of the glass.
Silver moka pot coffee maker with black handle and black knob on lid, isolated on white background.