Brew guides · Bensenville, IL
Coffee Brewing Methods
The best way to brew coffee is the one that fits your morning: drip for a full pot, French press for body, pour over for a clean cup, cold brew for smooth iced coffee. Gigawatt Coffee Roasters grinds every coffee for the way you brew, and this page gives you the grind, ratio and brew time for each.
See the brew chart
By Jennifer Coleman, co-founder of Gigawatt Coffee Roasters
Brew guides
Pick your brewer
Each guide picks the coffee for that brewer and walks you through it.
Grind, ratio and time
Coffee grind size and ratio chart
Every brewer wants a different grind and a different amount of coffee. Start here, then adjust to taste: more coffee for stronger, less for lighter.
| Method | Grind | Coffee to water | Brew time | Order it as |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drip coffee maker | Medium, like sand | 1:16 (2 tbsp per 6 oz) | About 5 minutes | Drip |
| Pour over | Medium-fine, like table salt | 1:16 | 3 to 4 minutes | Pour over |
| French press | Coarse, like sea salt | 1:15 | 4 minutes | French press |
| Cold brew | Coarse, like sea salt | 1:8 | 16 to 24 hours | French press |
| Espresso | Fine, finer than table salt | 1:2 | 25 to 30 seconds | Whole bean |
| Moka pot | Fine, a little coarser than espresso | Fill the basket level | 4 to 5 minutes | Whole bean |
We grind every 10 oz bag four ways: whole bean, drip, pour over or French press. For espresso and moka pot, order whole bean and grind it fine at home.
Not sure which coffee?
Try five in your brewer
Our Coffee Sample Packs hold five 3 oz bags, dark to light, whole bean or ground. Each bag brews a full 12-cup pot, so you can brew them side by side and find the one you'll reorder.
Shop Coffee Sample PacksThe Gigawatt difference
Why it brews smooth in any brewer
Air roasted, never bitter
We roast on hot air in small batches in Bensenville, Illinois, so the cup stays smooth however you brew it.
Small batchesDated by hand
The roast date is written on every bag, so you know exactly when it was roasted.
On every bagNothing to risk
If a bag is ever not right, tell us and we'll make it right. No hoops.
See our promiseMore from the Gigawatt Grounds blog
Keep your coffee fresh between brews, and find your roast.
The Gigawatt Guarantee
Never bitter, never burnt, always fresh.
If it's ever not, tell us and we'll make it right. No hoops, no sending anything back.
Shop all coffeeHow the guarantee works“Always delicious. Never bitter.”
★★★★★Susan L., Dark Roast Sampler
Questions
What is the best way to brew coffee?
The one that fits your morning. Drip is easiest for a full pot, French press gives the most body, pour over the cleanest cup, and cold brew the smoothest iced coffee.
What is the coffee to water ratio?
About 1 to 16 for drip and pour over, 1 to 15 for French press and 1 to 8 for cold brew.
How much coffee per cup?
2 tablespoons of ground coffee, about 10 grams, for every 6 oz of water. A 10 oz bag makes about 28 cups that size.
What grind size should I use?
Coarse for French press and cold brew, medium for drip, medium-fine for pour over, and fine for espresso and moka pot.
Do you grind coffee for espresso?
No. For espresso and moka pot, order whole bean and grind it fine at home, right before you brew.