Quick Sips on Drip Coffee

“How to make coffee drip” may seem like a silly question, after all its just pour some water in the coffee maker, dump some grounds in and hit the on button while the coffee brews and you let the dogs out or start prepping something else for your day.  Right?  That’s one way; but what if a few tiny upgrades made a bigger difference in your coffee experience?  How we maintain our machines, source our water, prep the amount of coffee used and grind the coffee beans make a difference.  We source and roast our beans to help you experience the notes and uniqueness of regions all around the world.  So, whether you prefer a light roast, medium roast or dark roast, we’ve got the beans to help you enjoy your next cup of drip coffee!

So, pour yourself a mug, sit back and let’s start brewing. 

Why Drip Coffee?

Drip coffee, for this article we’re talking mostly about automatic drip coffee, which is the most popular brewing method in the US, with over 60% of homes owning a drip coffee maker.  Its often easy, quick and lets us make a few cups of coffee at one time.  While it’s easy to do, its also easy to miss a tweaks that can upgrade your coffee experience while still taking advantage of the automatic drip. 

What You’ll Need

Essential gear (automatic drip machine)

- Drip coffee maker (clean and descaled) 

- Paper or permanent filter as required by machine 

- Burr grinder or pre-ground coffee ground for drip 

- Digital scale (optional but helpful) 

- Clean water (we’ll break this one down a little more)

Choosing the Right Coffee

Let’s start with the most fun part, picking the right beans!  At Philly Fairtrade Roasters we recommend:

- Freshness: use beans roasted within the last 2–4 weeks for best flavor. Look for a roast date on the bottom of our bags (near the QR code that helps with recycling). 

- Roast level: medium roast often works best for drip, but this is your preference as well.  Light and dark are also winners here.

- Sourcing: choose Organic and Fairtrade beans when possible — Organic supports you the drinker by providing great coffee with less of the toxins you don’t need; Fairtrade supports farmers and others by providing a fair wage and helping reinvest back into their communities. 

Grind size & why it matters for Drip Coffee

Grind size controls extraction time and flavor. For drip coffee:

- Medium grind (similar to sand or granulated sugar) is a common starting point for automatic drip machines and many pour-over methods.  This is a guideline, not a hard rule of law.

If your cup tastes sour or under-extracted: grind finer. Whether it’s bitter or over-extracted: grind coarser. Small adjustments (one clicks on a burr grinder) can make a big difference.

Water Quality & Temperature

Water is most of your cup of coffee — this is easy to overlook and makes a significant impact on coffee quality. 

- Use fresh, filtered water if your tap water is heavily chlorinated or tastes off.  Filtering doesn’t need to be as complicated as putting man on the moon, even a simple Brita style filter (no affiliation) or fridge kitchen filter can help. 

- Ideal brewing temperature: 195–205°F (90–96°C). If you don’t have a temperature kettle, bring water to a boil and let it rest 30–45 seconds before pouring. 

- Mineral content: very soft water can result in flat flavor; very hard water can mute nuance. A moderate mineral content is best. 

-A note about distilled water or water that’s been run through a reverse osmosis filter – water that has all or too many of the mineral negatively changes taste.  Think of minerals as little grabby hands that pull the flavor out of coffee grounds.  No minerals, no grabby hands, flat, sad coffee.  Note – there’s not an official measure of how sad or happy coffee is, but I hope you get the idea. 

-Spring water can be hit or miss and vary by brand.  Avoiding naming brands, Spring Water can be a bit of a choose your own adventure scenario.  Best to find a brand you like and stick with it if you go the Spring Water route.

-So how to fix water that has all or too many of the minerals removed?  Remineralization.  As the name implies, you just return minerals to the water that’s had it removed.  This remineralization can occur through a cartridge that’s added to your water system which returns minerals or a remineralization packet that’s added to a prepared amount of water (think pitcher or coffee pot) rather than added to the water system.

Brew Ratios: How Much Coffee to Use for Drip Coffee

Consistency is easy if you use a scale and a simple ratio. A standard starting point for drip:

- 1:16 to 1:17 coffee-to-water ratio by weight.  Remember, measure by weight, not volume as scoops can vary in size. 

- For a single 12 oz cup (~340 g water), use about 20–22 g coffee at 1:16. For stronger coffee, use 1:15.

Step-by-step: How to Make Drip Coffee (automatic drip machine)

If you prefer convenience, an automatic drip machine can make excellent coffee with consistency.

What you need:

- 20–22 g medium grind coffee for 320–360 g water (adjust based on brew basket size).  Water that has been filtered (not distilled or run through a reverse osmosis system). 

1. Clean machine & pre-wet filters

- Ensure the machine and basket are clean and free of old oils. Rinse the filter with hot water to warm the basket and remove paper taste.

2. Add coffee and water

- Add freshly ground coffee to the filter and level it. Pour measured water into the reservoir.

3. Brew and serve

- Start the brew cycle. Most modern machines will hit near-optimal temperatures. When finished, pour at once or keep warm briefly — prolonged heat can degrade flavor.  Plus, who wants to wait for good coffee?  Just don’t burn your tongue in your eagerness to sip!

Pro Tips for Consistent Drip Coffee

- Grind beans fresh: grind within 15–30 minutes of brewing when possible. Whole beans preserve aromatics best; ground beans can begin to lose flavor in as little as 30 minutes.  We’re happy to send whole bean or grind per your request!

- Dose consistently: use a scale each time for repeatable results to measure both amount of coffee and amount of water used.  It may seem like an extra step, but simple consistency takes the guess work out of brewing. 

- Keep equipment clean: old coffee oils and residues can negatively change taste of coffee.  Clean drippers, servers, and grinders frequently. 

- Keep a brew log -note your variables: roast date, grind setting, ratio, and brew time. Small changes deliver different results — keeping a log of your coffee brewing adventures can help find what’s worked best in the past to repeat for the future.    

-Pre-wet filters reduce papery flavors and help with consistent extraction.  

Troubleshooting Common Problems

Under-extracted (sour, thin)

- Cause: too coarse grind, too short brew time, water temperature too low, insufficient coffee dose. 

- Fix: grind finer, increase brew time slightly, ensure water is hot enough, or increase dose.

-Note – most automatic coffee makers hit the temperature needed, if your machine is having problems hitting the desired temperatures, there may be a problem with your machine. 

Over-extracted (bitter, harsh)

- Cause: too fine grind, too long contact time, too hot water, over-dosing. 

- Fix: grind coarser or reduce dose.

Weak or watery coffee

- Cause: low coffee dose, coarse grind.

- Fix: increase coffee weight, grind finer.

Bitter or burnt flavor from automatic brewer

- Cause: machine running too hot, coffee sitting on a hot plate too long, old beans/oils. 

- Fix: use a thermal carafe rather than keeping it on the hot plate; clean machine and replace old beans.

Flavor tastes of paper

- Cause: un-rinsed paper filter. 

- Fix: rinse paper filter thoroughly with hot water before brewing to remove the unwanted tastes.

Sustainability & values: make your drip coffee responsibly

At Philly Fairtrade Roasters, sustainability and ethical sourcing are at the center of what we do. When learning “how to make coffee drip,” consider these sustainable choices that extend beyond your cup:

- Choose Organic & Fairtrade beans: supports farmers’ livelihoods and reduces synthetic chemical use. Fairtrade premiums help fund community development. 

- Buy whole beans and grind at home for freshest coffee experience.  If you want it ground, no worries!  We’re happy to grind for you at no extra cost! 

- Recycle or compost used grounds and filters: coffee grounds enrich compost and can serve as a useful additive for certain plants.  Paper filters can be compostable as well (check the packing of your specific filter).  Scan the QR code on bottom of the bags to find out more about recycling the bags. 

- Use reusable filters (metal or cloth) if proper: reduce paper waste — but be mindful that some reusable filters change flavor and clarity. 

Serving community, not hype

We believe brewing should be approachable and honest. You don’t need expensive gear to make a great drip cup — you need good beans, consistent technique, and a little practice. We roast Organic, Fairtrade beans because farming practices and fair compensation matter. Every bag you open supports farmers and the ecosystems they steward.

Recording your experiments

Keep a simple brewing log:

- Date and roast date 

- Bean and origin 

- Grinder setting

- Weight of coffee and water (ratio) 

- Tasting notes

This log helps you reproduce that winning cup of coffee you deserve!

Common FAQ: How to make coffee drip

Q: Can I use a French press grind for drip?

A: No — French press is coarser. For drip, use medium grind. French press grind will over extract and make bitter coffee.

 

Q: Is it better to weigh coffee or use scoops?

A: Weighing is more accurate.

 

Q: How long can I keep brewed drip coffee?

A: Drink within 20–30 minutes for best flavor. If you must store, use a thermal carafe, avoid prolonged exposure to heat.  Keep in mind these tips are for best flavor and experience, not in regard to food safety for consuming coffee.

 

Final Sips on Making Drip Coffee

“How to make coffee drip” is part technique, part good ingredients, and a little practice.  Keep your equipment clean, weigh the amount of coffee and water used, brew with filtered water and you’re well on your way to having a good day! 

Oh yeah, don’t forget the beans.  Whether you prefer a light, medium or dark roast, we’ve got you covered.  With less toxins your body doesn’t need Fairtrade support to help farmers and their communities.  Truly a good day to have a good day!