This Privacy Policy applies to websites and services provided by the National Coffee Association USA (“NCA”, “organization”, “we”, “us”, or “our”) on which this policy is posted (collectively, the “Services”), including ncausa.org and AboutCoffee.org. We are committed to protecting your personal information and your right to privacy. If you have any questions or concerns about our policy, or our practices with regards to your personal information, please contact us at info@ncausa.org.

Your privacy is important to us. We developed this privacy policy to explain to you in the clearest way possible what information we collect, how we use it, and what rights you have in relation to it. This privacy policy applies to all personal data we collect while interacting with our Services, which includes, but is not limited to, using our website, registering for an event, purchasing a product, or taking part in one of our committees.

We are a membership-based association dedicated to the coffee industry. Our membership is comprised of organizations from various stages of the coffee lifecycle including growers, roasters, distributors, and retail outlets.

Our mission has always been to promote and further the coffee industry both within the industry and the general public. We conduct various activities for the betterment of the industry including conducting research and studies on matters important to the industry, compiling data on beverage consumption, and educating the industry and consumers on pertinent topics.

We only collect personal data that is necessary for the purposes set out by our association to promote and further the coffee industry.  Depending on the context of your interaction with our Services, we may collect and process the following categories of information about you.

Contact Details. This may include, as applicable, your first name, last name, email address, business phone number, mobile number, fax number, organization name, business title, and business address.

Payment Details. This includes your payment instrument number (e.g. credit card number, and the security code associated with your payment instrument).

Demographic Details. This includes your birth year.

Videos and Photographs. During certain events, photographs are taken of the attendees, in a general atmosphere setting.

Device, Connection, and Interaction Details. While visiting our site, opening communications from us, or interacting with our advertisements, we collect information about your interaction with us and your computer hardware and software. This information can include: your IP address, browser type, domain names, access and engagement times, and referring website addresses. For more details, please see the section below on our use of cookies and other tracking technologies.

We collect the data that people provide to us about themselves or their colleagues (including during the account creation process, when using the “Contact Us” page, submitting a membership inquiry, registering for an event, or otherwise communicating with us, etc.). We also collect device, connection, and interaction details, such as your IP address and your browsing activity, passively from you when you use our Services.

On occasion personal data is provided to us from sources other than the individual or their colleague, like via our Member-Get-A-Member referral program. We also collect data through industry connections and third-party data and list brokers. Upon receiving this personal data, we contact the data subject within an appropriate amount of time where required by law.  For individuals who are in-scope of the EU General Data Protection Regulation this time will not exceed one month.

As described below, we process personal data for our business purposes on the bases of our legitimate interest, to enter into or perform a contract with you, with your consent, and/or for compliance with our legal obligation. The ways in which we process your personal data depend on the context in which you interact with us, as outlined below. The following lists of purposes for processing personal data are not meant to be exhaustive and may be amended at any time.

NCAUSA.org Account. As part of the membership process, organizations joining the NCA must create an online account, which then provides access to member-only benefits and member-only areas of our website.  We have determined that it is in our legitimate interest to process  account information .

NCA Communications and Marketing. We process your information to send you communications or present you with marketing related to your organization’s membership (or prospective membership) in NCA or your interest in the NCA and its activities. This may include advertisements about our services and products and communications about the NCA and its activities, your membership benefits, renewing your membership, payment of membership fees, our events, and other topics related to your membership that we think are of interest to you. We have a legitimate interest in making these communications and engaging in marketing activities.

NCA Member Directories. When your organization becomes of a member of the NCA we process the contact details of the individual designated as the “Primary Contact” for each member organization and make that information available to other members via our online Member Directory.  Upon request, an excel version of the NCA Member Directory may be sent to an NCA member. Access to this list is restricted to only other members and is not publicly available.  We do identify members on our website and provide business contact information for those members. We have determined that it is in our legitimate interest to compile and offer this directory to provide networking opportunities as a value of NCA membership. 

NCA U.S. Agent Program.  NCA offers to enter into a contract with our members in good standing to serve as the U.S. agent for those food facilities that are required to register with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  We process your contact details under the execution of this contract.

NCA Career Center – Job Posting and Responses.  When you create a new job posting or respond to a post you are consenting to us processing your information for that purpose as well as sharing your contact details and resume with the potential employer.

Managing and Promoting NCA. We use our member’s contact details to manage and promote the NCA, including through the Member-Get-A-Member program. We also use the personal information we collect for internal administrative purposes related to our membership and programs (including responding to inquiries from members or prospective members, conducting membership surveys, giving out awards, and managing applications to other NCA programs), event attendance, program management, and related activities. We have a legitimate interest in engaging in these activities.

NCA Board Members. These are individuals who have been selected to be part of our Board of Directors.

NCA Committee Members. These are individuals who take part in one of our committees, including but not limited to one of our Science Leadership Council and the Next Generation Council.

These are individuals, at member or non-member organizations, who make a purchase from us.

Processing Purchases.  When you make a purchase from the NCA including, but not limited to, market research reports and publications, a posting on our Career Center, or event registration you are consenting to us processing the personal data you provide to fulfill your order.

Communications.  When you make a purchase from us, you are consenting to us processing your personal data to send you communications related to that purchase.

Promote the NCA.  We have determined that it is in our legitimate interest to process the contact details of our non-member customers to promote NCA membership, services, and products to grow our membership base and increase the impact of our organization and programs.  This includes, but is not limited to, communicating  the value of membership, future trainings and workshops, publications, our annual convention, and sponsorship and exhibition opportunities.

These are individuals who register to attend one of our events, including but not limited to, seminars, trainings, workshops, and webinar sessions. For the NCA Privacy Policy regarding our Annual Convention,  click here.

Processing Registrations.  When you register for one of our events you are consenting to us processing your personal data to complete the registration.

Communications.  When you register for an NCA event, you are consenting to us processing your personal data to send you communications to provide you with pertinent information relating to that event or future events and other NCA activities (including surveys, membership communications, publications, and sponsorship or exhibition opportunities).

Sharing Event Registrant Lists. We have determined that it is in our legitimate interest to provide registrant lists to events’ sponsors, exhibitors, and presenters, so they are aware of who is attending these events.  This conveys the value to these sponsors, exhibitors, and presenters to be a part of future events NCA will host.  These partners may follow-up with you regarding their products or services.

Webinar Presentation Requests. When you request a copy of a webinar presentation you are consenting to us processing your personal data to fulfill the request.  These partners may follow-up with you regarding their products or services.

These are organizations in the coffee media industry and individuals employed by these organizations that publish information pertaining to the coffee industry.

Editorial Content and Media Barter Sponsorship Opportunities.  We have determined that it is in our legitimate interest to process personal data of the trade media to discuss editorial content in order to promote NCA’s work and thought leadership, and to communicate barter and sponsorship and exhibition opportunities in order to foster and maintain good relationships with trade publications and media.

Please click here for additional information on our Annual Convention Privacy Notices. 

These are individuals who visit our websites or otherwise use our Services who may not interact with us in other capacities, such as through our member organizations.

Communications: When you communicate with us via our Services, such as by using our Contact Us page to send us an inquiry, you are consenting to us processing your personal data to send you communications to respond to your inquiry.

Device, Connection, and Interaction Details: We collect device, connection, and interaction details about our website visitors when they visit our Services for the purposes detailed in Section 6, below.

National Coffee Association USA does not sell, rent or lease its customer lists to third parties for financial gain. National Coffee Association USA may, from time to time, contact you on behalf of external business partners about a particular offering that may be of interest to you. In most cases, your unique personally identifiable information (e-mail, name, address, telephone number) is not transferred to the third party. Please see the NCA Annual Convention Privacy Policy for an explanation of  how your personal information is shared with regard to the NCA Annual Convention.

Service Providers: We may disclose your information to our service providers to carry out the purposes described above (including to help us perform statistical analysis, process your payments, send you email or postal mail, provide customer support, or arrange for deliveries). All of our service providers are prohibited from using your personal information except to provide these services to National Coffee Association USA, and they are required to maintain the confidentiality of your information.

Third-Party Business Partners: We may disclose your information to our third-party business partners that may provide you with benefits for being a member of NCA, like the Savings 4 Member’s organization, so they can communicate with our members to provide information about those benefits. These business partners may use the information we disclose to them for their own purposes, such as to provide you with benefits you access via your NCA membership or otherwise as indicated in their privacy policies. 

Other NCA Members and the General Public: As a member of the NCA, or as a member of our Board of Directors, your contact details are made available in our B2B Directory, Member Directory (members only access), Member List, and our Board of Directors list. During certain events, including but not limited to, our annual convention or training courses, we will take photos or videos of those attending in a general setting.  These photos and videos are used on our website and during future marketing campaigns to promote NCA.

Sponsors and Presenters: When you register to attend one of our events, we will share with the sponsor, exhibitor, and/or presenter the list of registrants.

National Coffee Association USA Web sites will disclose your personal information, without notice,  to: (a) comply with the law ; (b) protect and defend the rights or property of National Coffee Association USA; (c) act under exigent circumstances to protect the personal safety of users of National Coffee Association USA, or the public; or (d) transition any portion of our activities or business to a new organization, like in the event of a corporate reorganization of NCA or merger with a similar entity.

Third Party Marketing, Analytics, & Other Cookie Providers: When you use our Services, we may disclose your personal data, such as your device, connection, and interaction details to third parties via cookies and other online tracking technologies for marketing, analytics, and similar purposes. These third parties may use the information we disclose to them for their own purposes, subject to their own privacy policies. For more details, please see the section below on our use of cookies and other tracking technologies.

We will retain your personal data for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which we collected it; including to satisfy any legal, accounting, or reporting requirements. To determine the appropriate retention period for personal data, we consider the amount, nature, and sensitivity of the personal data, the potential risk of unauthorized use or disclosure of your personal data, the purposes for which we process your personal data and whether we can achieve those purposes through other means, and the applicable legal requirements.

National Coffee Association USA use cookies (small text files placed on your device) and similar technologies to keep track of how individuals interact with our Services, such as the pages individuals visit on our websites, to determine what National Coffee Association USA services are the most popular and analyze usage of our Services. This data is used to deliver customized content and advertising to individuals whose behavior suggests that they may be interested in a particular subject area.

Cookies allow us, among other things, to store your preferences and settings; provide interest-based advertising; and analyze how our services are performing. We also use web beacons to help deliver cookies and gather usage and performance data about our products and services. Our Services may include web beacons and cookies from third-parties. You may be able to use tools available via your browser or device to control cookies, web beacons and similar technologies, including to block and delete cookies and controls from some third parties to opt out of data collection. Your browser and other choices may impact your experiences with our Services, as limiting cookies and similar technologies may limit the functionality of some aspects of our Services.

We utilize re-targeting tracking cookies to permit certain third-party companies to help us deliver advertisements and special promotions across their advertisement networks to you. You may be able to use tools available via your browser or device to block these cookies by activating the appropriate setting on your browser. Unless you have adjusted your browser setting so it will refuse cookies, our system will issue cookies when you direct your browser to our websites.

We also use cookies to allow our Services to know that you have returned to a specific page. For example, if you personalize National Coffee Association USA pages, or register with National Coffee Association USA site or services, a cookie helps National Coffee Association USA to recall your specific information on subsequent visits. This simplifies the process of recording your personal information, such as billing addresses, shipping addresses, and so on. When you return to the same National Coffee Association USA Web site, the information you previously provided can be retrieved, so you can easily use the National Coffee Association USA features that you customized.

Depending on your browser or device, you may have the ability to accept or decline cookies. If you choose to decline cookies, you may not be able to fully experience the interactive features of our Services, as limiting cookies and similar technologies may limit the functionality of some aspects of our Services.

National Coffee Association USA does not use or disclose sensitive personal information, such as race, religion, or political affiliations, without your explicit consent.

Please keep in mind that if you directly disclose personally identifiable information or personally sensitive data through National Coffee Association USA public message boards, this information may be collected and used by others.

National Coffee Association USA does not knowingly collect data from individuals under the age of 18.  By registering for any of our programs or purchasing any of our products, you represent that you are at least 18 years of age.  If we are made aware that personal data from an individual under the age of 18 has been collected, we will deactivate their account and take reasonable measure to promptly delete all associated personal data from our records.  If you become aware of any personal data we have collected from an individual under the age of 18 please contact us using our contact information provided below.

National Coffee Association USA secures your personal data from unauthorized access, use or disclosure. National Coffee Association USA secures the personal data you provide on computer servers in a controlled, secure environment, protected from unauthorized access, use or disclosure. When personal data (such as a credit card number) is transmitted to other Web sites, it is protected through the use of encryption. Please note, however, that despite these measures, information transmitted via the Internet is never 100% secure. Accordingly, we cannot fully guarantee the security of personal data we collect about you.

The following rights are provided to all individuals, unless otherwise stated, whose personal data we possess and process. 

All National Coffee Association USA members can manage the personal data we possess through their NCAUSA.org account preferences page.  National Coffee Association USA members can click here to sign-in and access your account.

All individuals have the right to opt-out of email marketing.  You can unsubscribe from our marketing email lists at any time by contacting us at info@ncausa.org or by clicking “unsubscribe” in the footer of any marketing email you receive from us.

If are in the European Union or European Economic Area, you have the following rights as stipulated by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Right to Access.  You have the right to access any of your personal data we hold about you.  This privacy policy clearly lists the various purposes of processing and the associated lawful basis of processing.  You can also access the personal data we hold by logging into your NCAUSA.org account and viewing your account information or by contacting us at info@ncausa.org.

Right to Rectification.  You have the right to the rectification of any inaccurate personal data we hold about you.  You can exercise this right by updating your personal data in your NCAUSA.org account page or by contacting us at info@ncausa.org.

Right to Erasure.  In certain situations, you have the right to request that your personal data be deleted from our systems.  We will respond to this request without undue delay and no longer than one month from receiving the request.  There may be certain situations where our rights and legal obligations require us to retain certain pieces of personal data.  In the event this is the case, we will clearly communicate with you what personal data we were unable to deleted and what the grounds were for us retaining this information.

You can initiate this request by contacting us at info@ncausa.org or by accessing your NCAUSA.org account and checking the box to have your data removed.

Right to Data Portability.  You have the right to request that we provide you with an extract of your data for all processing that is based on consent and carried out by automated means.  You can initiate this request by contacting us at info@ncausa.org.

Right to Withdrawal Consent. For processing that relies on consent as the lawful basis of processing, you have the right to withdraw this consent at any time.  You can initiate this request by contacting us at info@ncausa.org.

Right to Log a Complaint with a Supervisory Authority.  If you believe we are unlawfully processing your personal data, you have the right to log a complaint with your local Supervisory Authority.  You can find the contact details here.

National Coffee Association USA will occasionally update this privacy policy to reflect company and customer feedback and for compliance with applicable legal requirements. National Coffee Association USA encourages you to periodically review this privacy policy to be informed of how National Coffee Association USA collects, uses, discloses, and protects personal data.

If you have any questions or comments about this policy, you may contact us at:

National Coffee Association USA
45 Broadway, Suite 1140, New York, NY 10006
(212) 766-4007
info@ncausa.org

Last Updated: 1/13/2024

According to legend, a goat herder named Kaldi was the first person who discovered coffee beans and their benefits. Kaldi noticed that after his goats ate the cherries of a particular tree in the ancient coffee forests of the Ethiopian plateau, they were so full of energy that they didn’t want to sleep at night.

Kaldi reported his findings to the abbot of the local monastery, who struggled to stay awake during the long hours of evening prayer. The abbot made a drink with the cherries and found that it kept him alert. In other words, according to the story, the person who invented coffee did so for the most relatable reason possible.

After the abbot shared his discovery with the other monks at the monastery—sharing is caring, after all—knowledge of the energizing berries began to spread, moving east.

The business edition of coffee history began on the Arabian Peninsula, where people cultivated and traded coffee for the first time. By the 15th century, coffee was being grown in what is now Yemen, and by the 16th century it gained popularity in what we now know as Iran, Egypt, Syria, and Turkey.

At this time, you could drink coffee at home, but you might also go to one of the many public coffee houses, or qahveh khaneh, that had started popping up in cities across the region now referred to as the Middle East. At these thriving social hubs, you not only could sip your coffee and chat, but you could listen to music, watch performances, play chess, and stay current on the news. In fact, coffee houses were so vital to the exchange of information at the time that they were also known as “Schools of the Wise.”

The Arabian Peninsula attracted thousands of travelers each year, including those making the pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca. As these pilgrims traveled home, they spread the knowledge of these coffee houses and the “wine of Araby” served there.

By the 17th century, coffee had made its way to Europe and was becoming popular across the continent. 

Not everyone embraced coffee right away. Some people reacted with suspicion and fear, even going so far as to call it the “bitter invention of Satan.” When coffee came to Venice in 1615, local clergy condemned it, sparking a controversy so great that Pope Clement VIII was asked to intervene. After tasting coffee for himself, he found it so satisfying that he gave it papal approval.

Despite such controversies, European coffee houses rapidly sprang up in the major cities of England, Austria, France, Germany, and Holland, acting as major social hubs and mirroring the qahveh khaneh in the Middle East. Much like the “Schools of the Wise,” at England’s “penny universities,” you could purchase both a cup of coffee and stimulating conversation—for a penny, of course.

Until this time, the most common breakfast beverages were beer and wine—neither known for sharpening focus or productivity. As coffee became more widely available, people began drinking it to start their day instead, feeling more alert and energized and improving the quality of their work. Coffee has been working hard for working people for centuries!

By the mid-17th century, there were over 300 coffee houses in London, and many of them became “specialized” as they attracted like-minded customers. Some of these coffee houses catered to merchants, for example, while others drew in artists or brokers. Businesses even emerged from these specialized coffee houses—Lloyd’s of London, the global insurance marketplace, began at the Edward Lloyd’s Coffee House.

As demand for coffee continued to spread, there was fierce competition to produce coffee beyond Arabia. 

The Dutch finally got coffee tree seedlings in the latter half of the 17th century. Their first attempts to grow them in India failed, but they were successful with their efforts in what is now Indonesia, on the island of Java. The trees thrived and soon the Dutch had a productive and growing trade in coffee. They then expanded the cultivation of coffee trees to the islands of Sumatra and Sulawesi.

The Dutch also created the world’s first coffee blend in Indonesia, combining Arabian coffee (also called Mocha, after the famous Yemeni port city) with coffee grown on Java. This blend has endured, and you can still enjoy a fresh cup of Mocha Java today.

Nearly 200 years later, French missionaries introduced the coffee tree to Vietnam. The missionaries brought arabica trees from the island of Bourbon and planted them around Tonkin in the mid-19th century.

In 1714, the Mayor of Amsterdam presented a gift of a young coffee tree to King Louis XIV of France. The King ordered it to be planted in the Royal Botanical Garden in Paris, and in 1723, Gabriel de Clieu, a young naval officer, obtained a seedling from the king’s tree. Despite a challenging voyage featuring horrific weather, a pirate attack, and even a saboteur who tried to destroy the seedling, he managed to transport it safely to Martinique.

Once planted, the seedling thrived. We have that first coffee tree to thank for the spread of coffee throughout the Americas, including more than 18 million coffee trees that grew on the island of Martinique over the next 50 years. However, that seedling also served as the parent for all the first coffee trees in the Caribbean as well as South and Central America. Raise your mug to that hearty, groundbreaking coffee tree—we owe it a great deal!

Coffee arrived in Brazil thanks to the efforts (and charms) of Francisco de Mello Palheta, a Portuguese military officer sent by the emperor to French Guiana to get coffee seedlings. The French were not willing to share—global competition in the coffee trade was still fierce—but lucky for de Mello Palheta, he happened to be quite handsome. Captivated by him, the French Governor’s wife gave him a large bouquet of flowers before he left. Buried inside were enough coffee seeds to begin what is today a billion-dollar industry in Brazil.

In the mid-1600s, coffee was brought to what is now New York City. Though coffee houses emerged and grew in popularity over the next century, tea was still the favored drink in the New World until King George III imposed a heavy tax on it in 1773. As you probably know, the tax ignited significant protest and led to the revolt known as the Boston Tea Party. As you may not know, that event didn’t just change the course of American history—it forever changed Americans’ beverage preference to coffee. 

Coffee continued its march around the world as missionaries, traders, colonists, and other travelers carried coffee seeds—and a taste for the beverage. During this time, the history of coffee paints a picture that is sweeping and dramatic. People planted coffee in the soils of magnificent tropical forests and rugged mountain highlands. Some crops thrived, while others withered. Fortunes were made and lost. New nations were founded on coffee economies alone. So much rested on such small, yet powerful, beans.

By the dawn of the 19^th century, coffee was established as one of the world’s most profitable export crops. It was one of the most sought-after commodities in the world, second only to crude oil. In other words, you could find coffee at the center of global society—as you still can today!

Coffee—and the way we drink it—has continued to evolve. In the 20^th and 21^st centuries, we’ve seen several “waves” of coffee that represent both a type of coffee and an accompanying shift in coffee culture. The first wave of coffee arose as industrialization allowed for mass production. This is the coffee that first hit the shelves of grocery stores, and it provided functionality and convenience. Individuals, restaurants and other businesses could buy this coffee, sold in bulk and mostly pre-ground, and make it daily. There was little focus on origin, and few people in the U.S. even realized coffee grows on trees!

The second wave of coffee came with the rise of the coffee chains and brands, now ubiquitous in our global culture. With modern coffee shops—our equivalent of the coffee houses of previous centuries—a new coffee culture began to emerge, placing a greater emphasis not only on the quality of the coffee, but the experience. These social hubs allowed more people to experiment with new types of coffee, coffee drinks, and flavors—and to savor them.

As coffee drinkers began to develop more sophisticated palates, a third wave emerged—and this coffee is now often referred to as specialty coffee. This term can refer to many different types of coffee, but broadly, this wave represents a new level of quality, interest, and exploration. Coffee drinkers began looking for specific flavor profiles and single-origin coffees, as well as trying different roasts and brewing methods such as pour-over and French press. Interest in sustainability and transparency in coffee production also grew during this wave. And, new options have continued to emerge, such as ready-to-drink (RTD) coffee. This pre-made, refrigerated coffee is sold in a can or bottle and offers convenience for grabbing coffee on the go. We’re still learning and experimenting!

If all this history leaves you thirsty for more info on coffee, check out our modern coffee-growing regions— including those spotlighted above—and the lifecycle of coffee today.

Cold brewing extracts at a lower temperature and generally for a longer time than conventional hot water brewing methods. However, steeping times for cold brewing can vary significantly, from as little as a few minutes to 12–18+ hours overnight. Once brewed, cold brew coffee can be served immediately or chilled in the refrigerator.

Brewing coffee without using heat, over a longer period of time, affects the coffee grounds differently, giving you a smoother, more mellow cup. The cold brewing process also allows you to make a stronger cold brew concentrate, which is designed to be diluted with water or enjoyed with ice, even as it melts.

You can use any type of coffee beans you prefer with this brewing method! Here’s how to make cold brew coffee so that you get the best freshness and flavor—with tweaks that can help you find your perfect cup.

To make cold brew coffee, you will need:

If you’d like more simplicity and convenience in the brewing process, you can use a cold brew maker. These devices combine the container and filter in one convenient gadget. While there are a greater variety of fairly simple, manual brewers, you can also find more complex, electric brewers that may even make multiple types of coffee. Before you start shopping, here are a few key factors to keep in mind—and questions to ask yourself.

You can use a carafe, jar, or another plastic or glass container—anything in your kitchen that can hold coffee and water will be fine. A French press or Mason jar can make for an aesthetically pleasing option, too.

For cold brew, if your brewer doesn’t come with a filter (or you are using a French press with a built-in filter), you’ll need to provide one. As with any brewing method, you’ll need to check the instructions for your coffee brewer to see exactly what types of filters it can support. Cloth is the most common material for cold brew coffee filters, though some brewers do support the use of paper filters for additional filtration.

Many cold brew makers use cloth filters or filter bags. Cloth filters tend to absorb more oils and sediments than a metal filter but less than paper filters. They often create a smoother taste. Cloth filters are reusable, which offers benefits to your budget and the environment, but they do need to be cleaned carefully. Rinse and dry cloth filters thoroughly; you can use mild detergent to wash if preferred. Every six to eight weeks, boil the filters in fresh water for 10 minutes.

No matter what type of filter you use, be sure it’s the right size for your cold brew maker or container. If the filter bunches up, it can prevent the water from flowing evenly and cause channeling, where coffee grounds get trapped on the sides of the filter.

Generally, paper filters absorb more of the oils in coffee, which can contribute to a cleaner, lighter taste. If you want to experiment with paper filters, you can try out different thicknesses, materials, and densities (how closely the fibers are knitted together) to see what works best with your preferred coffee and flavors.

One of the biggest debates in the coffee-loving world is whether to use bleached or unbleached paper filters. Bleached paper filters are whitened, like most paper we use, while unbleached filters are not, requiring less processing. Unbleached paper filters are therefore considered by many to be slightly better for the environment—but they can create an unpleasant, papery taste. (Some bleached paper filters may leave a similar taste, to be fair). It’s an easy fix, however: just rinse any paper filter before brewing.

Using a digital scale to measure your coffee and water will help you make more consistent cold brew coffee—and keep track of what worked well (or not) for you so you can keep adjusting and experimenting.

While you can buy and use ground coffee, buying whole coffee beans and grinding them immediately before brewing guarantees maximum freshness.

There are two types of grinders: burr (or mill) grinders and blade grinders. We recommend using a burr grinder—whether at home or where you buy your coffee beans.

Whichever grinder you choose, always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations while using it, and be mindful of any necessary safety considerations.

The size of your coffee grind makes a significant impact on the taste of your coffee. Knowing how to grind coffee beans starts with your brewing method. If you’re having your coffee ground where you buy it, just decide in advance how you plan to brew it.

As a general rule, the longer the coffee is in contact with water during the brewing process, the coarser the grind should be. That’s why espresso, which brews in seconds, requires a fine coffee grind, while cold brew, which can take hours to prepare, typically requires a coarse grind.

To find the best cold brew coffee grind size, start with a coarse grind, then adjust as needed to brew your perfect cup.

If you’re not getting the taste you prefer—or if you just want to experiment with your coffee grind—try adjusting in one of two ways.

Making cold brew coffee is a simple and straightforward process that results in a smooth and mellow cup. There are three consistent elements of how to make cold brew coffee you’ll love:

Your experience will differ depending on whether you use a cold brew maker or are brewing manually. Here are three approaches for how to make cold brew coffee and some of the basic steps for each.

Fully Hands-on Approach

Less Hands-On Approaches

With some cold brew makers, you grind your coffee and pour it into a porous filter bag or mesh stainless steel filter basket. Then, you pour the water into the container and let it sit and steep as directed above. Once your coffee is brewed, you won’t need to strain it—you just remove the filter bag or basket, discard the used coffee grounds and enjoy your cold brew.

For even greater convenience, you can choose a cold brew maker that uses prefilled and sealed cachets of coffee, which saves the steps of grinding and pouring your coffee, and you can simply discard the used cachet after brewing.

It’s important to clean your equipment and tools after each use, following the instructions specific to your cold brew equipment.

Generally speaking, clean all containers once you’re finished using them, including washing and rinsing any reusable filters. Any coffee grounds and coffee oil (caffeol) that lingers can make your next cup taste bitter. Future you will be grateful!

Feeling refreshed from all this cold brew coffee? Experiment with other coffee brewing methods like drip, pour-over, espresso, and French press.

Safety should always be a top priority when preparing, serving, or drinking any hot beverage—please take all necessary precautions! Be sure to follow all the specific instructions for use, cleaning, storage and maintenance provided with your brewing equipment and tools (including but not limited to brewing machines and devices, grinders, kettles, scales and filters). Be mindful of how hot liquids and equipment may get during the brewing process, and if you grind your coffee, be particularly careful with the sharp blades.

Among all the other coffees you can make at home, what is French press coffee known for? Bold flavor and a full body—and the longer the brew time, the bolder your final cup will be. Coffees with a medium to dark roast tend to work well in a French press, but you can experiment with different roasts to find what you like best.

Here’s how to make French press coffee so that you get the best freshness and flavor—with tweaks that can help you find your perfect cup.

To make French press coffee, you will need:

A French press includes a cylindrical carafe, a plunger, and a built-in filter that percolates the coffee. While it’s a fairly simple brewing device, there are still a wide variety of options out there to consider.

When considering what type of French press to buy, start by considering the materials used. You can choose between glass, stoneware, plastic, and metal French presses, and for glass and metal, you have single- and double-walled options. The double-walled options maintain a more consistent temperature throughout the brewing, which makes for higher-quality coffee, and, after brewing, keep the coffee hot for longer.

As you compare these options, you’ll also want to consider durability. Which material will hold up best when you’re making coffee while still waking up (and not at your most coordinated)?

Here are a few other key factors to keep in mind—and questions to ask yourself.

You can use standard electric or stove-top kettles to make French press coffee. If you’re using a kettle that does not have a built-in thermometer, plan to have one on hand—the ideal water temperature for a French press is around 93 ± 3°C.

You also can boil water on the stove or in the microwave, but it’s harder to control the temperature, which can affect the quality of the coffee.

Using a digital scale to measure your coffee and water will help you brew more consistent French press coffee—and keep track of what worked well (or not) for you so you can keep adjusting and experimenting.

While you can buy and use ground coffee, buying whole coffee beans and grinding them immediately before brewing guarantees maximum freshness.

There are two types of grinders: burr (or mill) grinders and blade grinders. We recommend using a burr grinder—whether at home or where you buy your coffee beans.

Whichever grinder you choose, always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations while using it, and be mindful of any necessary safety considerations.

The size of your coffee grind makes a significant impact on the taste of your coffee. Knowing how to grind coffee beans starts with your brewing method. If you’re having your coffee ground where you buy it, just decide in advance how you plan to brew it.

As a general rule, the longer the coffee is in contact with water during the brewing process, the coarser the grind should be. That’s why espresso, which brews in seconds, requires a fine coffee grind, while cold brew, which may take hours to prepare, typically requires a coarse grind.

To find the best French press coffee grind size, start with a coarse grind, then adjust as needed to brew your perfect cup.

If you’re not getting the taste you prefer—or if you just want to experiment with your coffee grind—try adjusting in one of two ways.

Making French press coffee is a simple and straightforward process that results in a robust, satisfying cup. There are three consistent elements of how to make French press coffee you’ll love:

Here are the general steps for how to make French press coffee, which you can adapt to suit your device and preferences.

It’s important to clean your equipment and tools after each use, following the instructions specific to your French press.

Generally speaking, clean your entire French press after each use, including disassembling and washing the filter. Any coffee grounds and coffee oil (caffeol) left on the device can make your next cup taste bitter. Future you will be grateful!

Have you perfected your French press technique? Explore other coffee brewing methods like drip, pour-over, espresso, and cold brew.

Safety should always be a top priority when preparing, serving, or drinking any hot beverage—please take all necessary precautions! Be sure to follow all the specific instructions for use, cleaning, storage and maintenance provided with your brewing equipment and tools (including but not limited to brewing machines and devices, grinders, kettles, scales and filters). Be mindful of how hot liquids and equipment may get during the brewing process, and if you grind your coffee, be particularly careful with the sharp blades.