Coffee Basics
New to Specialty Coffee...You're in the Right Place.
Specialty coffee doesn't have to be complicated. Whether you are just beginning to explore better coffee options at home or you simply want to know what all those roast levels, grind sizes and brewing methods mean, Wild Revival Coffee Co. is here to help!
Think of this as your starting point - a simple guide to help you understand your options, find what you love, have the confidence to experiment and brew a cup you'll be proud of.
Wild coffee. Real connections. Rooted in community.
Roast Levels
There's no right or wrong choice
Roast level has a big influence on how your coffee tastes. From lighter and brighter to darker and bolder, each roast brings something different to your cup. There is no right or wrong choice - it's about finding what you enjoy. Let's break it down to the basics. Nothing fancy here, just some nuggets of information.
Light
Coffee beans are roasted to an internal temperature typically between 350-400° F. Light roasting preserves more of the bean's flavors as opposed to the flavors acquired during the roasting process. This coffee is more acidic, so sensitive stomachs would do better with a darker roast. Fun fact: contrary to popular belief, lighter roasts have a slightly higher caffeine content.
Medium
For a medium roast, coffee beans are roasted until the internal temperature reaches between 410-430° F. This is the most commonly purchased roast level because it balances out the acidity of a light roast with the smokiness of a dark. If you aren't sure where to start in your journey, you can't go wrong with a medium roast. We personally find them to generally be pretty smooth and lacking that bitter coffee flavor.
Medium/Dark
The internal temperature for a medium/dark roast falls between 425-440° F. This roast level provides a full-bodied flavor with lower acidity and is slightly bittersweet. It has more of a bite than a medium roast. Great for making espresso and enjoying in a latte.
Dark
The level definitely varies when you factor in French and Italian roasts (on the higher end), but the internal temp ranges between 440-480° F. The higher the internal temperature gets, you get more of a smoky and bitter flavor that comes through. Go too high and the sugars and oils begin to burn, creating a charcoal like taste.
Grind
An Important Role in How Your Coffee Brews
Choosing the correct grind size depends heavily on your brewing method of choice. The size of the grind will affect how long water has to extract the flavor compounds from your coffee beans. Let's go over each grind that we offer and how it is best utilized.
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Whole Bean
Unaltered, roasted coffee. Delicious coated in chocolate as a candy or for infusing coffee flavors into syrups and cocktails. -
Drip Ground
A medium size grind that is perfect for drip coffee machines. This is a very commonly used grind.
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Coarse Ground
This grind is a bit chunkier than that of a drip grind, almost like a sea salt. The larger particles mean that it's perfect for a steeping method of brewing such as a French Press or Cold Brew. A larger grind size means less surface area exposed to water, which in turn equals more time needed for extraction.
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Fine Ground
Fine ground coffee is more of a powdery texture. It is ideal for espresso because the smaller particle size allows for a faster extraction of flavors.
Brewing Methods
Brew It Your Way
There are many ways to brew a great cup of coffee, and each method brings out something a little different. From the convenience of a drip coffee maker, to the rich, full-bodied flavor of a French Press. Finding a brewing method is simply finding the one that fits your taste, routine and creates moments you look forward to. These are by all means NOT a complete list. We wanted to pull together the most commonly used at home brewing methods to make getting started a little bit easier on you.
Automatic Drip
A familiar favorite, drip coffee makers heat water and distribute it over coffee grounds in a filter. It's a simple, convenient way to brew a consistent pot. This is what you will find in most household kitchens.
Pour Over
A pour over brew involves hot water being poured slowly over coffee grounds in a filter. It slowly makes its way through the grinds and filter into your coffee cup. A great "next step" in your coffee journey if you are ready to explore beyond your drip coffee machine.
Espresso
Espresso is brewed by forcing hot water through finely ground coffee particles under pressure. The result is a concentrated shot with a bold flavor and a layer of crema, making it the foundation for favorites like lattes, cappuccinos and americanos.
French Press
French Pressed coffee steeps grounds directly in hot water before a plunger separates them from the finished brew. The result is a rich, full-bodied cup with more of the natural oils and texture of the coffee.
Cold Brew
Cold Brew and iced coffee often get intertwined, though the process is very different. Cold Brew is made by steeping coarse ground coffee beans in cold or room temperature water for an extended period. This slow process creates a smooth coffee with a naturally mellow flavor that's delicious over ice.
Iced Coffee
Where cold brew is steeped in cold water, iced coffee is brewed hot and then chilled. It can be brewed directly over ice or cooled after brewing to preserve the familiar flavor of traditional coffee in a chilled form. Enjoy it black or customize it with your favorite milk, cream and/or syrups.
Wild coffee. Real connections. Rooted in community.