We love to start our day with a good cup of coffee, and our absolute favorite is roasted by Exo coffee– so we asked their owners, Amy and Doug, for their advice for brewing a barista worthy cup of coffee at home.
For the best tasting cup of joe, Amy and Doug recommend using a pour over coffee maker rather than a drip coffee machine. The magic is in the bloom, which is when you slowly pour hot water over the grounds in a circular motion to release all those delicious complex aromatics.
We prefer to use a Chemex carafe, so that’s what we provide for our guests here at The JTH– but this method can be adapted for any pour over. While specialty equipment like a scale and burr grinder can be helpful, it’s not necessary have either. Read on to discover just how easy it is to brew the perfect cup of coffee:
What You’ll Need
- Good quality coffee beans (use code JTHEXO for 15% one time bean orders or subscriptions at Exo!)
- Kettle (gooseneck is not necessary but it is helpful, here’s one we like if you are in the market)
- Pourover coffee maker (we prefer to use a Chemex)
- Coffee mugs (At the inn we use mugs by Ursula Basinger, and in Joshua Tree we use mugs by Eastfork)
- Filter (We use a fine mesh reusable filter, but a paper one will work just fine.)
- Grinder
- 1/4 cup measure
How to Brew
- BOIL | Bring water to a boil. Filtered water is preferable for the best taste, but tap will work in a pinch.
- PREPARE | Set a reusable mesh filter in the Chemex funnel with the multi edge side toward the spout.
- PREHEAT | Pour hot water in a circular motion to completely saturate the filter and preheat the glass. Empty the water from the preheat. (It’s okay to leave the filter in place.)
- GRIND | Use 1/2 cup of beans to make 2 cups of coffee, grind to the consistency of coarse sand.
- BLOOM | Place the grounds in the Chemex filter and level off. Pour hot water (let it cool for a minute or two after boiling to avoid burning your grounds) in a circular motion to saturate all the grounds.
- BREW | Begin pouring the water again, slowly and evenly, until all of your water is gone (3-4 minutes). Let the water run through completely, and then discard the filter.
- STIR | Use a spoon to mix, making sure there are no dry clumps of coffee, and then wait (45 seconds).
- ENJOY | Pour the coffee into your favorite mugs, and find a cozy spot to enjoy with friends and family.
Where to Find Exo Coffee
If you’re staying with us in either Tucson or Joshua Tree, you’ll find Exo beans stocked in the kitchen along with everything else you’ll need to brew your perfect cup of pour over coffee.
In Tucson, we recommend visiting Exo‘s Simpson street location. It is located in a historic adobe building in Barrio Viejo, a historic neighborhood that makes for an inspiring walk. We love popping by for a cup of coffee or golden milk chai in the morning, or in the evenings when they become a Mezcal bar called Crisol.
If you’re not in Tucson, you can order Exo beans online (use code JTHEXO for 15% one time bean orders or subscriptions)
You may also like:
Prickly Pear Ranch Water Recipe with Westbound Tap & Bottle, A Family Friendly Guide to Tucson, The Joshua Tree House’s Ideal Weekend in Tucson for Visit Tucson
