How does Starbucks brew its coffee?
In this brief guide, we are going to answer the question “how does Starbucks brew its coffee” with an in-depth analysis of different brewing techniques that Starbucks uses. Moreover, we are going to discuss tips to brew a cup of coffee just like Starbucks.
So without much ado, let’s dive in and figure out more about it.
How does Starbucks brew its coffee?
Starbucks brews its coffee using the four methods, the pour-over, the iced pour-over, the coffee press, and the coffee brewer.
Coffee brewer
This is the most basic brewing technique used by Starbucks. Simply place 2 tbsp of medium ground coffee and 6 ounces of water in the brewer, and that’s all there is to it.
To push water through the coffee grounds, freshly brewed drip coffee employs gravity rather than force. Many of the grounds dissolve in the hot water, which then travels through a paper, cloth, or metal filter and into a glass or carafe, ready to drink. Instead of the powerful flavor of espresso, your chosen beans provide more subtle flavor subtleties.
Check out the best Starbucks coffee beans.
Pour-over
To make a great cup of coffee using the pour-over method, heat water from 195 °F to 205 °F. So you’ll need to pre-moisten your filter paper with some of the warm water. Add 2 tbsp finely ground coffee per 6 ounces of water on filter paper.
Pour enough water into the cone to fill it halfway and set it aside for 10 seconds. Afterward, slowly pour in the remaining water, and you’ve got yourself a wonderful cup of coffee.
Iced Pour-over
The procedure is identical to that of the pour-over technique. The only difference is that you add the ice cubes to the coffee after you have completed all of the pour-over coffee brewing stages.
Thus, heat water from 195 °F to 205 °F. So you’ll need to pre-moisten your filter paper with some of the warm water. Add 2 tbsp finely ground coffee per 6 ounces of water on filter paper.
Pour enough water into the cone to fill it halfway and set it aside for 10 seconds. Afterward, slowly pour in the remaining water, add ice cubes to it, and voila! Your iced pour-over coffee is ready.
Check the best Starbucks iced tea.
Coffee Press
So all you have to do is put 2 tbsp of coarse ground coffee in the press and add 6 ounces of boiling water. So, replace the plunger in the press and allow the coffee to brew in the hot water for around 4 minutes. After that, simply press the plunger all the way to the bottom, and you’re done! You’ve got a great cup of coffee.
Tips to keep in mind to brew a cup of coffee like Starbucks
Using the right proportion of water and coffee
When it comes to Starbucks coffee, the use of the proper proportions of coffee and water works wonders. To prepare a cup of wonderful and calming coffee that tastes and smells exactly like Starbucks coffee, use 2 tbsps or 10 grams of coffee and 6 ounces of water.
According to one of the Starbucks Coffee Education Team members, adding some extra ground coffee may result in the under-extraction of the coffee grounds, and coffee grounds that have not been properly processed will not have the same rich flavor. Using fewer coffee grounds can result in over-extraction, which will result in a bitter taste. So the magic lies in using the right amount of coffee grounds.
Grinding the coffee beans properly
So, if you want your coffee to taste and smell just like Starbucks coffee, it is best to buy roasted coffee beans and grind them yourself so that they are at their peak freshness.
The reason for this is that ground coffee has a bigger surface area, which means it will take less time for the delicate volatile compounds and oils (responsible for the coffee’s flavor and aroma) to fade away. Because of their smaller surface area, whole coffee beans keep these delicate oils and tastes for much longer.
So to which extent you should grind the coffee depends mainly on the type of brewing method that you are targeting.
| Coffee brewing technique | Particle size |
| Coffee press | Coarse grind |
| Pour-over | Fine grind |
| Drip coffee | Medium ground coffee |
| Iced Pour-over | Fine grind |
You can even go for the blends that are available at Starbucks to brew a cup of coffee that tastes exactly like that of Starbucks coffee and that too without doing any extra labor.
Use fresh filtered water
So you should always use fresh filtered water. Moreover, you should heat it from around 195 °F to 205 °F which is the ideal temperature when it comes to hot-brew your coffee.
Use fresh coffee beans
So the fresher the coffee beans are the more flavorsome and aromatic coffee you can brew from them.
You can read how to make iced peach green tea lemonade here.
Other FAQs about Coffee that you may be interested in.
What is the best temperature for pour-over coffee?
What is the best Tim Hortons coffee?
Which is the best Trader Joe’s coffee?
Conclusion
In this brief guide, we answered the question “how does Starbucks brew its coffee” with an in-depth analysis of different brewing techniques that Starbucks uses. Moreover, we discussed tips to brew a cup of coffee just like Starbucks.
