Avoca Coffee is a DFW favorite, and it is easy to see why. Their coffee brings people from all over the Metroplex to the Near Southside shop, but sometimes the drive is just too much. In order to help coffee enthusiasts make a better cup in the comfort of their homes, Avoca offers coffee brewing and roasting classes by instructors Garold LaRue III and Jimmy Story. There are a variety of classes to suit multiple interests and price points, and anyone is welcome to come. From learning the techniques of pour overs and cold brews to roasting the single origin beans or just learning more about where coffee comes from, the craftsmen at Avoca seek to create a passionate and educated coffee culture.
I asked Garold and Jimmy to share their wisdom on how to brew the perfect cup at home, and they explained the steps to make a pour over. It is a simple way to make a great cup of coffee and allows the brewer to control the various steps in order to make it his or her own.
Tools Required: a cone, filter, coffee, grinder, water and a mug.
1. Place the filter in the cone and place on top of your mug. Pre-wet the filter with hot water to wash away the paper taste and pre-warm the mug, discarding water when finished.
2. Using a 17:1 ratio of water to coffee, finely grind your coffee beans and heat your water to 210 degrees (use a thermometer!).
3. Add ground coffee to filter and slowly pour just enough water to wet and cover all the grounds. This will allow the coffee to "bloom," where it visibly puffs up and releases carbon dioxide gases. This is an essential step to achieving a better-tasting cup.
4. Next, add half of your water to the grounds, allowing the brewed coffee to drip into the mug below. Add the remaining half after most of the water has dripped away. When your mug is full, remove the cone and enjoy!-Kacie Galloway
