With your morning cup of coffee, you seek a rich, complex flavor profile to jumpstart your day. Yet an ordinary drip brew fails to unlock the subtle notes and aromas locked inside the bean. By using a 7-brew method, however, you can coax out the intricate layers of taste that make a truly exceptional cup of coffee. In this article, you’ll learn how to master the 7-brew coffee technique to draw out the natural sweetness, acidity, and aroma of your favorite roast. We’ll cover choosing the right beans, grinding for each immersion, and brewing times and temperatures to blend and highlight each flavor layer. Follow this guide to become a 7-brew pro and start each day with a symphony of coffee complexity in your cup.
What Is 7-Brew Coffee?
7-brew coffee, also known as septuple-brewed coffee, is a labor-intensive method of coffee preparation that produces an intensely flavored brew. To make 7-brew coffee, baristas combine seven different brewing techniques – each building upon the last – to create a complex final product.
The Brewing Process
The 7-brew process begins with a pour-over, where hot water is slowly dripped over coffee grounds. The resulting brew is then used to make cold brew coffee, which infuses the coffee grounds in cold or room temperature water for 12-24 hours.
Combining Multiple Methods
Next, the cold brew is pressure-infused using a vacuum coffee maker, where vapor pressure and vacuum suction brew the coffee. The concentrate from the vacuum pot is then used to make Turkish coffee, which is finely ground coffee boiled in a pot with water and sugar.
The Turkish coffee is percolated to produce a fuller-bodied brew. It is then processed in a Moka pot, a stovetop espresso maker that produces rich, concentrated coffee. Finally, the Moka pot coffee is used to extract an espresso shot in an espresso machine.
The result of this complex process is an intensely flavored yet surprisingly smooth coffee with notes of molasses, cocoa, and spice. 7-brew coffee highlights the diversity of flavors that can be extracted from a single batch of beans using different techniques. For the adventurous coffee connoisseur, 7-brew coffee offers an unparalleled coffee experience.
How to Brew the 7 Layers of Flavor
To master the art of 7-brew coffee, you must understand how to extract the complex layers of flavor from the beans.### Grinding
The grind size directly impacts the flavor and brewing time. For 7-brew coffee, use a medium grind that resembles granulated sugar. This grind exposes more surface area of the beans, allowing for maximum flavor extraction.
Blooming
After grinding the beans, add the grounds to your filter or French press. Pour in just enough hot water to saturate the grounds, about 2 fluid ounces per 4 tablespoons of grounds. Let sit for 30 seconds so the grounds can “bloom” by releasing built-up CO2.
Pouring
After blooming, slowly pour in the remaining water in a circular motion. For a French press, fill with the remaining water. For a pour-over, complete the pour within 2 to 3 minutes total. The slower pour and bloom time allow the water to fully extract the oils and solubles that give coffee its distinctive flavor notes.
Stirring and Plunging
For French press coffee, plunge the filter after 3 to 4 minutes of steeping. For pour-over, gently stir the top crust with a spoon once done pouring.
Serving
Serve the coffee immediately while still hot to experience the layers of flavor. The 7 layers unfold on your palate one by one, transitioning from floral to spicy to nutty notes. Savor each sip to appreciate the complexity that can only come from mastering the 7-brew method. With some practice, you’ll be enjoying the subtle nuances of your favorite beans in no time.
Tips for Perfecting Your 7-Brew Coffee
Choose Fresh Whole Beans
For the best flavor, start with fresh whole beans and grind them right before brewing. Whole beans stay fresh longer and grinding releases oils that can go stale quickly. For 7-brew coffee, using fresh beans is essential to developing the complex flavors in each layer.
Measure Carefully
With 7 layers of coffee, precision is key. Carefully measure out the proper amount of freshly ground beans for each brewing method. Too much or too little coffee can result in overpowering or weak layers. Use digital scales to ensure an accurate ratio of beans to water for the best extraction.
Control Water Temperature
The ideal water temperature depends on the brewing method and grind size. For 7-brew coffee, you’ll use a range of temperatures for different layers. Pour-over methods typically use 195-205°F water, while French press uses 185-195°F. Colder water results in less extraction, while hotter water pulls out more flavor compounds. Controlling water temperature is key to highlighting the flavors you want in each layer.
Stir and Sip Slowly
Stir the combined layers thoroughly before serving to evenly distribute the flavors. When drinking, take slow sips and pay close attention to how the flavor profile evolves with each layer. The subtleties of different origins and roasts will come through as you make your way from top to bottom. Savoring 7-brew coffee is an experience unto itself.
By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to crafting a perfect cup of 7-brew coffee. Fresh beans, precise measuring, controlled water temperature, and slowing down to appreciate each layer are the keys to mastering this intricate coffee experience. Sip and enjoy!
FAQ’s
What are the 7 layers of brewing in 7-brew coffee?
The 7-brew coffee method involves brewing coffee through 7 different layers using specific techniques and parameters for each layer to produce a complex flavor profile. The layers are:
- Light roast – Produces acidic, fruity flavors. Beans are lightly roasted to preserve brightness.
- Medium roast – Balanced, smooth flavor with subtle nutty notes. Beans are roasted to a medium level.
- Dark roast – Deep, smoky flavor with hints of chocolate. Beans are roasted longer for a dark, oily bean.
- Cold brew – Smooth, naturally sweet flavor. Grounds are steeped in cold or room temperature water for 12-24 hours.
- Pour over – Clean, crisp flavor. Hot water is poured over grounds in a filter.
- French press – Full-bodied, robust flavor. Grounds are steeped in hot water and filtered.
- Espresso – Intense, concentrated flavor. Finely ground beans are brewed under high pressure.
How do the different layers produce the final flavor profile?
Each layer contributes distinct flavor notes that combine to produce a multi-dimensional cup of coffee. The light, medium and dark roasts provide a roasted base. Cold brew and pour over add brightness. French press contributes body. Espresso enhances intensity. When blended in the proper proportions, the layers create a symphony of flavors in each sip.
What type of coffee beans are used?
High quality, specialty grade Arabica beans are carefully selected and blended to suit the flavor profile of 7-brew coffee. Different bean origins are chosen for each layer to highlight the unique characteristics imparted by the terroir. The specific bean blends used are proprietary to each roaster but may include beans from Central America, East Africa, Indonesia and beyond.
In summary, 7-brew coffee utilizes multiple brewing techniques, precisely crafted bean blends and carefully controlled parameters for each layer to produce an exceptionally flavorful cup of coffee. The complexity and depth of flavors achieved make 7-brew coffee a uniquely rewarding coffee experience for any enthusiast.
Conclusion
As you master the 7-brew process, keep in mind that patience and precision are key. Perfecting the timing, temperature, and technique for each layer will reward you with a symphony of flavors in every cup. Though it requires care and effort upfront, immersing yourself in the meditative process of 7-brew coffee will enrich your mornings. Let the aroma envelop you as you savor the fruit notes in the filter brew, the chocolate of the plunger, the spice of the espresso. Soon this ritual will become second nature. Mastering the layers will attune your palate to flavors you never noticed before. In the end, it’s about mindful appreciation of the bean. Take your time. Taste. Learn. And enjoy your daily journey to coffee nirvana.
