A consistent cup of coffee depends on a few variables: grind size, water temperature, dose, and brew time. Finer grinds extract faster but can turn bitter if the water is too hot. A common starting ratio is sixty grams of coffee per liter of water, adjusted to taste. Pour-over methods need a steady hand and a flat bed of grounds, while immersion methods like the French press are more forgiving. Storing beans in an airtight container away from light preserves flavor longer than leaving them in the bag.