Espresso Machine Guide
The 18g-in, 36g-out rule that turns a home machine into a café shot
- Dose
- 18g in, 36g out
- Shot
- 25-33 sec
- Grind
- Fine
Best with Darkfire Energy
Home / Brewing Guides
Brew guides
Brew better coffee at home
Pick your method. Each guide gives you the dose, grind and timing our baristas use, step by step.
Espresso
Short, strong and intense
Moka Pot Guide
Rich, strong coffee straight off the hob, in under five minutes
- Ratio
- 60g : 1L
- Brew
- Under 5 min
- Grind
- Medium-fine
Best with Darkfire Energy
Aeropress Guide
One smooth cup in 90 seconds, pressed by hand at the counter
- Dose
- 16.5g : 250ml
- Brew
- 90 sec
- Grind
- Medium-fine
Best with Stability Blend
Filter
Bright, clean cups, by hand or machine
Hario V60 Guide
Bloom it first, pour it slowly, and get a clean, bright cup
- Ratio
- 15g : 250g
- Brew
- 2.5-3 min
- Bloom
- 20-30 sec
Best with Aurora Single Origin
Chemex Guide
Pour-over built for sharing, two to four cups from one carafe
- Ratio
- 15g : 250g
- Brew
- 4-5 min
- Grind
- Medium-fine
Best with Single Origin Bundle
Cafetiere Guide
The plunge-and-pour details the other recipes leave out
- Ratio
- 30g : 500g
- Brew
- 6-10 min
- Grind
- Coarse
Best with Darkfire Energy
Machines & Pods
Bean-to-cup, filter machines and pods
Bean-to-Cup Machine Guide
Dial the grind in once, then press go every morning after
- Beans
- Whole
- Grind
- Set on dial
- Clean
- Weekly
Best with Darkfire Energy
Filter Coffee Machine Guide
The grind and the water that make a full jug taste right
- Grind
- Medium
- Water
- Filtered
- Serves
- A full jug
Best with Aurora Single Origin
Coffee Pods Guide
Get more from every pod, from cup size to machine setting
- Cup size
- 30-60ml
- Brew
- 20s-2 min
- System
- Original
Best with Stability Pods
Mushroom & Iced
Lion's Mane, iced coffee and cold brew
Only at Balance
Mushroom Coffee Guide
How we brew Lion's Mane coffee in a cafetiere, step by step
- Ratio
- 15g : 250g
- Brew
- 6-10 min
- Brewer
- Cafetiere
Best with Lion's Mane Coffee
Iced Coffee Guide
Iced latte or iced filter, built properly over plenty of ice
- Dose
- 30g
- Ice
- 180g
- Water
- 270ml
Best with Stability Blend
Cold Brew Guide
Steep it overnight and wake up to a smooth, chilled cup
- Ratio
- 1:8
- Steep
- 12-24 hrs
- Grind
- Coarse
Best with Darkfire Energy
Which coffee fits your day?
A few questions on your routine and the energy you want, and we'll match your blend.