Opinion is divided among espresso fans, but many do prefer a significant amount of robusta.

Keep in mind that it’s much easier for a roaster to ruin the flavor with a fully dark roast. Medium-dark roasts (including Vienna and Full-City roasts) also make a strong brew, but tend to have more complex flavor overtones as well.

This has no effect on caffeine levels. To keep the beans fresh, store in an airtight container away from light, at room temperature. Try a ceramic container with a metal and rubber latch.

If you make the grind too fine, you’ll extract overpowering bitter flavors. Typically, a medium grind (beach sand consistency) works well for drip brewing, and a coarse grind (kosher salt) is best for a French press or other long extraction method. [6] X Research source The finer the grind, the more likely you are to end up with grounds at the bottom of your cup. You can swirl these in, sip at the end for a strong kick, or just leave the last few drops.

As a rough measurement, use a 30 mL (2 tbsp) scoop of coffee grounds for 180 mL (6 ounces) water. Volume measurements are less accurate, so you may not get a consistent strength each time. The extreme fringe of strong coffee fans uses a ratio of 2. 5 to 6, but most people will find this much too overpowering and caffeinated. [8] X Research source 1 milliliter of water weighs 1 gram, so you can measure the water with a metric measuring cup without changing the math.

Do not raise temperature about 205ºF (96ºC), or you will burn the coffee and lose flavor. If you’re more than 4,000 feet (1200 meters) above sea level, pour the water as soon as it boils.

For more detail, read our articles on French press, pour over coffee, or coffee makers.

The AeroPress makes coffee on the strong side, as a French press does, but is much faster to use. Turkish coffee is made with fine grounds left in the cup, making the strongest coffee you can have short of espresso. Cold brew coffee creates a strong cup without some of the unpleasant flavors from over-extraction. This can take 24 hours.