Specialty coffee feels like a lot of new information at first: origin, roast level, grind, ratios. With this five-day plan, you do one thing each day. By the end of the week, you'll make a cup that you taste more consciously. The plan assumes filter coffee, for example with a V60.

Day 1: read the bag

Look at the origin, the roast level, and the tasting notes. That tells you what to expect in your cup. Not sure what it all means? Read how to read a coffee bag.

Day 2: weigh everything

Weigh your coffee and your water. A good starting point is 15 grams of coffee to 250 grams of water. This way, you can exactly replicate the cup later. Read more about ratios in brew ratios explained.

Day 3: grind just before brewing

For filter coffee, grind medium-coarse, about like turbinado sugar. Grind just before brewing: ground coffee loses aroma faster than whole beans. Read why in why fresh grinding is essential.

Day 4: taste consciously

Take time for your first sips. Is the coffee sweet, sour, or bitter? Find one word that fits. More words to get started with can be found in what do you taste in specialty coffee?

Day 5: change one thing

Does the coffee taste too sour? Then grind it a bit finer. Does it taste too bitter? Then grind it a bit coarser. Only change one thing at a time, so you know what the effect is. Read which grind fits which brewing method in best grind size per brewing method.

And then?

Brew the same coffee again and compare. Then try a different coffee and see what difference you taste. This way, you slowly build up your own palate.

Ready to taste?

• Choose a coffee from our specialty coffees.
• Not sure which coffee suits you? Read which coffee suits me?
• Make your first V60 with a V60 in five steps.