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The water you use is very important to the quality of your coffee. Use filtered or bottled water if your tap water is not good or has a strong odor or taste, such as chlorine.
If you’re using tap water, let it run a few seconds before filling your coffee pot, and be sure to use cold water. Avoid distilled or softened water.
A general guideline is called the "Golden Ratio" - one to two tablespoons of ground coffee for every six ounces of water. This can be adjusted to suit individual taste preferences.
Check the cup lines or indicators on your specific brewer to see how they actually measure. And remember that some water is lost to evaporation in certain brewing methods.
Your brewer should maintain a water temperature between 195 to 205 degrees Fahrenheit for optimal extraction. Colder water will result in flat, under-extracted coffee, while water that is too hot will also cause a loss of quality in the taste of the coffee. (However, cold brew does not need any heat.)
If you are brewing the coffee manually, let the water come to a full boil, but do not over boil. Turn off the heat source and allow the water to rest a minute before pouring it over the grounds.
Coffee usually cools rapidly after being served, depending upon the container from which it is being served. And, many coffee drinkers may add cream or milk which also has a cooling effect. Ultimately, the temperature at which any individual coffee drinker will prefer their coffee is a personal preference, like so many other things that make coffee special. These are some of the reasons why it is best to serve coffee right after brewing, when it is fresh and hot. Cupping quality standards suggest brewing at 200˚F. When serving hot beverages, especially in retail or clinical care settings which present risks for burning or scalding, lower temperatures should be considered. Coffee drinkers often desire to add cold milk or cream, or just allow the hot beverage to cool to reach a comfortable temperature for drinking. One study has shown that coffee drinkers typically drink their coffee at 140 degrees Fahrenheit or below.
The amount of time that the water is in contact with the coffee grounds is another important flavor factor.
In a drip system, the contact time should be approximately 5 minutes. If you are making your coffee using a French Press, the contact time should be 2-4 minutes. Espresso has an especially brief brew time — the coffee is in contact with the water for only 20-30 seconds. Cold brew, on the other hand, should steep overnight (about 12 hours).
If you’re not happy with the taste of the final product, you're likely either:
Over-extracting - the brew time is too long
Under-extracting - the brew time is too short
Experiment with the contact time until you get the right balance for your taste.
Complete ONE of the following:
☕️ 1. Read a book where a character comes into contact with water in some way.
☕️ 2. Read a book with less than 195 pages OR more than 205 pages.
☕️ 3. Read a book you felt was too long OR too short to do justice to the storyline.
☕️ 4. Read a book set in a hot climate.
Prompt Prompt Prompt #6J: 10 Steps from Seed to Cup - Brewing the CoffeeBook: The Spellshop
Author: Sarah Beth Durst
Date Read: 2-2-25
Pages: 384
Task: 1. Read a book where a character comes into contact with water in some way.
How It Fits: Kiela rides a merhorse.
Mod
More than 90% of American coffee drinkers choose caffeinated brews, but decaf is a great option for those who want the taste and social connections of drinking coffee without the energy boost of caffeine. Luckily, a serendipitous accident in 1905 swamped a shipment of coffee beans with seawater, washing the caffeine out and prompting the development of modern decaffeination methods.
Complete ONE of the following:
☕️ 1. Read a book where an accident happens.
☕️ 2. Read a book where the title starts with a letter in DECAF.
☕️ 3. Read a book set in the 1900s.
☕️ 4. Read a book where the author's first AND last initials are found in SERENDIPITOUS.
Prompt Prompt Prompt Prompt #7A: All About DeCaffeinated CoffeeBook: Avenging Angel
Author: Kristen Ashley
Date Read: 2-7-25
Pages: 456
Task: 2. Read a book where the title starts with a letter in DECAF.
How It Fits: Starts with A
Mod
Like regular coffee, decaf coffee begins as green, unroasted beans. The hard beans are warmed and soaked in liquid to dissolve and remove the caffeine in one of four ways: using water alone, using a mixture of water and solvents (most commonly methylene chloride or ethyl acetate) applied either directly or indirectly, or using water and “supercritical carbon dioxide.”
All four methods are safe, and once the caffeine is removed (well, at least 97% of it), the beans are washed, steamed, and roasted at temperatures that evaporate all the liquids used in decaffeination.
Complete ONE of the following:
☕️ 1. Read a book with a mostly green cover.
☕️ 2. Read a book with the word HARD OR the word BEANS found in the text.
☕️ 3. Read a book with a question mark in the title.
☕️ 4. Read a book where a character is faced with more than one option to solve a problem.
Prompt Prompt Prompt Prompt Prompt #7B: How Is Coffee Decaffeinated?Book: Caged
Author: Bella Matthews
Date Read: 3-7-25
Pages: 264
Task: 2. Read a book with the word HARD OR the word BEANS found in the text.
How It Fits: Ch. 1 "Cade stares hard at me"
Mod
Decaffeination removes about 97% or more of the caffeine in coffee beans. A typical cup of decaf coffee has about 2 mg of caffeine, compared to a typical cup of regular coffee, which has about 95 mg of caffeine.
Complete ONE of the following:
☕️ 1. Read a book with some type of chart or graph in it.
☕️ 2. Read a book with a 2 in the page count.
☕️ 3. Read a book with a 9 AND a 7 in the publication date.
☕️ 4. Read a book with the word TYPICAL found in the text.
Prompt Prompt Prompt Prompt Prompt Prompt #7C: How Much Caffeine Is In Decaffeinated Coffee?Book: Enticing
Author: Bella Matthews
Date Read: 3-10-25
Pages: 261
Task: 2. Read a book with a 2 in the page count.
How It Fits: pg count 261
Mod
Like all coffee, decaffeinated coffee is safe for consumption and can be part of a healthy diet.
If you are wondering whether the decaffeination process itself is safe, the answer is yes. All four methods are safe, and once the caffeine is removed (well, at least 97% of it), the beans are washed, steamed, and roasted at temperatures that evaporate the liquids used in decaffeination.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has set a rigorous standard to ensure that any minute traces of solvents used to decaffeinate coffee are safe. FDA measures these traces in “parts per million.” After decaffeination, coffee can contain no more than 10 parts per million of, for example, methylene chloride -- that’s one one-thousandth of a percent.
Complete ONE of the following:
☕️ 1. Read a book where the MC feels safe by the end of the story.
☕️ 2. Read a book with the letters F-D-A all found in the title.
☕️ 3. Read a book with at least a million ratings.
☕️ 4. Read a book where the author's FIRST initial is found in METHYLENE and the LAST initial is found in CHLORIDE.
Prompt #7D: Is Decaf Coffee Bad For You?Book: The Perfect Home
Author: Daniel Kenitz
Date Read: 3-22-25
Pages: 319
Task: ☕️ 1. Read a book where the MC feels safe by the end of the story.
How It Fits: Dawn feels safe by the end of the book.
Mod
Regulators and health authorities in the United States and around the world have concluded moderate caffeine intake can be part of healthy diets for most adults -- generally up to 400mg per day, or about 4-5 cups of coffee. Guidelines may vary for people with certain medical conditions.
As you think about caffeine intake, be mindful that caffeine is found not just in coffee but also in other foods and beverages, so consider all potential sources. Every body is different, so everyone should check health recommendations from recognized authorities, listen to how your body responds to caffeine, and consult your personal physician if you have any questions.
Complete ONE of the following:
☕️ 1. Read a book where only one eye is completely visible on the cover.
☕️ 2. Read a book that has up to 400 pages.
☕️ 3. Read a book where a major character is a doctor.
☕️ 4. Read a book where the MC does not have a healthy diet.
Prompt #7E: How Much Caffeine Is Too Much?Book: Undeniably Convenient
Author: J. Saman
Date Read: 4-1-25
Pages: 348
Task: ☕️ 3. Read a book where a major character is a doctor.
How It Fits: Bennett is a doctor
Mod
Your beans’ greatest enemies are air, moisture, heat, and light.
To preserve your beans’ fresh roasted flavor as long as possible, store them in an opaque, air-tight container at room temperature. Coffee beans can be beautiful, but avoid clear canisters which will allow light to compromise the taste of your coffee.
Keep your beans in a dark and cool location. A cabinet near the oven is often too warm, and so is a spot on the kitchen counter that gets strong afternoon sun.
Coffee's retail packaging is generally not ideal for long-term storage. If possible, invest in storage canisters with an airtight seal.
Complete ONE of the following:
☕️ 1. Read a book with multiples of one item on the cover.
☕️ 2. Read a book where the MC has more than one enemy.
☕️ 3. Read a book you would invest in, as in purchase your own copy.
☕️ 4. Read a book where at least one scene happens in a DARK and/or COOL location.
Prompt #8A: How to Store Coffee - Keep Beans Airtight & CoolBook: Sinful Vows
Author: Lilian Harris
Date Read: 4-8-25
Pages: 431
Task: ☕️ 2. Read a book where the MC has more than one enemy.
How It Fits: Michael is mafia and has tons of enemies with different families, including his own.
Mod
Coffee begins to lose freshness almost immediately after roasting. Try to buy smaller batches of freshly roasted coffee more frequently - enough for one or two weeks.
Exposure to air is bad for your beans. If you prefer to keep your beans in an accessible and/or attractive container, it may be a good good idea to divide your coffee supply into several smaller portions, with the larger, unused portion in an air-tight container.
This is especially important when buying pre-ground coffee, because of the increased exposure to oxygen. If you buy whole beans, grind the amount you need immediately before brewing
Complete ONE of the following:
☕️ 1. Read a book that took you one to two weeks to read.
☕️ 2. Read a book where the MC goes shopping or buys something.
☕️ 3. Read a book with an attractive cover. {Your discretion.}
☕️ 4. Read a book where the first letter of each word in the title starts with a letter found in IMMEDIATELY. {3-word minimum}
Prompt #8B: How to Store Coffee - Buy the Right AmountBook: A Sinner's Saint
Author: Kylie Kent
Date Read: 5-15-25
Pages: 306
Task: ☕️ 3. Read a book with an attractive cover. {Your discretion.}
How It Fits: I love a nice bourbon on the rocks.
Mod
Freshness is critical to a quality cup of coffee. Experts agree that coffee should be consumed as quickly as possible after it is roasted, especially once the original packaging seal has been broken.
While there are different views on whether or not coffee should be frozen or refrigerated, the main consideration is that coffee absorbs moisture – and odors, and tastes – from the air around it, since it is hygroscopic (bonus vocabulary word for all the coffee geeks out there).
Most home storage containers still let in small amounts of oxygen, which is why food stored a long time in the freezer can suffer freezer burn. Therefore, if you do refrigerate or freeze your beans, be sure to use a truly airtight container.
If you choose to freeze your coffee, quickly remove as much as you need for no more than a week at a time, and return the rest to the freezer before any condensation forms on the frozen coffee.
Freezing your beans does not not change the basic brewing process.
Complete ONE of the following:
☕️ 1. Read a book with ice or snow on the cover.
☕️ 2. Read a book where you can share a critical point in the plot with me.
☕️ 3. Read a book that took you less than a week to read.
☕️ 4. Read a book with a bonus vocabulary word that you needed to look up in a dictionary, like hygroscopic.
Prompt #8C: How to Store Coffee - Freezing Your Beans?Book: Dear Manny
Author: Nic Stone
Date Read: 5-31-25
Pages: 203
Task: 3. Read a book that took you less than a week to read.
How It Fits: Started and finished in one day.
Mod
Most roasters have specialized names for their favored roasts and there is very little industry standardization. This can cause some confusion when you’re buying, but in general, roasts fall into one of four color categories — light, medium, medium-dark and dark.
Many consumers assume that the strong, rich flavor of darker roasts indicates a higher level of caffeine, but the truth is that light roasts actually have a slightly higher concentration.
The perfect roast is a personal choice that is sometimes influenced by national preference or geographic location. Within the four color categories, you are likely to find common roasts as listed above. It’s a good idea to ask before you buy. There can be a world of difference between roasts.
Complete ONE of the following:
☕️ 1. Read a book with a silent letter in the title, like the K in KNOW.
☕️ 2. Read a book with a very light OR a very dark cover. {Your discretion.}
☕️ 3. Read a book with a plot that required concentration.
☕️ 4. Read a book with a geographic location that is very different from your own.
Prompt #9A: Know Your RoastsBook: No More Yesterdays
Author: Catherine Bybee
Date Read: 6-26-25
Pages: 394
Task: 2. Read a book with a very light OR a very dark cover. {Your discretion.}
How It Fits: light cover
Mod
Light brown in color, this roast is generally preferred for milder coffee varieties. There will be no oil on the surface of these beans because they are not roasted long enough for the oils to break through to the surface.
Light City
Half City
Cinnamon
Complete ONE of the following:
☕️ 1. Read a book with the word CITY found in the title.
☕️ 2. Read a book with any type of light source on the cover.
☕️ 3. Read a book with the word CINNAMON found in the text.
☕️ 4. Read a book where you feel like there is something brewing just under the surface throughout the story.
Prompt #9B: Light RoastsBook: Tiny Precious Secrets
Author: Samantha Christy
Date Read: 7-1-25
Pages: 356
Task: ☕️ 3. Read a book with the word CINNAMON found in the text.
How It Fits: Ch. 11 "picking out a gooey cinnamon roll"
Mod
This roast is medium brown in color with a stronger flavor and a non-oily surface. It’s often referred to as the American roast because it is generally preferred in the United States.
City
American
Breakfast
Complete ONE of the following:
☕️ 1. Read a book where the MC lives in or visits a large city.
☕️ 2. Read a book set in America.
☕️ 3. Read a book where a character eats breakfast.
☕️ 4. Read a book with a subtitle.
Prompt #9C: Medium RoastsBook: Play the Game
Author: S.J. Sylvis
Date Read: 8-3-25
Pages: 488
Task: Read a book where the MC lives in or visits a large city.
How It Fits: set in Chicago
Mod
Rich, dark color, this roast has some oil on the surface and with a slight bittersweet aftertaste.
Full City
Complete ONE of the following:
☕️ 1. Read a book with a bittersweet moment.
☕️ 2. Read a book where the MC eats chocolate.
☕️ 3. Read a book where the title starts with a letter in AFTERTASTE.
☕️ 4. Read a book where the MC's first initial is NOT found in FULL CITY.
Prompt #9D: Medium Dark RoastsBook: Always the One for Me
Author: Carrie Ann Ryan
Date Read: 8-5-25
Pages: 322
Task: 3. Read a book where the title starts with a letter in AFTERTASTE.
How It Fits: starts with A
Mod
This roast produces shiny black beans with an oily surface and a pronounced bitterness. The darker the roast, the less acidity will be found in the coffee beverage. Dark roast coffees run from slightly dark to charred, and the names are often used interchangeably — be sure to check your beans before you buy them!
High
Continental
New Orleans
European
Espresso
Viennese
Italian
French
Complete ONE of the following:
☕️ 1. Read a book with a heart on the cover.
☕️ 2. Read a book set in Italy, France, or New Orleans.
☕️ 3. Read a book where the title does NOT start with a letter in ESPRESSO.
☕️ 4. Read a book where someone or something is described as DARK.
Prompt #9E: Dark RoastsBook: Vows We Never Made: A Grumpy Sunshine Romance
Author: Nicole Snow
Date Read: 8-10-25
Pages: 464
Task: 3. Read a book where the title does NOT start with a letter in ESPRESSO.
How It Fits: starts with V
Mod
The ideal conditions for coffee trees to thrive are found around the world in along the Equatorial zone called “The Bean Belt,” located between latitudes 25 degrees North and 30 degrees South.
Finicky Arabica grows best at high altitudes in rich soil, while the heartier Robusta prefers a higher temperature and can thrive on lower ground.
What impacts the quality and flavor of coffee? Everything from the variety of the plant, the chemistry of the soil, the weather, the amount of rainfall and sunshine, and even the precise altitude at which the coffee grows can affect the taste of the final product.
These key variables, combined with the way the cherries are processed after being picked, contribute to the distinctions between coffees from countries, growing regions and plantations worldwide.
The combination of factors is so complex, that even from a single plantation one finds variation in quality and taste.
Coffee is grown in more than 50 countries around the world.
Complete ONE of the following:
☕️ 1. Read a book with a finicky character.
☕️ 2. Read a book with more than 50 chapters.
☕️ 3. Read a book where the MC has real chemistry with another character.
☕️ 4. Read a book set somewhere in The Bean Belt. Here's an image to help you out.
Prompt #10: Coffee Around the WorldBook: Rookie Season
Author: Katie Bailey
Date Read: 8-30-25
Pages: 330
Task: ☕️ 3. Read a book where the MC has real chemistry with another character.
How It Fits: Noah and Ally have some serious chemistry.
Mod
Though coffee farms are found throughout the Hawaiian islands, it is Kona coffee, from the large island of Hawaii, that is best known and always in high demand. Here, nature provides just the right environment for the coffee trees on the slopes of the active Mauna Loa volcano. Young trees are planted in black, volcanic soil so new that it often seems the farmers are growing seedlings in rock. Afternoon shade from tropical clouds forms a natural canopy over the trees to protect them from intense sun, and frequent island showers give the plants just right amount of rain. Kona coffee is carefully processed to create a deliciously rich, aromatic cup of medium body.
Complete ONE of the following:
☕️ 1. Read a book set on an island.
☕️ 2. Read a book where all letters of K-O-N-A are found in the title.
☕️ 3. Read a book with something aromatic on the cover.
☕️ 4. Read a book where the MC's first initial is found in MAUNA LOA.
Hooked on Books
Books mentioned in this topic
Rookie Season (other topics)Vows We Never Made: A Grumpy Sunshine Romance (other topics)
Always the One for Me (other topics)
Play the Game (other topics)
Tiny Precious Secrets (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Katie Bailey (other topics)Nicole Snow (other topics)
Carrie Ann Ryan (other topics)
S.J. Sylvis (other topics)
Samantha Christy (other topics)
More...
Book: British Bedmate
Author: Penelope Ward
Date Read: 1-17-25
Pages: 239
Task: 3. Read a book with a 1, 2, or 3 in the page count.
How It Fits: has both 2 and 3 in page count