The brewing or water contact time with the coffee grounds is primarily determined by the grind size and bed depth. A longer brew time is required for the water to penetrate the larger grind particles. The recommended brewing contact times for each grind size are shown here.
Brewer Cycle Timing
The brew cycle delivery time of a coffee brewer assists in determining the recommended coffee grind to produce a quality cup. Experimenting with a coarser or finer grind will help operators discover the preferred coffee flavor profile.
Bed Depth
The ideal depth of the coffee bed in the brew basket is 2.5 - 5.0 cm regardless of the volume of brew. If a coffee bed is less than 2.5 cm, the water may move through it too quickly and under-extract. Water moving too slowly through a bed depth of more than 5.0 cm may cause over-extraction and a bitter taste.
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Solids in the Brew
During the brew process the water-soluble materials (solids) dissolve and move out of the coffee grounds and into the water. The level of solids changes while brewing, effecting the flavor, color, body and aroma of the coffee.
This is why coffee should never be served before the brewing process is completed! All three phases combine to produce the ideal flavor.