Coffee roasting is a centuries-old craft that requires years of dedication to perfect. The best roasters know that a split second can be the difference between superb flavor and a wasted effort.

Choose The Roasting Process from the menu at left and follow the roaster through the steps of a perfect roast--you'll see why roasting coffee is equal parts art and labor. Or select European Dark Roasts to learn what's made these classic roasts favorites for over a century.

While there are quite a few ways to make a cup of coffee, some are decidedly superior to others. Fortunately, doing it the right way is as simple as clicking on the steps in the left column.

If tap water is unpleasant tasting or heavily chlorinated, use bottled or filtered water. Let your kettle rest a moment after boiling to reach the best brewing temperature of 195ƒ to 205ƒ F. Don't forget to preheat the pot by pouring hot water into the empty carafe. Dump it out before brewing begins.

While there is no one "all-purpose" grind, coffee grinds can be divided into two general groups: press pot and electric.

For press pots, grind beans about 10 second in a blade grinder (medium to coarse grind).

For electric brewers, grind beans a bit longer, about 15-20 seconds in a blade grinder (medium to fine grind).

Use two level tablespoons of ground coffee for each six ounces of water, or two ounces of ground coffee per quart. After brewing, you can adjust the coffee's strength by adding hot water from the kettle.

For a rich, full-bodied cup of coffee, press pots or gold filters are recommended. Paper filters add a papery taste and filter out some of the coffee's flavor. (Paper filters are good for larger quantities--restaurant urns, for example). If you use paper filters, rinse them with hot water to wash out some of the papery taste.

Brew only as much as you need. Coffee can be kept warm on a burner or hotplate for only about 20 minutes before the flavor starts to become bitter. Reheating coffee is even worse. An airtight thermos preserves flavor for several hours if you filter the coffee first. But even filtered coffee will develop a thermos taste. Brew it fresh instead for small effort and a big reward.

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