Whole-Bean Colombian Drip Coffee With Spring Water
11 min
|
easy
|
clean eating,
gluten-free,
lactose-free,
vegan,
vegetarian
Recipe by Jorn
Introduction
Fresh‑ground Colombian Supremo with spring water gives you a clean, chocolatey drip coffee with bright aromatics, solid body, and none of the bitter nonsense.
Perfect for weekday fuel or a slow Sunday brunch, it is strong enough for a New York morning and smooth enough to sip black or with a splash of cream.
Ingredients (4 servings)
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Ingredients
- 5 cups spring water (Crystal Geyser or Poland Spring or Arrowhead Spring) spring water 40 fl oz
- 13 Tbsp medium roast Colombian Supremo whole-bean coffee (measured after grinding) medium roast Colombian Supremo whole-bean coffee 2.89 oz
How to Make Whole-Bean Colombian Drip Coffee With Spring Water
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Preheat carafe and mugs
Fill the empty carafe and your thick-walled mugs with hot tap water to preheat, then dump just before serving.
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Rinse the paper filter
Set a bleached paper filter in the basket and rinse it thoroughly with hot water to wash off papery flavors and heat the brew path.
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Measure water
Pour 5 cups spring water into the reservoir using Crystal Geyser, Poland Spring, or Arrowhead for balanced minerals.
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Grind the beans
Grind whole-bean Colombian Supremo medium, like coarse sand, and measure 13 tablespoons after grinding or use about 70 grams for precision.
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Load and level
Add the grounds to the rinsed filter and gently shake the basket to level the bed for even extraction.
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Bloom the grounds
If your machine has a bloom or pre-infusion, enable it for about 30 seconds to release trapped gases and soften acidity.
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Manual bloom workaround
If no bloom feature, start the cycle for 10 to 15 seconds to wet the bed, pause for 30 seconds, then resume the brew.
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Brew to time
Target a total brew of about 4 to 5 minutes from first drip to last drip for balanced body and sweetness.
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Finish clean
Gently swirl the carafe to homogenize strength, pour into preheated mugs, and transfer any extra to a thermal carafe instead of a hot plate.
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Two-minute connoisseur upgrades
Keep a jar of pre-measured beans on the counter, use freshly opened water within 3 days, and program the timer with water and beans ready so morning-you does not get cranky.
Substitutions
- Spring water -> filter plus mineral boost
- Use high-quality filtered water with a coffee mineral packet or a pinch of calcium and magnesium drops to mimic spring balance, which keeps the cup sweet and clear instead of flat or sour.
- Bleached paper filter -> unbleached paper or gold mesh
- Unbleached paper works if you rinse longer to avoid a woody note, while a gold mesh filter increases body and aromatic oils for a rounder mouthfeel with a touch less clarity.
- Colombian Supremo -> other washed Latin American medium roast
- Try Guatemala Antigua or Costa Rica Tarrazu for similar medium body and caramel tones, keeping that clean finish with a hint of citrus rather than smoky or earthy notes.
Tips
- Dial in the ratio
- For 5 cups water, 65 to 75 grams grounds lands in a classic 1:16 to 1:18 range, with 70 grams hitting smooth sweetness and medium body.
- Grinder matters more than you think
- A burr grinder beats blades because it gives uniform particles that extract evenly, so you get caramel and cocoa instead of bitterness and sour swings.
- Level the bed to stop channeling
- A quick shake or a light tap settles the grounds so water does not carve tunnels that cause weak coffee and bitter pockets.
- Mind brew temperature
- If your machine runs cool, preheat the basket and carafe well or run a water-only cycle first so extraction hits that sweet 195 to 205 F zone.
- Rinse like you mean it
- A 5 to 10 second hot rinse removes paper taste and preheats everything, which keeps the flavor focused and the body silky.
- Store beans smart
- Keep beans airtight and dark at room temp, and if you must freeze, portion in small pouches so you only thaw what you need without condensation drama.
- Decant immediately
- Get brewed coffee off the hot plate fast and into a thermal carafe so the flavor stays sweet and does not cook into bitterness.
Nutrition Facts *
| Energy | 0 | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | 0 | g |
| Total Fat | 0 | g |
| Carbohydrates | 0 | g |
| Dietary Fiber | 0 | g |
* Approximate, per serving.
Data source: USDA FoodData Central.
FAQ
- My coffee tastes sour and thin, what now?
- Grind slightly finer or add about half a tablespoon more grounds, and confirm your brew time is at least 4 minutes so the sweetness has time to develop.
- It tastes bitter and dry, how do I fix it?
- Grind a notch coarser or remove half a tablespoon of grounds, and avoid letting the pot sit on a hot plate which bakes out the sweetness.
- Do I really need to bloom drip coffee?
- Yes, blooming vents CO2 so water can actually penetrate the grounds, which reduces sharpness and evens extraction for a calmer, sweeter cup.
- Cone vs flat-bottom basket, does grind change?
- Go a hair finer for cone filters to slow the flow and a hair coarser for flat-bottom to avoid over-extraction at the center.
- Can I just use tap water?
- You can if it is clean and not heavily chlorinated, but if your water is very soft or very hard the flavor will swing thin or harsh, so filtered water with balanced minerals is safer.
- How do I keep it hot without ruining it?
- Preheat mugs, pour immediately, and hold in a good thermal carafe, because heat retention without added heat protects sweetness and aroma.
Serving Suggestions
Classic Colombian with spring water is that smooth operator you want on a weekday morning, and a cinnamon stick or a pinch of panela in the grounds leans into the caramel vibe without turning it sugary.
Pair with buttered toast, arepas, or a wedge of queso blanco, and stash any leftovers in the fridge for tomorrow’s iced coffee or freeze into cubes so your cold brew never waters down.
Reviews
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Kayla, Abilene TX: Made this a few times to practice before hosting a dinner party, and wow, such a difference! The Kirkland beans from Costco with a medium grind and pre-boiled water turned out so good. Way better than my regular drip — the aroma alone made it feel extra special 🌸☕✨
: We're glad the method and beans made such a difference for you, Kayla!
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