Brew Guide

The Noctis Brew Guide

How to Brew
in the Dark Hours

Six ways to coax the most out of fresh-roasted beans — whether it's first light or the dead of night.

Great coffee isn't an accident. It's a handful of variables — grind, water, ratio, time — held steady. Get these right and any Noctis roast will taste the way it was meant to. Here's everything you need, method by method.

The Four Constants

Grind Fresh

Grind right before you brew. Ground coffee goes stale in minutes — whole bean holds for weeks.

Mind the Water

Coffee is ~98% water. Use filtered, and aim for 195–205°F — just off the boil.

Weigh It

A $15 kitchen scale beats guessing. A 1:16 ratio (coffee:water) is the reliable starting point.

Drink It Fresh

Brew, then enjoy within the hour. And use beans within a few weeks of their roast date.

The Methods
i.

Pour Over

Clean, bright, and precise. The brew that shows off everything a bean has to offer.
  • Ratio1:16 — 22g coffee : 350g water
  • GrindMedium-fine (table salt)
  • Water200°F / 93°C
  • Brew Time2:45 – 3:15
  • MakesOne large cup
  1. Rinse the filter with hot water, then discard it. Add grounds and level the bed.
  2. Pour just enough water to wet the grounds (~50g). Wait 30–45s for the bloom.
  3. Pour in slow spirals, keeping the bed submerged, until you hit 350g total.
  4. Let it draw down. The whole pour should finish around the three-minute mark.

Pair with First Light — its bright Colombian clarity is built for this method. Feeling adventurous? Dark Equinox opens up beautifully in a pour over too. Shop First Light →

ii.

French Press

Full-bodied and forgiving. No filter, no fuss — just deep, rounded flavor.
  • Ratio1:15 — 30g coffee : 450g water
  • GrindCoarse (sea salt)
  • Water200°F / 93°C
  • Steep Time4:00
  • MakesTwo cups
  1. Add coarse grounds to the carafe. Pour all the water in, saturating evenly.
  2. Stir once, set the lid on top (don't plunge yet), and steep for four minutes.
  3. Skim the crust off the top with a spoon, then press the plunger down slowly.
  4. Decant immediately into cups so it doesn't keep brewing and turn bitter.

Pair with Still Hours — its medium-dark Honduran body is exactly what the press was made for. Shop Still Hours →

iii.

Espresso

Concentrated and intense. The foundation of every latte, cortado, and 2am americano.
  • Ratio1:2 — 18g in : 36g out
  • GrindFine (powdered sugar)
  • Water200°F / 93°C
  • Shot Time25 – 30 seconds
  • MakesOne double shot
  1. Dose 18g into the portafilter, distribute evenly, and tamp flat with firm pressure.
  2. Lock in and start the shot immediately. Watch for a steady, honey-like stream.
  3. Aim for 36g in the cup in 25–30s. Running fast? Grind finer. Too slow? Coarsen up.
  4. Dial in one variable at a time — grind first — until the timing lands.

Pair with The Deep Roast — our boldest, Italian-style dark blend pulls a rich, chocolatey shot with a heavy crema. Shop The Deep Roast →

iv.

AeroPress

Fast, smooth, near-impossible to mess up. The perfect single-cup desk companion.
  • Ratio1:15 — 15g coffee : 225g water
  • GrindMedium-fine
  • Water185°F / 85°C
  • Brew Time~1:30 total
  • MakesOne cup
  1. Set the AeroPress upright on your mug with a rinsed filter capped on. Add grounds.
  2. Pour to 225g, give it a gentle stir, and let it steep for about one minute.
  3. Press down slow and steady — 20 to 30 seconds — stopping at the hiss.
  4. Top with hot water to taste if you want a longer cup.

Pair with Dark Equinox — the Papua New Guinea single-origin is versatile enough to shine in the late-night solo brew. Shop Dark Equinox →

v.

Cold Brew

Smooth, low-acid, and patient. Brew it overnight, drink it for days.
  • Ratio1:8 concentrate — 100g : 800g water
  • GrindCoarse
  • WaterRoom temp or cold
  • Steep Time12 – 18 hours
  • MakesA week of mornings
  1. Combine coarse grounds and cold water in a jar. Stir until fully saturated.
  2. Cover and let it steep on the counter or in the fridge for 12–18 hours.
  3. Strain through a filter or fine mesh. You're left with a concentrate.
  4. Dilute 1:1 with water or milk over ice. Keeps in the fridge up to a week.

Pair with The Deep Roast or Still Hours — darker roasts make a chocolatey, mellow cold brew with almost no bitterness. Shop Best Sellers →

vi.

Drip / Auto

The everyday workhorse. Set it, forget it, and still drink it well.
  • Ratio1:16 — ~60g per 1L (or 2 tbsp/6oz)
  • GrindMedium
  • WaterWhatever your machine runs
  • Brew Time~5 minutes
  • MakesA full carafe
  1. Use a fresh filter and a clean basket — old oils make everything taste flat.
  2. Weigh your grounds rather than scooping. Level the bed in the basket.
  3. Fill the reservoir with filtered water and run the cycle.
  4. Pour off into a thermal carafe; leaving it on a hot plate scorches the flavor.

Pair with First Light — an easy-drinking medium roast that's a perfect daily-driver in any drip machine. Shop First Light →

Quick Reference
Method Ratio Grind Water Time
Pour Over 1:16 Medium-fine 200°F ~3 min
French Press 1:15 Coarse 200°F 4 min
Espresso 1:2 Fine 200°F 25–30 sec
AeroPress 1:15 Medium-fine 185°F ~1.5 min
Cold Brew 1:8 Coarse Cold 12–18 hrs
Drip / Auto 1:16 Medium Machine ~5 min

Now go brew something.

Every Noctis roast is roasted to order and shipped fresh — never sitting on a shelf. Pick your method, pick your bean.

Shop the Roasts