A Fractured Atlas Guide to Coffee Preparation
Do something once and you’ve got a celebration, but do it twice and now you’ve got a tradition.
For the second year in a row, Fractured Atlas is bringing you a 12-day holiday homage to bespoke beverages. This year, we’re featuring the roastiest, toastiest part of our day: coffee. In 2015 alone, our staff brewed over 75 pounds of the stuff in our New York office, making it a staple supply, and a key ingredient to workplace happiness.
And if all that coffee isn’t enough to get us going, we can always rely on the wave of inspiration we get from you, our member artists and organizations:
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We’ll be updating this post everyday for twelve days with caffeinated commentary and delectable illustrations, so check back daily and help us raise a mug to creativity!
(And don’t forget to tip your barista.)
Day 12
What is your favorite way to prepare coffee?
Despite the office’s 17,000 different ways of making coffee, I often get my fix at a nearby independent coffee shop called Madmen Espresso. I do this because (a) I’m too lazy to make coffee and (b) it’s often the only moment of the day when I get away from my desk and/or meetings. The latter is critically important to psychic well-being; it allows me to take a breath of fresh air, change my surroundings, and give my brain a moment of rest.
Do you have any special tips for this preparation method?
Tip your barista.
What is the thing you like most about your job at Fractured Atlas?
I get bored easily, and my job allows me to do lots of different things, which keeps me on my toes and engaged. In the course of a typical day, I may shift from developing a new program idea to writing software code to coaching a manager to engaging with one of our funders. It gets a little hectic at times, but this suits my personality pretty well.
What do you do outside of work that people might not know about? (creative outlets/practice, hobbies, interests, etc.)
I have two kids — a 10-year-old daughter and a 7-year-old son — who keep me humble and repeatedly remind me that I’m old and out-of-touch.
Day 11
What is your favorite way to prepare coffee?
My favorite coffee brewing method is “The Pour Over.”
Do you have any special tips for this preparation method?
See “The Perfect Pour Over” below.
What is the thing you like most about your job at Fractured Atlas?
The freedom to say how I feel.
What do you do outside of work that people might not know about? (creative outlets/practice, hobbies, interests, etc.)
Other than programming, I answer emails I like motorbikes, martial arts, and eating.
The Perfect Pour Over
A classic and simple method of making coffee, where you pour near-boiling water over coffee grounds and catch the drip directly into your cup or carafe. You have the option of a quick single cup, a whole carafe, or piece of art. The latter takes effort, but a properly delicious cup — with the flavor you expect of a fine Portland coffee shop — can be yours.
Ratios
The ideal ratio of coffee to water will depend on the grind, roast level, and your flavor preferences. I start with a ratio of 15.6 grams of water to 1 gram of coffee and then tweak from there. For example, 28 grams of ground coffee makes about 16 oz of brewed coffee. My ratios don’t often vary more than a 14.5 to 16.5 ratio. Your mileage may vary.
What you need
- Brewer (e.g. Kalita Wave, or Hario V60)
- Filter
- Medium Ground Coffee (I use the “auto-drip” setting on in-store grinders)
- Hot water (just off the boil)
- Weight scale
- Timer
- Mug or Carafe
Brew time:
about 3 minutes, start to finish.
Step 1: Rinse
Place the filter in the brewer and pour water (just off the boil) over the filter to rinse it and heat up the brewer and carafe. Pour out the rinse water.
Step 2: Measure
Place your cup/carafe mounted with brewer and filter on the scale. Tare the scale and carefully weigh your grounds. Weigh at least 21 grams of coffee. Less is possible, but I find it harder to get good results for one cup. Tare once more.
Step 3: Bloom
Start the timer. Pour water (just off the boil) over the grounds. Pour just enough to wet the entire top — about 30–60g. Fresh grounds will swell and appear to “bloom.” Let them bloom for about 15 seconds.
Step 4: Pour
Pour slowly over the grounds, using small circles to evenly wet them, about 10 seconds at a time. Pause for 5 seconds between pours to allow water to drip. Stop when you reach the target weight.
Day 10
What is your favorite way to prepare coffee?
I love coffee prepared however, but I recently invested in a Bonavita coffee brewer for my home caffeination fix. I’ve been a fan of the Chemex system for a long time, but was finding that the coffee was quickly getting cold in the glass carafe. (Not to mention that the manual pour over process was making me a little late for work!) The Bonavita is somewhere between a regular drip coffee maker and a pour over; it has a filter basket that sits on top of a stainless steel carafe and a showerhead design that distributes the hot water evenly over the coffee grounds. Coffee experts will also tell you that it heats the water up to an ideal 195°-205°F, but I am mostly grateful for a labor-free morning.
Do you have any special tips for this preparation method?
I drink coffee black, so it’s extra important to me that coffee be ground fresh daily for the best flavor. I also prefer a small coffee mug for several rounds of hot coffee.
What is the thing you like most about your job at Fractured Atlas?
I’ve held several positions here at Fractured Atlas and I am grateful that I’ve gotten to explore different paths at the same organization. I also love that I get to flex my creative muscles as part of our External Relations team.
What do you do outside of work that people might not know about? (creative outlets/practice, hobbies, interests, etc.)
I’m a Star Trek: The Next Generation nerd, public radio junkie, and recycling enthusiast. I don’t care for marshmallows, but I love pickles.
Day 9
What is your favorite way to make coffee? Why?
Right now I’m hooked on the coffee siphon method. Not only does the siphon produce an incredibly smooth and flavorful cup of joe, but I feel like Bill Nye the Science Guy when making it (sans bow tie).
Do you have any tips or tricks to how to prepare coffee with this method?
Fire up the Bunsen burner-like flame and channel your 16-year-old high school chemistry class self and you should be just fine. Also, follow the instructions.
What do you like most about your job at Fractured Atlas?
The Fractured Atlas office is constantly humming with experimentation and innovation. There’s always people huddled together — in person, on video chats, or in our office Flowdock — working to create, test, tweak, and improve our products and services for Fractured Atlas members. It’s a place where something said half-jokingly in passing can cause us to pause and say, “Huh, that actually might be an idea worth exploring. We should gather a few people to look into it further and see if it has potential.” It’s also the same spirit that lead us to having seven different ways of making coffee in the office kitchen as we strive to make that perfect cup each morning.
What do you do outside of work that people might not know about? (creative outlets/practice, hobbies, interests, etc.)
I’m an avid cyclist. Nothing says, “You deserve an artisanal donut and cappuccino” like stopping midway of a 50-mile bike ride at my favorite coffee and donut shop in Nyack, NY.
Day 8
What is your favorite preparation method of coffee? Why?
My current fav method is french press, mostly because I found this newfangled press-to-go device from Bobble, so I can enjoy the taste of freshly pressed coffee during my commutes to the city! It’s an all-in-one make-and-take, which I love.
Do you have any tips or tricks to how to prepare coffee with this method?
No major tricks, but I would say to make sure to get yourself a grinder brush for cleaning your grinder. A quick brush down post-grind can really do a lot for keeping stale grinds out of your brew.
What do you like most about your job at Fractured Atlas?
My colleagues are by far the “coolest” things about working at Fractured Atlas. They challenge me to be my best and keep me forever entertained!
What do you do outside of work that people might not know about? (creative outlets/practice, hobbies, interests, etc.)
People may not know that I’m a certified dance teacher in the State of NY and love ballroom dancing with my 2 year old. :P
Day 7:
What is your favorite preparation method of coffee? Why?
I rotate between pour over, french press and aeropress but I always hand grind the beans. I initially bought the grinder because I hated the noise of an electric machine, but the couple minutes it takes to grind has turned out to be an enjoyable daily ritual I share with my family and guests. We’ll often take turns passing the grinder around.
Do you have any tips or tricks to how to prepare coffee with this method?
Get a hand grinder with a lid and a sturdy base. Mine has neither which means we inevitably spill a couple beans every morning.
What do you like most about your job at Fractured Atlas?
I have the best coworkers. Everyone is excited about the work and really cares about helping artists.
What do you do outside of work that people might not know about? (creative outlets/practice, hobbies, interests, etc.)
I enjoy cooking and prepare about 1/2 the meals at our house.
Day 6:
What is your favorite way to make coffee? Why?
Indulging in a sweet tooth from time to time is a moment to savor. I like to toss a hard candy into my regular coffee as a substitute for the heavy syrups. Werthers are a caramel hard candy that my grandfather always had in his pockets and shared with me, so that is my holiday season coffee go to. I’ve also tried it with peppermint hard candies, and even red hots (on a dare, spicy yummy coffee).
Do you have any tips or tricks to how to prepare coffee with this method?
Nope. Just toss the hard candy in (helps if the beverage is really hot). Take a moment to think on the memory the hard candy might bring up.
What do you like most about your job at Fractured Atlas?
After pivoting from my dance career into technology I was scoping out MBA programs with a social impact focus as my next mountain to climb, but I didn’t end up taking that route because of the opportunity to work at Fractured Atlas. What I like most about my job at Fractured Atlas is I’m getting the real life experience of an MBA social enterprise program by leading teams on tangible projects. The learning curve has been epic and rewarding.
What do you do outside of work that people might not know about?
One of my hobbies is repairing and updating antiques. For example a recent project was giving a new fresh life to an old typewriter whose case was disintegrating. I carried it all the way to Brooklyn from a thrift shop in Colorado. This is where my twitter handle comes from @MsRemixt — because I like to remix and update objects.
Day 5:
What is your favorite way to make coffee? Why?
My favorite coffee drink is one that I made up during one particularly hot summer. I call it a Java Fizz — it’s sort of a mix between cold brew coffee and a soda. To make it simply make a shot of concentrated coffee (either espresso, aeropress, or a strong cold brew), pour over ice to cool down, and then fill up your glass with seltzer water.
Do you have any tips or tricks to how to prepare coffee with this method?
You can flavor your Java Fizz with a number of different sweeteners like stevia, sugar, honey, or add aromatics like vanilla or almond extract. I’ll sometimes add a splash of milk if I want a cream soda kind of texture, but usually I’ll just drink it straight.
What do you like most about your job at Fractured Atlas?
I love the fact that I’m surrounded by creativity in every aspect of my job. Whether it’s in a routine weekly meeting with my coworkers, running a workshop for members, or tabling at a resource fair for artists — I get to be creative every single day.
What do you do outside of work that people might not know about?
I’m a bit of a Horse-of-A-Different-Color in that I wear many different creative hats. I make plays, comics, illustrations (like the ones in this guide!), and games — usually about queer folks and people of color. My work was recently featured in Power, the first queer comic anthology published by Geeks OUT!, a nonprofit organization supporting LGBT people in geek culture. I also have an upcoming play that’s being produced next year by Flux Theatre Ensemble, a long time member of Fractured Atlas, about life after the zombie-pocalypse!
Day 4:
What is your favorite way to make coffee? Why?
I love the ritual of making coffee first thing in the morning — the groggy stumble into the kitchen, the crackling of the beans in the coffee grinder, and the eventual first sip that jolts me into the day. The Chemex might make for a slightly effortful, time-consuming coffee preparation, but that’s actually a big part of why I like it. I’m forced to take my morning slowly: boil the water, grind the beans, watch the grounds bloom pour by pour. My life is pretty fast-paced, so there’s something really relaxing about focusing on a simple task first thing in the morning. Plus, it looks really pretty.
Do you have any tips or tricks to how to prepare coffee with this method?
Be careful! I actually broke my last Chemex by carelessly leaving it in the sink and then whacking it with my tea kettle later in the day. It’s all glass, so you just need to treat it with some care. Also — the wooden collar and metal tie should be removed before washing or they get pretty gross.
What do you like most about your job at Fractured Atlas?
I love to see our members’ work! After spending most of my time e-mailing with our members or speaking with them on the phone, it’s incredibly gratifying to personally experience their work on its feet, hear it out loud, or see it on the wall.
What do you do outside of work that people might not know about?
I’m a playwright! That takes up a lot of my time outside the office. My most recent play, The Cleanup Crew, actually features a Chemex that (without revealing too much) succumbs, like my own Chemex, to some unfortunate onstage carelessness. I also have a cat named Wilbur with whom I spend a lot of time.
Day 3:
What is your favorite way to make coffee? Why?
Preparing coffee through infusion — just the pot, the filter, the water, and coffee. The best filter I know of is the Sowden SoftBrew with a steel filter and a porcelain pot.
Do you have any tips or tricks to how to prepare coffee with this method?
It’s pretty straightforward: any grind from coarse to fine will work. You can play around with your own preference, but I usually like a medium grind steeping for four minutes. The most important part is the beans. For that, Caffe Vita from my hometown of Seattle always does the trick.
What do you like most about your job at Fractured Atlas?
Hearing about the amazing art our members make all over the country and abroad.
Day 2:
What is your favorite way to make coffee? Why?
I am a slightly addicted to technology and frequently overbooked, like every bad millennial stereotype, so my favorite coffee “preparation” method is ordering through the Starbucks iPhone app. I can exit the train station, tap in my order as I walk, pay in the app, breeze past the line, and pick up my Flat White and pastries without breaking my stride. I end up conveniently caffeinated and ready to start my day.
Do you have any tips or tricks to how to prepare coffee with this method?
Using Apple Pay and Touch ID means I pay for my coffee with my fingerprint. Super easy and I get to feel like I live in the future…because we do.
What do you like most about your job at Fractured Atlas?
I love getting to see so many fascinating artists work on fascinating projects. I am someone who gets excited about all artists making work they believe in, even if it isn’t my personal aesthetic. We at Fractured Atlas work with a wide variety of artists doing such great things — it is staggering to see the breadth of work out there.
What do you do outside of work that people might not know about? (creative outlets/practice, hobbies, interests, etc.)
I love to cook and collect Le Creuset cookware (a favorite of Julia Child.) I recently acquired a Le Creuset piece that was owned by Dr. Maya Angelou.
Day 1:
What is your favorite way to make coffee? Why?
I’m a big fan of my Nespresso. I can make a really great latte or cappuccino just by pressing a couple of buttons, and it’s less expensive than going to a coffee shop. I also like that the pods are recyclable so I don’t feel quite so bad about using pods.
Do you have any tips or tricks to how to prepare coffee with this method?
I like to pre-warm my cup by running hot water through. It also tastes significantly better if drunk from a pretty bowl. :)
What do you like most about your job at Fractured Atlas?
The people! I love the work I do, but my co-workers are what really make working here great.
What do you do outside of work that people might not know about?
This isn’t really a secret (as I’m one of the founding members of the Fractured Atlas Craft Club) but I really love making things — sewing, crafting, making jewelry. I’ve actually recently started a blog to share projects and ideas.
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