How To Get The Most Out of Your BRCC Exclusive Coffee Subscription

When Black Rifle Coffee Company fired up its roasters back in 2014, CEO Evan Hafer's dream was to provide fresh, high-quality coffee to people who love America. As the core batch of roasts began gaining popularity, BRCC was able to expand its offerings by hunting down and experimenting with unique microlots it made available to die-hard coffeeheads through its Exclusive Coffee Subscription, or ECS. This collection of specialty coffee profiles is designed to complement the already popular classic roasts in the BRCC lineup.

The ECS is a monthly subscription open to all BRCC Coffee Club members. When you join the ECS, you will receive a monthly shipment of high-scoring microlot coffees from around the world. 

"These are small-batch, premium, and exclusive coffees, and they're typically going to be processed differently," BRCC CEO Evan Hafer explained. "They're going to be more of a microlot, organic, naturally processed, just to quite literally offer a different taste or profile for our customers that really want something unique."

But unlike the core batch of BRCC offerings, which are meant to be enjoyed using a Keurig or drip coffee maker, these high-scoring microlots require a bit more commitment in your brewing technique to unlock each coffee's unique flavor profile.

Choose a Pour Over Brewing Device and Start Practicing

Photo courtesy of Black Rifle Coffee Company. 

If you are ready to make the jump to the Exclusive Coffee Subscription lineup, we first recommend taking a closer look at your current home-brewing setup. If your primary method of making coffee is tailored toward convenience rather than science, the BRCC website is a one-stop shop to elevate your coffee game. Choosing a new brewing technique may seem like a daunting task, so here are a couple recommendations to get you pointed in the right direction. 

There is a wide variety of specialty coffee brewing kits at your disposal, and finding your ideal setup often comes down to a bit of trial and error. Investing in a pour over brewing kit is a great way to start experimenting with your coffee. The pour over method offers many variables for fine-tuning your brewing technique. It’s easy to adjust the ratio of fresh coffee beans to water, the water temperature, and the grind size after each brewing session without having to reinvent the wheel. 

Now, we know what you are probably thinking. Do I really need to weigh out my coffee each morning just to make a cup of joe? For your everyday, typical coffee subscription drinker, the answer is probably no. But if you are making the jump up to the Exclusive Coffee Subscription, then the answer is a resounding YES! Let us explain.  

Great coffee starts with great beans. The quality and flavor of your coffee is determined by your brewing process and the type of coffee you select. The BRCC ECS takes the guesswork out of finding a new high-scoring specialty coffee offering. These specialty coffees consistently score 85+ out of 100 on the coffee review scale.   

You have already made the conscious decision to spend your hard-earned cash on a bag of specialty coffee each month, so why not go all in, right? Keep in mind, this 12-ounce bag of specialty coffee is only delivered once a month to subscription holders, so your go-to, daily coffee routine can, for the most part, stay the same with your core subscription coffees. 

Chemex Takes the Guesswork out of Specialty Coffee Brewing

Photo courtesy of Black Rifle Coffee Company. 

Brewing a consistent cup of specialty coffee is not an exact science, and learning to do so will take some work on your part. The Chemex is a great choice to kick-start your manual pour over adventures. The simple design of the Chemex and its easy brewing parameters have become a longtime favorite of novice and world-class coffee enthusiasts alike; the Chemex makes it easy to adjust your brewing technique for a consistent cup of high-quality coffee.

The Chemex comes in a variety of sizes to fit your individual needs. We also recommend investing in a gooseneck kettle, a coffee scale with a timer, and of course, a proper coffee grinder. The BRCC website features a wide variety of models to choose from.

• Use your kitchen scale to weigh out the fresh, whole-bean coffee. We have found that a ratio of 30 grams of whole-bean coffee to every 500 grams of water is a great starting point. For reference, 500 grams of water makes about two 8-ounce cups of coffee.

• Heat your water in your gooseneck kettle. A brewing temperature between 195 - and 207 - degrees Fahrenheit is ideal for this particular technique.

• While the water is heating up, place a Chemex filter in your Chemex and start grinding your coffee. We use a medium-to-coarse grind, which closely resembles the coarseness of beach sand.

• Once the water has reached the ideal temperature, it's time to wet the Chemex filter. Simply pour a little bit of water from your gooseneck kettle directly on the filter so that it dampens the entire filter. It's important to remember that the excess water used to wet the filter is not part of your water brew ratio, so plan accordingly to ensure you are left with the recommended 500 grams of water needed for your brew. After the filter is wet, dump out the excess water from your Chemex and place the damp filter back on top of the device.

• Put the grounds in the filter, start your timer, and begin dampening your grounds. Before brewing your coffee, it's essential to let the grounds bloom. This releases carbon dioxide from the fresh coffee grounds.

Photo courtesy of Black Rifle Coffee Company.

• You should use about twice as much water as you have grounds for blooming. For example, 30 grams of coffee calls for 60 grams of water during the blooming phase. Once the grounds are damp, let them sit for 30 to 40 seconds. You'll see the gas release from them, and after that, you're ready to brew.

• During the first minute of brewing, pour half of the water directly onto the freshly bloomed grounds. 

• After the first minute of brewing, continue pouring in a slow, circular motion with your gooseneck kettle, but slow the flow of water so that the remainder is poured by the third minute of brewing. 

• With the ratio of 30 grams of coffee to 500 grams of water, aim for three to four-and-a-half minutes of total brew time. If you notice quicker water draw-down time, your grind may be too coarse, and if the draw-down is much slower than desired, then the grind is too fine. 

Once you're comfortable with this process, try changing different brewing variables to learn what makes the best cup of coffee for you. This brewing technique is a great way to get the most out of your Exclusive Coffee Subscription each month.