99 Pandas Brewing Guides

Great coffee and tea, no gatekeeping required.

THE COFFEE MINDSET: Before You Brew

You don’t need a $600 espresso machine or a barista certification to brew something incredible. You just need good beans, clean water, and a little know-how. That’s what this guide is for. Let’s get into it.

COFFEE BREWING GUIDES

☕ Dark Roast — “The Heavyweight”

Flavor Profile: Bold, rich, full-bodied. Think dark chocolate, toasted nuts, and a smoky finish that lingers.

Best Brewed As: French Press, Drip, Cold Brew

French Press (Recommended)

What You Need	Amount
Coffee (coarse grind)	1 tbsp per 4 oz water
Water temp	195°F – 200°F (just off the boil)
Brew time	4 minutes

Steps:

1.      Add coarsely ground coffee to your French Press.

2.      Pour hot water slowly over the grounds, making sure everything gets saturated.

3.      Give it a quick stir, then place the lid on (don’t press yet).

4.      Wait 4 minutes. Seriously — don’t rush it.

5.      Press slowly and steadily. Pour immediately.

Pro tip: Don’t let it sit after pressing — it’ll over-extract and go bitter. Pour it all out or into a carafe.

Drip Coffee Maker

What You Need	Amount
Coffee (medium grind)	1–2 tbsp per 6 oz water
Water temp	Auto (most drip machines nail this)
Brew time	5–6 minutes

Steps:

1.      Use a medium grind — not too fine, not too chunky.

2.      Fill your filter, add water to the reservoir, and hit brew.

3.      That’s it. Drip is forgiving — adjust the coffee-to-water ratio to your taste.

Cold Brew

What You Need	Amount
Coffee (coarse grind)	1 cup per 4 cups cold water
Steep time	12–24 hours in the fridge

Steps:

1.      Combine coarse grounds and cold water in a jar or pitcher.

2.      Stir, cover, and refrigerate for at least 12 hours (24 for a stronger concentrate).

3.      Strain through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth.

4.      Serve over ice, dilute with water or milk to taste.

The payoff: Smooth, naturally sweet, zero bitterness. Dark roast cold brew is a game-changer.

☕ Light Roast — “The Floral”

Flavor Profile: Delicate, bright, and complex. Notes of fruit, citrus, and floral sweetness. This one surprises people.

Best Brewed As: Pour Over, AeroPress

Pour Over (Recommended)

What You Need	Amount
Coffee (medium-fine grind)	1:15 ratio (e.g., 20g coffee : 300g water)
Water temp	200°F – 205°F
Brew time	3–4 minutes

Steps:

1.      Place your filter in the dripper and rinse it with hot water (removes papery taste). Discard that water.

2.      Add your ground coffee. Give the dripper a gentle shake to level it out.

3.      Bloom: Pour just enough water to wet all the grounds (about 2x the coffee weight). Wait 30 seconds. This releases CO2 and opens up the flavors.

4.      Continue pouring in slow, circular motions — center out, then back in. Don’t rush.

5.      Total brew time should be 3–4 minutes. Adjust your grind if it’s going too fast or too slow.

Why this brew method? Pour over lets every delicate note in the light roast shine. It rewards a little patience.

AeroPress

What You Need	Amount
Coffee (fine-medium grind)	17g (about 2.5 tbsp)
Water temp	175°F – 185°F (slightly cooler than usual)
Brew time	1–2 minutes

Steps:

1.      Insert filter in the cap, attach to the chamber, and pre-rinse with hot water.

2.      Add ground coffee to the chamber.

3.      Pour water to the top, stir for 10 seconds.

4.      Place the plunger and press down slowly over 30–40 seconds.

5.      Dilute with hot water if you want a longer cup.

Great for: Quick, clean cups when you don’t want to fuss. Light roast in an AeroPress hits bright and clean every time.

TEA BREWING GUIDES

🍵 Earl Grey

Flavor Profile: Classic black tea with a fragrant, citrusy bergamot twist. Smooth, aromatic, and timeless.

What You Need	Details
Amount	1 tsp loose leaf (or 1 bag) per 8 oz water
Water temp	200°F – 212°F (near boiling)
Steep time	3–5 minutes

Steps:

1.      Heat water to just below a full boil.

2.      Add your tea to an infuser or drop in your bag.

3.      Pour water over the tea — don’t add tea to the water (it matters).

4.      Steep for 3 minutes for lighter flavor, 5 minutes for bold.

5.      Remove tea promptly. Over-steeping makes it bitter.

Serve it:

·       Classic: A splash of milk and a little sugar

·       Iced: Steep double-strength, pour over ice

·       London Fog: Steep strong, add steamed oat milk and a dash of vanilla syrup — you’re welcome

🍵 Masala Chai

Flavor Profile: Spicy, warming, deeply comforting. Cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, and black pepper doing their thing.

What You Need	Details
Amount	1.5 tsp per 8 oz liquid
Water + Milk Ratio	50/50 (4 oz water + 4 oz milk)
Steep/Simmer time	5–7 minutes

Steps:

1.      Combine water and milk in a small saucepan over medium heat.

2.      Add your chai blend directly to the pot.

3.      Bring to a gentle simmer — not a rolling boil. Let the spices bloom for 5–7 minutes.

4.      Strain into your mug through a fine mesh sieve.

5.      Sweeten with sugar, honey, or condensed milk to taste.

The real way: Chai is traditionally simmered, not just steeped. That time on the heat is what unlocks the spice depth. Don’t skip it.

Iced Chai Latte:

1.      Brew double-strength, simmer for 8–10 minutes.

2.      Let it cool slightly, pour over a full glass of ice.

3.      Top with cold milk or oat milk. Stir and enjoy.

🍵 Mango Treat

Flavor Profile: Sweet, tropical, and fruity — like a warm vacation in a mug. Hits different over ice.

What You Need	Details
Amount	1 tsp per 8 oz water
Water temp	175°F – 185°F (not boiling — preserve those fruit notes)
Steep time	3–4 minutes

Steps:

1.      Heat water to around 180°F — hot, but not boiling. Boiling water can dull the fruity flavors.

2.      Add your tea and steep for 3–4 minutes.

3.      Remove promptly and enjoy as-is or with a touch of honey.

Mango Iced Tea (the move):

1.      Brew double-strength (2 tsp per 8 oz).

2.      Pour directly over ice — the ice brings it down to the perfect temp.

3.      Add a squeeze of fresh lime for a tropical upgrade.

4.      Optional: a splash of coconut milk for a creamy twist.

Great for: Afternoon pick-me-ups, impressing guests, or just treating yourself. No judgment.

Quick Reference Cheat Sheet

Product	Method	Water Temp	Ratio	Time
Dark Roast	French Press	195–200°F	1 tbsp / 4 oz	4 min
Dark Roast	Cold Brew	Cold	1 cup / 4 cups	12–24 hrs
Light Roast	Pour Over	200–205°F	1:15	3–4 min
Light Roast	AeroPress	175–185°F	17g / 240ml	1–2 min
Earl Grey	Steep	200–212°F	1 tsp / 8 oz	3–5 min
Masala Chai	Simmer	Stovetop	1.5 tsp / 8 oz	5–7 min
Mango Treat	Steep	175–185°F	1 tsp / 8 oz	3–4 min

Made with love by 99 Pandas — specialty coffee and tea for the rest of us.99-pandas.com