Keeping logs and iteration
Why keeping brew logs helps home brewers refine their technique, and how to use iteration to systematically improve coffee quality.
- Coffee Basics Nerds
- 1 min read
Article 9 of 12 in Home Brewing Setup & Skills/
Why Keep Logs?
- Prevents repeating mistakes.
- Helps identify what variables drive taste changes.
- Creates a personal reference for favorite recipes and beans.
What to Record
- Coffee Details: Origin, roast date, variety, process.
- Brew Method & Recipe: Device, dose, water, ratio, grind setting.
- Brew Variables: Time, temperature, agitation, bloom.
- Sensory Notes: Flavor descriptors, balance, body, aftertaste.
- Outcome & Adjustments: What worked, what to change next time.
Tools for Logging
- Paper Notebook: Simple, tactile, easy to review.
- Spreadsheets: Track trends across brews with filters and charts.
- Apps: Specialized coffee logging apps with grinder and recipe databases.
Iterative Improvement Process
- Change One Variable at a Time: Grind, dose, or time.
- Taste and Evaluate: Note sweetness, acidity, body, and clarity.
- Adjust and Retry: Use logs to guide next iteration.
- Refine Over Time: Builds intuition for dialing in faster.
Benefits of Iteration
- Faster dialing-in with new coffees.
- Better understanding of how variables interact.
- Personalized “recipe book” for favorite beans and brewers.
Summary
Keeping logs transforms coffee brewing from guesswork into a structured learning process. By recording variables, tasting carefully, and iterating systematically, home brewers can steadily improve consistency and discover their ideal flavor preferences.