FAQ & Brewing Guide
Everything worth knowing about our coffee, your order, and how to get the best out of both. If your question is not here, write to us.
Brewing guide
We ship whole beans only — coffee stays aromatic for weeks sealed, and loses it within hours of being ground. Grind just before you brew. These are starting points; adjust to taste.
Filter — V60, Kalita, batch brew
- Ratio 1:16 — 15 g coffee to 250 g water
- Water 93–94 °C, medium-fine grind (table salt)
- Bloom with 50 g for 30 s, then pour slowly to 250 g — done around 3:00
French press
- Ratio 1:14 — 30 g coffee to 420 g water
- Water 96 °C, coarse grind (sea salt)
- Steep 4 min, break the crust, skim, wait 4 more — then pour gently
Espresso
- 18 g in, 36–40 g out, in 25–30 s
- Fine grind; light roasts like a touch longer extraction
- Too sour → grind finer. Too bitter → coarser or shorter
Questions
Why whole bean only?
Freshness is the whole point. Ground coffee loses its aromatics within hours — sealed whole beans keep them for weeks. We roast, seal, and ship; you grind at home. We do not offer pre-ground, and we would rather you taste the coffee at its best.
When is my coffee roasted?
We roast on Thursdays and ship within 48 hours. What arrives was in the roaster days ago, not months.
Where do you ship and what does it cost?
Portugal: CTT, 2–4 working days — €3.50, free over €35.
European Union: CTT tracked, 5–8 working days — €8.90, free over €60.
Can I return my coffee?
No — coffee is a perishable good, and under EU law the 14-day withdrawal right does not apply to products that deteriorate quickly. If your order arrives damaged, wrong, or simply tastes off, write to hello@aethelcoffee.pt — we would rather resend or refund than have you disappointed.
Is there a subscription?
A monthly Mystery Box is in the works — a rotating pick of what is best in the roaster, delivered on roast day. Join the roast day letter in the footer and you will hear first.
Do you sell to cafés and shops?
Yes — write to wholesale@aethelcoffee.pt with roughly how much you brew per week and we will send the current list.