The Winning Ratio and Check the Math

7. Try the coffeehouse ratio. Using better machines and higher-quality beans makes for richer, more intensive flavor. But good coffeehouses use more coffee when brewing, too: 2 tablespoons of coffee per 6 ounces of water.

8. Check your pot's math. A standard cup measure is 8 ounces, but it's obvious to the eye that many 8- and 10-cup coffeemakers use a different measure. Some use a 6-ounce standard; some, even less. Check the manual or test your pot because you want to use the right coffee to water ratio. See #7 above.