Prepare Your Zero

Coffee is not just caffeine.
It’s the ritual that starts the day.

This guide covers grind size, water ratio, and preparation so you can brew a consistent cup without overthinking the process.

Simple.
Correct.
Quiet.

Choose Your Grind

Grind size determines how quickly water extracts flavor from coffee.

  • French Press / Cold Brew → Coarse
  • Drip Coffee Maker / Pour Over → Medium
  • Espresso Machine / Moka Pot → Fine

If you're unsure, medium works for most drip coffee makers.

What Each Grind Looks Like

  • Coarse — Chunky sea salt. Full-bodied, lower bitterness
  • Medium — Rough sand. Balanced and consistent
  • Fine — Table salt. Fast extraction under pressure

Whole Bean — Grind immediately before brewing. Preserves aroma, freshness, and clarity.
Burr grinders provide the most consistent result.

The Zero Standard Ratio

Most guides recommend 1:16 — one gram of coffee per 16 grams of water.

At Zero Chaos, we use a simpler approach:

1 gram of coffee per ounce of water

Quick Reference

Water Coffee (grams) Tablespoons / Cups (approx)
10 oz 10 g ~2 tbsp
20 oz 20 g ~4 tbsp or ~1/4 cup
52 oz 52 g ~10–11 tbsp or ~2/3 cup

Simple Rule (No Scale Needed)

  • 1 tablespoon ≈ 5 grams of coffee
  • 4 tablespoons ≈ 1/4 cup

Water Matters

Coffee is mostly water. Clean water lets the coffee’s natural profile come through.

  • Use: filtered or bottled spring water
  • Avoid: distilled or softened water

Storage

Coffee freshness is affected by air, light, heat, and moisture.

  • Store in the original resealable bag or an airtight container
  • Keep in a cool, dark place
  • Do not refrigerate or freeze

Tea (The Ember Method)

Coffee starts the day.
Tea controls the transition.

Not just evening.
Midday. Reset. Close.

Tea doesn’t require complexity.
It requires consistency.

Use clean water.
Use the right temperature.
Give it time.

Base Preparation

  • Black Tea → ~195°F · 5–7 minutes
  • Herbal Tea → 212°F · 5–10 minutes
  • Standard Ratio → 2.5g–3g per 12oz water

Hot or iced, the goal is the same:
a clean, repeatable cup that supports the moment.

Brew Methods

Hot
Steep, sit, and drink as is.
Smooth. Controlled. Consistent.

Iced
Brew double strength, pour over ice.
Keeps structure. Keeps clarity.

The Role of Tea

Tea marks the shift.

Not to slow you down —
to help you step out of pressure without losing awareness.

  • Ease → Midday pause without losing momentum
  • Spark → Warmth and grounding without stopping
  • Release → End-of-day transition without collapse
  • Foundation → Structured start without coffee

No charts.
No noise.
Just a process you can return to.

→ Shop Ember Teas

The Ritual

Coffee begins the day.
Tea shapes how it ends — or resets it in the middle.

A warm cup and a few quiet minutes shift the mind from reaction to control.

No noise.
No overthinking.
Just direction.