What to write in a coffee brew journal

Record the recipe before the impression

Write down the coffee, brewing method, coffee dose, water amount and grinder setting. A note such as “bright and sweet” is easier to act on when you can reproduce the recipe behind it.

Describe what you actually notice

You do not need a professional tasting vocabulary. Note whether the cup seems strong or weak, light or heavy, pleasant or harsh. Taste again as it cools, and record whether your impression changes.

Give the next brew one clear job

Choose a single change for the next cup. Keep the remaining variables steady. If you change the beans, grinder setting, dose and water all at once, it becomes difficult to understand the result.

• Recipe: 20 g coffee, 320 g water, paper-filtered brewer.
• Observation: enjoyable aroma, but the drink felt too concentrated.
• Next experiment: keep the coffee and grind unchanged and try a little more water.

Keep the notes you use

A notebook or plain text file is enough. Save successful recipes alongside less successful experiments. Your goal is a useful personal reference, not a perfect score sheet.