Making Coffee With The Bunn CW Series Brewer

Quick Answer

• Use fresh, quality beans. Grind them right before brewing.
• Get your water temp in the sweet spot, around 195-205°F.
• Dial in your coffee-to-water ratio. Start with about 1:16.
• Keep your Bunn CW clean. Descale it regularly.
• Use the right filter. Bunn paper filters are usually best for these.
• Don’t rush the bloom. Let that initial water saturate the grounds.
• Taste your coffee. Adjust one variable at a time.
• If it’s still off, check the manual for specific troubleshooting.

Who This Is For

• You just got a Bunn CW Series brewer and want to make a killer cup.
• You’ve had one for a while but feel like your coffee could be better.
• You appreciate a good, reliable drip coffee maker and want to master it.

If you’re looking to upgrade or replace your current machine, consider the reliable Bunn CW coffee maker for consistent brewing.

Bunn 12950.0213 CWTF-3 Automatic Commercial Coffee Brewer with 3 Warmers

• Coffee decanters not included, sold separately
• SplashGard funnel deflects hot liquids away from the hand
• Automatic model, plumbed into a water line. Also has a backup Pourover feature
• Hot water faucet
• Designed and Assembled in the USA, All stainless steel construction

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What to Check First

Brewer Type and Filter Type

Most Bunn CW Series brewers are pour-over style, meaning you add water manually. This gives you control. For filters, Bunn usually recommends their specific paper filters. They’re designed to fit the brew basket perfectly. Using the wrong size or type can lead to channeling or weak coffee. Always check your brewer’s manual for the exact filter specs.

Water Quality and Temperature

Your coffee is mostly water, so good water matters. Filtered tap water is usually a solid choice. Avoid distilled water or super-hard water. For temperature, the ideal range is 195-205°F. Too hot and you’ll scorch the grounds; too cool and you won’t extract enough flavor. Most Bunn brewers heat water to a good temp, but if yours seems off, check the manual.

Grind Size and Coffee Freshness

Freshness is king. Buy whole beans and grind them just before you brew. Pre-ground coffee loses its aroma and flavor fast. For a Bunn CW, a medium grind is usually the sweet spot. It should look like coarse sand. Too fine and it’ll clog; too coarse and your coffee will be weak and sour.

Coffee-to-Water Ratio

This is how much coffee grounds you use for how much water. A good starting point is 1:16. That means 1 gram of coffee for every 16 grams (or ml) of water. For a standard 12-cup pot (about 60 oz of water), that’s roughly 3.75 oz of coffee beans. You can adjust this to your taste. More coffee means a stronger brew.

Cleanliness/Descale Status

A dirty brewer makes bad coffee. Period. Coffee oils build up, and mineral deposits from water can clog things up. Regularly clean the brew basket and carafe. For Bunn brewers, descaling is important, especially if you have hard water. Check your manual for how often and how to do it. A clean machine is a happy machine, and it makes happy coffee.

Step-by-Step: How to Make Coffee in a Bunn CW Series Brewer

1. Gather Your Gear: Get your Bunn CW brewer, fresh whole beans, a grinder, a scale, a kettle (if heating water separately), filtered water, and your preferred filter.

• Good looks like: Everything is clean and ready to go. No dusty grounds lying around.
• Common mistake: Using stale beans or not having a filter ready. Avoid this by prepping everything beforehand.

2. Heat Your Water (if needed): If your Bunn heats water automatically, skip this. If you need to add water manually, heat it to 195-205°F.

• Good looks like: Water is at the right temperature, not boiling furiously.
• Common mistake: Using boiling water. This scorches the coffee. Let it cool for 30-60 seconds after it boils.

3. Weigh Your Beans: Use your scale to weigh out the desired amount of whole beans. For a 12-cup pot, aim for around 3.5-4 oz (or about 100-115g).

• Good looks like: Precise measurement. This is key for consistency.
• Common mistake: Guessing the amount. This leads to unpredictable results.

4. Grind Your Beans: Grind the beans to a medium consistency, like coarse sand. Do this right before brewing.

• Good looks like: Uniformly sized grounds. No dust or large chunks.
• Common mistake: Grinding too fine or too coarse. Too fine clogs; too coarse is weak.

5. Prepare the Brew Basket: Place the correct Bunn paper filter into the brew basket. Rinse it with hot water if you want to remove any paper taste. Discard the rinse water.

• Good looks like: Filter sits snugly in the basket. No leaks expected.
• Common mistake: Not rinsing the filter. This can impart a papery taste.

6. Add Ground Coffee: Pour the freshly ground coffee into the prepared filter. Gently shake the basket to level the grounds.

• Good looks like: An even bed of coffee grounds.
• Common mistake: Leaving a mound in the center. This can cause uneven extraction.

7. Start the Brew Cycle: If your Bunn heats water automatically, place the carafe and start the brew. If you’re doing a manual pour-over, start by wetting the grounds.

• Good looks like: Water flows evenly over the grounds.
• Common mistake: Pouring too fast or all at once. This can wash grounds over the filter.

8. The Bloom (Manual Pour-Over): Pour just enough hot water (about twice the weight of the coffee) to saturate all the grounds. Let it sit for 30 seconds. You’ll see it bubble up.

• Good looks like: A gentle expansion of the coffee bed.
• Common mistake: Skipping the bloom. This releases CO2 and leads to better flavor extraction.

9. Continue Pouring (Manual Pour-Over): Slowly and steadily pour the remaining hot water in a circular motion, keeping the water level consistent and avoiding pouring directly down the sides of the filter.

• Good looks like: A controlled, steady stream of water. The brew basket doesn’t overflow.
• Common mistake: Pouring too erratically or too quickly. This can create channels and uneven extraction.

10. Wait for Drip-Through: Allow all the water to drip through the coffee grounds into the carafe.

• Good looks like: A steady, consistent drip. No pooling water.
• Common mistake: Stopping the brew too early. This results in weak coffee.

11. Serve and Taste: Once brewing is complete, remove the brew basket. Give the carafe a gentle swirl and pour. Taste your coffee.

• Good looks like: Aromatic, balanced coffee.
• Common mistake: Not swirling the carafe. The coffee at the bottom can be stronger than at the top.

12. Clean Up: Discard the used grounds and filter. Rinse the brew basket and carafe immediately.

• Good looks like: A clean brewer ready for the next use.
• Common mistake: Leaving grounds and coffee residue. This leads to stale flavors and buildup.

Common Mistakes (and What Happens If You Ignore Them)

Decision Rules

• If your coffee tastes bitter, then try a coarser grind because it’s likely over-extracted.
• If your coffee tastes sour, then try a finer grind because it’s likely under-extracted.
• If your coffee tastes weak, then increase the coffee-to-water ratio (use more coffee) because you’re not using enough grounds.
• If your coffee tastes too strong, then decrease the coffee-to-water ratio (use less coffee) because you’re using too many grounds.
• If your coffee has a papery taste, then make sure you’re rinsing your paper filter thoroughly.
• If your coffee tastes burnt, then check your water temperature; it might be too hot.
• If your coffee brews very slowly or stops mid-way, then your grind might be too fine, or your brewer needs descaling.
• If your coffee tastes muddy or has a lot of sediment, then your grind might be too fine, or your filter isn’t seated properly.
• If you’re getting inconsistent results, then start weighing your beans and water for precise ratios.
• If your Bunn brewer is several years old and you haven’t descaled it, then try descaling it because mineral buildup can affect taste and performance.
• If you’ve tried adjusting grind and ratio and still don’t like the taste, then try a different coffee bean because the bean itself might not be to your liking.

FAQ

Q: How much coffee should I use in my Bunn CW Series brewer?

A: A good starting point is a 1:16 coffee-to-water ratio by weight. For a standard 12-cup pot (around 60 oz water), that’s roughly 3.5 to 4 oz of whole beans. Adjust to your taste for strength.

Q: What’s the best grind size for my Bunn CW Series brewer?

A: Aim for a medium grind, similar to coarse sand. Too fine can lead to bitterness and clogs, while too coarse will result in weak, sour coffee.

Q: My coffee tastes bitter. What could be wrong?

A: Bitterness often comes from over-extraction. Try a coarser grind, slightly cooler water (if you can control it), or a slightly lower coffee-to-water ratio. Also, ensure your brewer is clean.

Q: My coffee tastes weak and sour. What’s the fix?

A: This usually means under-extraction. Try a finer grind, ensure your water is hot enough (195-205°F), or use a bit more coffee relative to water.

Q: How often should I clean my Bunn CW Series brewer?

A: Clean the brew basket and carafe after every use. Descale your brewer every 1-3 months, depending on your water hardness and how often you use it. Check your manual for specific descaling instructions.

Q: Can I use any paper filter with my Bunn CW Series brewer?

A: Bunn generally recommends their specific paper filters for best results, as they’re designed to fit the brew basket perfectly. Using an ill-fitting filter can cause issues.

Q: Does the temperature of the water really matter that much?

A: Absolutely. Water that’s too hot can scorch the coffee, creating bitter flavors. Water that’s too cool won’t extract enough flavor, leading to a weak, sour cup. The sweet spot is typically 195-205°F.

Q: What is “blooming” and why is it important?

A: Blooming is the initial wetting of the coffee grounds with hot water, allowing trapped CO2 gas to escape. This process, which takes about 30 seconds, helps ensure more even extraction and better flavor.

What This Page Does Not Cover (and Where to Go Next)

• Specific descaling solutions and detailed maintenance procedures for every Bunn CW model (check your manual).
• Advanced brewing techniques like controlled pouring patterns beyond basic circular motion.
• Comparisons of different coffee bean origins or roast profiles and how they affect taste.
• Troubleshooting electrical issues or major mechanical failures with your brewer.
• Information on single-serve brewing adapters or other add-ons not standard to the CW series.