There's no single "right" way — it depends on your setup and how strong you like it. Here's the breakdown:

Match your grind to your method:

• Coarse grind — French press or cold brew
• Medium grind — drip coffee makers or pour-over
• Fine grind — espresso machines

Get your ratio right. A good starting point is 1 gram of coffee for every 17 grams (about 17 ml) of water. For an average 8 oz. cup, that's roughly 14 grams of coffee — call it 2 heaping tablespoons.

Want it lighter and smoother? Back off to 1:18. Want it stronger? Tighten it up to 1:16.

Start there, then adjust. Your taste, your water, your gear — dial it in until it's right for you.

Absolutely. Pods are convenient, but if you want more control over your cup, here's how to brew Black Collar the manual way.

Pour Over: Rinse your filter, add coffee ground medium, bloom with a little hot water for 30 seconds, then slowly pour the rest in a circular motion over about 3 minutes.

French Press: Coarse grind, hot water, stir once, steep 4 minutes, press slowly and pour immediately.

AeroPress: Fine-to-medium grind, stir 10 seconds, steep 1–2 minutes, press slowly for 20–30 seconds.

Moka Pot: Fill the bottom chamber with water, fine grind in the basket (don't pack it), medium-low heat with the lid open, pull it once you hear the hiss.

No matter the method: fresh whole bean coffee, ground right before you brew, filtered water if you've got it.

Every Black Collar roast is available in whole bean or ground — drip, fine, or coarse — so you can dial it in for however you brew. Bags come in 12 oz., 1 lb., 2 lb., and 5 lb. sizes. Buying for yourself or buying for a crew, we've got a size that makes sense.

Yes. We're building out options for construction offices, job site trailers, fire and police stations, and any crew that goes through coffee fast. If that's you, reach out through our Contact page and we'll get you set up with a standing order or bulk pricing.

Every Black Collar blend is built from beans sourced primarily out of Central and South America, with some roasts pulling from further afield. Origins can shift batch to batch based on what's in season and what's cutting the best cup — but here's the breakdown by roast:

• Grease and Grounds — specialty-grade Arabica/Robusta from Central American countries
• The Foreman — an espresso blend sourced globally
• Double Overtime — a Robusta blend, built for maximum caffeine
• Sunday Off — a well-balanced medium blend
• First Shift — a post-roast blend of medium and dark coffees, with tasting notes of vanilla, caramel, and cocoa
• Nightcap — a water-processed dark roast espresso, decaf

We work with farms that pay a living wage. Because the coffee changes with the season, we don't lock ourselves to one farm or one country — we lock ourselves to quality and to paying people fairly for growing it.

Yes — three tiers: Apprentice, Journeyman, and Master Trade. Pick the one that matches how much you go through, and pause or cancel whenever you want. No contracts, no penalties, no hoops.

Absolutely — here's how: on each product page, select your subscription preference (Journeyman for 2 items/month, or Master Trade for 3 items/month) and add it to cart. Repeat for each roast you want in the mix. At checkout, your subscription discount applies automatically, and your roasts show up at your door every month from there on out.

Same reason you don't grab a used torque wrench from a pawn shop — you don't know how long it's been sitting, and you've got no idea if it's still accurate.

Grocery store coffee can sit on a shelf for 6 months or more before it ever reaches your cup. By the time you're brewing it, most of the flavor's already gone — you're just drinking the ghost of what it used to be.

Black Collar Coffee is roasted in small batches and shipped fresh. Subscribe for monthly delivery and you're never running on old stock — just like you wouldn't run a job with dull blades or worn-out gear. You maintain your tools. Maintain your coffee too.

Yes — Nightcap. Built for night-shift workers who want to wind down after a shift without losing sleep over it. Same quality, none of the buzz.

No. Black Collar Coffee tastes great straight — no pinkies out required. Doctor it up if that's how you like it, but this coffee's built to hold its own black.