5 Best Coffee Brewing Methods Anyone Can Perfect For Home or On The Go
Ten years ago, the choice of brewing method you choose was almost certain: Americano or Espresso. Today, there are many options available. What roast do you prefer? Cold brew? AeroPress?
Let’s look at each coffee brewing method and hopefully get you excited about the type of coffee you can brew using some of the best brewing tools.
Different Coffee Brewing Methods Explained
There are three standard methods of brewing coffee. The difference between the methods is how the ground coffee is combined with water.
These methods include steeping, pressure, and dripping/filtration.
Pressure Methods
These are methods that involve the use of intense pressure when extracting coffee. The technique is popular with people who are looking to get a quick cup of strong coffee.
The common pressure-based methods include espresso (achieved by pushing hot water, around 200°F at 8-9atmospheres through ground coffee), Moka pot and vacuum coffee brewing.
Steeping Methods
The steeping or coffee immersion method involves directly mixing ground coffee with water and allowing the mix to stand for some time for the extraction magic to happen. Once the coffee grounds have been steeped long enough, a filter is then used to do the separation so that you are left with uniquely flavoured coffee.
The process is very easy to execute and has only one risk of over or under steeping, which can ruin your favourite cup of coffee. However, when correctly done, the method can help you uncover flavours of coffee that you never knew existed.
Dripping/Filtration Methods
This is one of the simplest, oldest, cheapest, and fastest methods to brew coffee. The method uses a paper filter and coffee cone.
The process involves pouring hot water evenly on the ground coffee in a filter paper. The gravitational force allows the water to slowly drip into a pot or a cup, resulting in a clear and light-bodied brew.
Coffee cones are made of glass, plastic, ceramic or stainless steel. In this case, a gooseneck kettle comes in handy in controlling the rate of your pour.
AeroPress Go
The AeroPress Go is a basic three-piece tool that helps brewers make coffee within the shortest time possible. It is a manual brewer and a perfect option when you're on the go.
The method works perfectly when things are just kept simple: just the right size grind, right temperature, and the right level of air pressure. The result of AeroPress is a spectacularly tasting and smooth coffee brew.
Your grind size will determine the kind of result you get, so choose a grind size that suits your mood perfectly. The Aeropress Go is an eco-friendly coffee maker with the only produced waste product being reusable biodegradable filters and coffee pucks.
- Brew Type: Rich and smooth tasting brew using the pressure method
- Brew Time: About 1 minute
- Best Grind to Use: Fine to medium. Good results with Shock & Awe
- Best suits travellers or those who appreciate a quick, clean, and great tasting coffee. If you love camping, hiking, or any other outdoor activity, the Aeropress ticks all the boxes.
Pros
- Efficient
- Versatile
- Virtually indestructible and easy to pack for travel
- Combines percolation brewing and full immersion
Cons
- Filter expenses
- Not ideal for people looking for 6-10 oz of coffee at a time
Moka Stovetop Espresso Machine
In the Moka stove Espresso machine, your coffee brewing process is taken through 3 chambers. Water is heated in the lower section, and steam forces it up through the coffee grounds, placed in the middle section of the pot.
Coffee is then collected at the upper chamber of the pot, where it condenses. Getting the right grind for this method might be quite a challenge.
You should not under-extract (too coarse) or over-extract (too fine). A quality Moka pot, when utilized well with some skills, can give you a bittersweet and super strong concoction that can take you through the day.
Coffee obtained through this method is close to a strong espresso shot and sharp-tasting coffee. Popular with the Reville Grind.
- Brew Type: Sharp and strong tasting coffee using the pressure method
- Brew Time: About 5 minutes but a little longer if you are using an induction stove
- Best Grind to Use: coarser than an espresso-like grind and finer than a drip coffee grind
- Suits people who are on a budget or people looking for something portable but are not fans of the clean and thin tasting brewed coffee.
Pros
- Quick to brew
- Relatively cheap coffee maker
- Very portable- You can even get mini-pots for travelling
Cons
- High risk of under and over-extraction depending on your grind finesse
- Some say it tastes like a 15 years ago espresso, i.e. low quality
Pour Over/Drip Cone Filter
This method involves controlling the distribution of hot water over ground coffee placed on a paper filter and coffee cone. Under gravity, the brewed coffee slowly drips into a pot or a cup below, resulting in a smoother and more flavoured brew.
The movement of water through coffee particles is affected by the shape of the filter. As a result, coffee saturation and extraction are enhanced.
As a result of the more complete and even saturation, coffee lovers will enjoy a tastier and more flavoured cup of coffee.
- Brew Type: Flavoured and tastier brew
- Brew Time: 4 minutes
- Best Grind to Use: Medium to coarse. Try with Down a The Range Coffee Bean
- What type of person is this best suited for? People who want a personal brewer that makes a healthy cup of coffee.
Pros
- Portable
- Relatively straightforward
- A perfect result that is a clear, clean, and light-bodied tasting brew
Cons
- Harder to clean and requires a special brush
- Fragile
- Extra cost for filters
French Press/Cafetiere
The French press/cafetiere is undoubtedly one of the best home coffee makers. The process does not require a lot of effort or time to get done. The method includes a container with a filter screen and a plugger that forces hot water via ground coffee. The result of this is a rich earthy taste brew.
The method is loyal and popular among the home barista community.
- Brew Type: A non-harsh and aromatic cup of coffee
- Brew Time: About ten or so minutes
- Best Grind to Use: A coarse grind works best
- For someone who wants a unique cup of coffee and those who have a craving for caffeine.
Pros
- Easy to clean
- No filter required
- Portable
- It has various sizes producing about 8 cups of coffee
Cons
- The taste may not be your normal cup of coffee
- Steeping is relatively hard to perfect, and there is a standard to keep, especially with the French press
Hario V60 Drip Coffee Maker
The Hario V60 Drip Coffee Maker is a popular drip/over brewing device. It is known to consistently offer a delightfully clean coffee flavour.
It is simple to use and portable. The brewer comes with a uniquely designed dripping system with a large bottom hole funnelled by spiral ribs from the sides.
Like any other coffee brewer, Hario V60 Drip Coffee Maker requires a specific technique to get the perfect brew. With just a few runs, you will get the best results.
- Brew Type: A refreshing cup of sweet and rich flavoured coffee
- Brew Time: Less than 5 minutes (3 minutes to pour and 30 seconds to bloom)
- Best Grind to Use: Medium to fine grind will do the magic
- What type of person is this best suited for? Suitable for people on the go and who don't want to be caught high and dry and who want a portable solution for their craving.
Pros
- Super easy to clean
- Very affordable
- Creates a fast and quality brew
Cons
- Requires special filter which you need to order online
Chemex
Chemex brewers look like a chemistry flask or a piece of art. It's the most beautiful of all the methods of brewing. With the Chemex brewer, coffee will be ready within three and a half to four minutes, making it a relatively fast option.
You need quite some time and a bit of practice to get it right with the Chemex brewer, but once you get it, the payoff is worth it.
- Brew Type: Richer tasting French press-like brew
- Brew Time: 4 minutes
- Best Grind to Use: As per your preference, but medium to coarse is the most ideal.
- People who need more than 3 cups of coffee. Also, people crave something that doubles or looks like a piece of art.
Pros
- Very aromatic and rich brew
- Great capacity (can make 3 to 4 cups at a go)
- Best looking way to brew your favourite cup of coffee
- Many varieties in existence
Cons
- High chances of under and over-extraction
- Harder to clean requires a special brush
- Requires a Chemex paper filter and not any other filter
Which coffee brewing method is the healthiest?
Well-brewed coffee is a favourite for many people around the world, but certainly, not all coffee is considered healthy. According to the European Society of Cardiology, filtered coffee is healthier than unfiltered coffee, especially when it comes to heart health.
Filters help in removing compounds in the coffee that may raise cholesterol levels. Research also indicates that people who drink filtered coffee have a lower risk of premature death as compared to those who drink unfiltered coffee.
People who drink 1 to 4 cups of filtered coffee per day have the best cardiovascular outcomes. Good coffee also improves mental capabilities. However, if you are a coffee lover and have high cholesterol levels or want to drink a healthy cup of coffee, stay away from unfiltered coffee.
How long should coffee sit after brewing?
Brewed coffee sits for about 30 minutes or so. This is because coffee continues oxidizing even after brewing.
When roasted coffee beans encounter air, they oxidize, resulting in the deterioration of coffee flavour compounds over time. To increase the amount of sitting time, you can store your coffee in an airtight thermos.
Otherwise, for the richest taste, drink your coffee immediately after brewing.
How do you make coffee less bitter?
A good cup of coffee in the cool morning or cold evening can be a day saver. However, if you prefer less bitterness in your drink, you might struggle with the bitter taste of some brews. Below are some of the tips to reduce the bitter flavour in your coffee.
Avoid over-Extracting
Over-extracted coffee has a bitter taste, while under-extracted coffee has a sour taste and a thin mouthfeel. When 18 to 20 per cent extracted, coffee hits the sweet spot that every coffee lover wants. If all your brews consistently have a bitter taste, review how you are making your drink.
- Ensure to use the right grind settings for your coffee maker
- Brew your coffee with the required amount of time
- Weigh your coffee and use the right grounds-to-water ratio
Avoid scalding your beans.
Coffee brewed with very hot water will scald your beans. Blackened toast tastes bitter, and so do burnt coffee grounds.
To avoid scalding and burning your coffee beans, use water that is just the right temperature. If you have a thermometer, ensure the temperature is between 195°F and 205°F.
If you don't own a thermometer, you can boil water and let it sit for 30 seconds before using it to brew your coffee.
Lighten up your roast
If you are doing everything right, but your coffee still tastes bitter, you might need to consider your level of roast. Try switching to lighter roasts such as balanced profile or fruity profile and see if they suit your preference.
Most people do not like dark roasts as much as they do the light and medium ones. Light and medium roasts tend to have a balanced flavour as compared to dark roasts.
From the above discussion, there are a variety of incredible coffee-making methods, and many coffee brewers have been invented to assist coffee enthusiasts in making their favourite brews. As you brew your coffee, make sure you know the type of result you want and nurture your skill to ensure success in every brewing process you partake.
Either way, make sure you use the right brewing method to achieve that unique and great taste you may desire.
Matthew Robertson
Author