Reduce fatigue, concentrate more and improve physical efficiency. Coffee is the morning drink of choice that approximately 40%, of the world population, starts their day with.
Are you one of them?
We have the best coffee brewing methods only for you that you can find below.
Coffee can be brewed in various methods. Some are simpler and others more complicated. Both ways can result in a dull or outstanding cup of coffee depending on how it’s done.
This article will explain several coffee brewing methods suitable for home use. How many of these did you already try, and which one is the best for you?
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Coffee Brewing Methods: Make Amazing Coffee At Home
Your morning routine can suggest what coffee brewing method is most suitable for you. Coffee enthusiasts will make time for their morning coffee brewing rituals using the method that gives them full control over the extraction. Those who see coffee mainly as a source of fuel to power through the day will prefer simple, and faster, ways to brew it.
There are three main parts that have a direct influence on the final brew. Time, water, and coffee (obviously).
Time
The longer the coffee is in contact with water the stronger it will become, right? Yes, but it’s not that simple.
Coffee contains various flavours. The sour flavour is released first, followed by the sweet and bitter released last. The longer we steep it, the more bitter it will become. Lovers of bitter coffee should avoid steeping it for an excessive amount of time to make it extra bitter. After a certain point when all flavours are extracted the only thing left is carcinogens. Harmful substances that have a bitter taste.
Cold brew is a different story. Coffee needs more time to release its flavours in cold water. Slow extraction releases sweet and fruity flavours. Hot water speeds up the process but also adds bitterness.
Water
The quality of water you use for brewing will noticeably influence the taste of your coffee. Try to use filtered rather than tap water.
Next, the temperature. Coffee is usually brewed between 80 and 98℃, but you don’t need to worry about the temperature too much. Boiled water drops its temperature to 95 – 92℃ quite fast. That is optimal for brewing most coffee bean types. Experiment with different temperatures and see what happens.
Coffee Beans
And finally, the beans. This cash crop is being grown in various locations worldwide, each affecting the final flavour in its own way.
When deciding on the type of coffee beans to buy. Firstly decide if you prefer stronger robusta or more delicate arabica type of beans. Next, look at the roast level and processing method. The origin is not the most important aspect of coffee beans.
The size of the coffee grind is another thing that matters a lot. Matching each method with the appropriate size is important to get the best brewing outcome.
Brew Coffee At Home, Like A Pro – 9 Methods
Coffee brewing is divided into two camps. Percolation and immersion method. Each has myriad techniques and devices, developing the flavours of your coffee differently. There isn’t one brewing method to rule them all. Try as many as possible and see what works for you the most.
1. Percolation Brewing
The hot water is infused with flavours as it passes through the coffee ground. The flavours are extracted separately, making some of them easily recognisable or more developed. This brewing method will show the subtle differences in coffee beans more obviously.
These techniques require a bit more attention, but they allow you to play with your coffee the most. Influencing the flavour by tweaking the water-to-coffee ratio, brewing time, size of the grounds and a few other aspects.
2. Espresso Machine
The gold standard of coffee brewing. Hot water is pushed under high pressure through the finely ground coffee beans. Yielding a concentrated shot of espresso, not expresso, that may be the name of a funky Italian train.
High pressure is one of the key components that extract crema, the thick brown foam on top.
If you are lucky, or wealthy, enough to consider buying an espresso machine at home, you will need a good coffee grinder as well. The grind of the coffee is one of the most important aspects of this brewing method.
3. Moka Pot
Stovetop espresso machine on a budget. It works on a similar principle as its more expensive counterpart. Hot water is being pushed through the coffee ground, however under much lower pressure. The resulting coffee is also concentrated but not as much as an espresso shot. If you can find the right grind level, you may get some crema out of your beans as well.
Use this method if you prefer jet-black coffees. It works well with tea as well. It has to be ground into powder though. You can find it in most Asian grocery stores labelled as tea dust.
4. V60, Kalita Wave, Chemex
Here begins your journey of fine coffee exploration. This method consists of a dripping device, that holds a paper filter with ground coffee beans. Place it on a jug or coffee mug directly and pour hot water over the top. The water will get infused with flavours as it passes through the ground coffee beans, thanks to gravity.
The coffee is light in colour, highlighting the most delicate flavours of your premium coffee beans.
Easy, but hold on. It’s not that simple. Many factors can influence the final taste of your coffee. If the ground is too coarse, the hot water will pour through it quickly and won’t get infused enough. The amount of water and speed of pouring can make it drip too fast or too slow. For this reason, a kettle with a narrow nozzle, also called a gooseneck, is usually used.
It may look like rocket science, but it’s not that difficult. It is not the fastest way to brew coffee; achieving consistency is a real challenge. The main benefit is that It gives you full control over your coffee. If you are willing to put the effort and time into mastering this home brewing method, you can discover new flavours you wouldn’t even imagine your coffee could have.
5. Bean-to-Cup Machines
To make coffee, we need beans, a brewer and a grinder. The best practice is to grind coffee beans right before brewing to retain their freshness. Bean-to-cup machines store the coffee beans in a container and grind them to order. It will make fresh coffee with the press of a button. Some models like this Delonghi can even froth milk and make an outstanding cappuccino.
It extracts concentrated shots, similar to espresso, directly into the cup.
It saves a lot of time and requires just some weekly maintenance. That makes it most suitable for households with busy mornings and high coffee demand.
6. Immersion Brewing
Ground coffee beans are immersed in hot or cold water for a set period of time. It is a more straightforward and consistent way of brewing than the percolation method. You can pour hot water into a mug with ground coffee. Let it steep for a few minutes, and drink directly. That’s immersion brewing. If you don’t change the grinder settings or timing, the flavour will be 98% the same every time you brew it.
The coffee brewed this way is somehow less delicate with a more unified flavour. The unique tones will fade away, and most cups taste the same, even when brewed with different beans.
This brewing method saves time and is probably the easiest to make. If you need mainly morning fuel, that doesn’t require much attention. You may enjoy coffee brewed this way.
7. French Press
Each household probably already has one. A glass or stainless steel jug with a plunger on top that works as a filter. Ground coffee is steeped in hot water for a few minutes and then poured into the cup.
Don’t press the plunger to the bottom from the beginning when you brew coffee using this method. It won’t have enough space to infuse the water consistently. Press it gently at the end of brewing to separate the grounds from the liquid.
The French press coffee flavour will be consistent but also somewhat uniform. The unique flavours of coffee beans will blend in. Also, the mesh filter will never filter all coffee grounds, leaving the last sip of your cup muddy and bitter.
French press is also an excellent way to brew loose-leaf tea or to make cold-brew coffee.
8. Aeropress
A real gem of immersion brewing, putting more control into your hands. This tube-like brewer consists of an infusing chamber placed on top of a glass or mug. Put your fine ground coffee in and pour hot water. Stir the coffee with a special paddle and cover it with a plunger. Now, gently press the plunger and watch as the coffee is filtered through the microfilter in seconds.
You can make sweet-tasting coffee with a short infusion or let it steep in the water for longer to make it more bitter.
It brews great-tasting coffee fast. It gives you some space for tweaking your recipes. The only downside is that it requires specific filters that are not reusable.
9. Clever Dripper
It is as simple as a French press, infusing coffee in water for a few minutes. It looks the same as the percolator-type dripper that we discussed earlier. The only difference is that the bottom is closed and won’t let any coffee drip through it. Place it on a glass or coffee mug when the time is up. The bottom will open using a simple mechanism, and the coffee will be filtered through the paper filter, resulting in a clear cup without any bitter residues at the bottom.
Brew delicate coffee with the least effort.
How To Brew Coffee With Milk At Home?
Milk was originally put in strong coffee to mellow down its bitter flavour. Eventually, it became a morning comfort drink. To dilute the coffee with milk or almond milk, it must be concentrated so it won’t taste bland. The best extraction method is the espresso machine. A Moka pot can do well, too.
If you drink mostly coffee with milk, consider buying a bean-to-cup machine. Make coffee similar to that of a cafe and save time and money.
Summing Up
When deciding on a coffee brewing method, consider first your favourite coffee type and how you usually drink it. Do you prefer dark and strong coffee? Simple latte with milk or a frothy cappuccino? Do you enjoy it at home, reading a book or on the go?
Be adventurous, try new techniques and experiment with various beans. Who knows, maybe you will become a renowned coffee connoisseur. And don’t forget to try coffee grounds in your cooking, too.
