Coffee is one of the most preferred beverages in the world. In fact, thousands of people drink coffee in most countries daily. It is more preferred thaan cuppa (tea). Besides, nothing feels as refreshing as drinking a hot cup of coffee on a cold morning.
Anywhere you go, you’re likely to find coffee shops. However, if you’re a big fan of coffee, relying on your barista can be challenging, especially when your local coffee shop is closed for the day. Are you probably thinking of brewing coffee at home? You just landed on the right article.
Brewing coffee at home is a skill and experience that can change your life completely. It is something that offers numerous benefits, from saving some cash to saving time you spend in the coffee shop, and many other benefits.
Besides, you will feel proud to drink coffee brewed at home using the equipment of your choice. Also, home brewed coffee is great for entertaining guests, friends, or making enough coffee for several people. Thus, there are several good reasons for brewing coffee at home.
Before venturing into the most common brewing techniques, let’s start with the basics. To make your quality cup of joe, you’ll need to:
- Choose the right type of coffee beans. Fresh whole beans will make you a quality cup of coffee.
- Correct grinding. There are 3 types of grind sizes. The coarse, medium, and fine grind. Grind the beans correctly as per the method you’re going to use. You can use a burr grinder to get the right grind size. A burr grinder also allows for convenience.
- The right coffee to water ratio. Here the general ratio is 1 gram of coffee to 17 grams of water. You can then adjust to your preference.
- Right roast. There are 3 types of coffee bean roast. The light-roast, medium-roast, and dark-roast. Among the 3 coffee roasts choose your preferred roast.
With the four requirements and following the correct procedures for each method for making coffee, you’ll be sure to have a quality cup of coffee with rich flavor and aroma. You can also consider adding milk or sugar to taste. Now let’s discuss the coffee brewing methods.
1. Pour Over
The pour-over method is among the oldest ways to brew coffee at home. It is a fast and simple brew method you can use to make a quality cup of coffee like the one you get from specialty coffee shops. It doesn’t require special skills and its recipes are straightforward. Also, it is great for making coffee for a crowd without the likelihood of making any mistakes. You can also brew a single coffee cup.
You can try the Melitta pour over machine to brew pour over coffee with a rich flavor profile and body like what coffee enthusiasts want. You can also use any other pour over coffee brewers. Pour over method doesn’t require expensive equipment. Pour over brewers are mostly budget devices that will help you fix a quick morning cup. Almost everyone who likes brewing coffee while camping would like a pour over brewer, thanks to its simplicity. Also, it is a great method for a traveler.
Requirements
- 1-gram medium-fine ground coffee (coarseness of table salt)
- 17 grams of hot water
- A cone-shaped paper filter
- Glass carafe or coffee mug
- Brewing device
Method
- Place the paper filter in the brewing device.
- Place the brewing device in the carafe of a coffee mug.
- Rinse the paper filter to get rid of the paper taste.
- Discard the rinsing water.
- Add the coffee grounds of the recommended size grind into the paper filter.
- Pour over the hot water in a circular motion to wet the grounds evenly. Use a gooseneck kettle to pour over the water for more easily. Room temperature water cannot extract rich flavors with this method.
- After each pour, give the grounds 30 seconds to “bloom.”
- Allow the coffee to brew for 3 to 4 minutes after the pour.
- Enjoy your quality cup of coffee.
Adjust the amount of coffee if the brew is not matching your preferences.
2. French Press
The French Press coffee machine is considered as one of the best and easiest classic techniques of make a perfect cup of coffee. Although it is known as the French press, it was invented in Italy. It is also known as a press pot. The method extracts more flavors compared to other brew methods. You can easily make your favorite coffee drink with the French press. Cleaning the pot is also easy. Also, descaling sediments and other elements regularly from the pot is quite easy.
Requirements
- French press coffee maker
- 56 grams of coarse ground coffee beans
- 8 cups of boiling water
- A long wooden spoon
- Coffee mug
- Carafe
Method
- Boil the water for a minute to attain the right water temperature.
- Add some hot water to the French press to preheat it. This ensures the press stays warm during the whole brewing process.
- Preheat the press for 30 seconds.
- Add your ground coffee into the French press.
- Add a small portion of water to the coffee in a circular motion to cover the grounds evenly.
- Give the coffee 30 seconds to bloom.
- Pour the rest of the water until the press is full.
- Gently stir the coffee using your wooden spoon.
- Cover the press with its lid and wait for 4 minutes for the coffee maximum extraction of coffee oils and flavors.
- Push the plunger down to the bottom of the press. Pushing it will apply pressure to filter the coffee.
- Serve yourself a cup of coffee and store the rest in a carafe. Do not leave coffee in a French press as the more it steeps, the more the bitterness.
Adjust the beverage to your preference or as per the required serving size.
3. Chemex
The Chemex coffee brewing technique is a type of the pour-over method. The Chemex uses a Chemex paper filters. A Chemex paper filter is 20-30% thicker than the filters used in the pour-over method. It is faster than drip machines. However, it is among the least commonly used coffee making methods.
The Chemex closely resembles a manual drip coffeemaker. However, drippers require more waiting times. Thus, it is a less ideal home brewer for a quick coffee brewing ritual. Drip coffee makers work best with coarse ground. Their coarseness should be similar to that of sea salt. Regardless, they make brews with rich strength. On the other hand, the Chemex works best with medium-coarse grounds.
Requirements
- 1-gram medium-coarse coffee grounds
- 16 grams of boiling water
- Chemex filter paper
- Coffee mug
- Flask
Method
- Place the Chemex filter paper into the flask.
- Rinse the filter paper and discard the water.
- Add the coffee grounds to the filter paper.
- Pour some boiling water into the grounds and give them 30 seconds to bloom.
- Continue pouring the water in a circular motion to cover the grounds with water evenly.
- Give the coffee 4 minutes to brew.
- Serve your brew in a coffee mug.
Adjust the brew to suit your preference if it is not.
4. Aeropress
This coffee making method was invented in 2005. It is often confused with espresso makers. The invention behind the aeropress allows for a quick and inexpensive coffee method for making a tasty home brew. The device used is light and portable. The Aeropress results in a brew that is highly concentrated with a lot of intensity like an espresso brew. Thus, it has a high caffeine content.
Requirements
- Filter paper
- 1-gram medium-fine ground coffee
- 12 grams of hot water
- Aeropress
- Coffee mug
- Plunger
Method
- Place the paper filter in the plastic cap.
- Rinse the filter paper and discard the water.
- Twist the cap to the Aeropress chamber.
- Place the Aeropress securely on a coffee mug.
- Add the ground coffee to the chamber.
- Add water to the chamber until it’s the Aeropress top line.
- Stir the mixture using a spoon.
- Give the coffee 2 minutes to brew for maximum flavor extraction and sweetness.
- Insert the plunger to the bottom of the Aeropress.
- Serve your coffee.
Adjust the coffee to suit your preference.
5. Moka Pot
Moka Pot is also commonly known as a stovetop espresso maker. It is a simple stovetop coffee maker with few components and a minimalist design. You will also find it easy to cleanup after brewing, unlike complex coffee brewing devices. It is one of the oldest ways for brewing coffee at home. It was innovated by an Italian engineer known as Alfonso Bialetti. The Moka pot home coffee brewing method makes strong espresso-like coffee. Besides, moka pot coffee is a rich tasting coffee drink.
Requirements
- Fine ground coffee
- Hot water
- Moka pot
- Filter paper
Method
- Heat water on a preferred heat source. Fill the Moka pot with hot water up to the top line.
- Fill the filter evenly with ground coffee.
- Place the filter basket into the bottom compartment.
- Screw the top part of the pot.
- Place the pot on a stove and set your heat to medium.
- Wait to hear a hissing and bubbling sound, then remove the pot from the heat.
- Serve your cup of coffee and adjust the coffee to suit your preference.
6. Espresso Machine
Using an espresso machine is the best way to make espresso coffee. In fact, it is one of the most preferred methods for making coffee at home. An espresso machine is also needed for brewing a wide range of espresso coffees such as latte.
Besides, espresso machines brew coffee that is as sweet as what you would buy from a local cafe. An espresso shot can give you a quick caffeine fix. You can also take two shots for a higher dose of caffeine.
To perfect the espresso method for brewing coffee, you need a lot of patience because it may take time and practice. Also, observe proper brewing practices. Eventually, you’ll find it easy to use this method like experts.
Requirements
- 7-9 grams of fine ground coffee
- Espresso machine
- Portafilter (a special espresso coffee filter)
- Tamper
Steps
- Start with pre-heating your espresso machine with hot water. This trick ensures the espresso machine won’t cool the water when brewing.
- Fill the portafilter with the ground coffee.
- Use your finger to make a level surface that is even.
- Tamp your coffee twice and making sure to get rid of excess coffee.
- Wait for your coffee to brew.
- Taste your coffee and adjust it to suit your preference.
With these ideas and information in mind, you can now enjoy brewing a wide range of coffee drinks at home. Other coffee methods you can try are drip coffee maker (also known as a drip machine or coffee drip method), cold brew coffee method, immersion brew method, Hario v60, kalita wave, instant coffee, and stovetop percolator among others.
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