Today, there are many innovative and progressive methods of brewing coffee to choose from. Consequently, it’s not a walk in the park to find a single brewing method that you can use all the time. Sometimes, you’ll want to use the cold-drip method.
Other times, you’ll think about trying the Aeropress, French press, or pour over among other methods. Unless you’ve experimented with all the available methods, you may not know what you might be missing.
In this guide, you’ll learn about all the regular and new-age methods of brewing coffee. Hopefully, you’ll get excited to make coffee in all the imaginable ways. It’s worth noting that this guide focuses on brewing coffee from the scratch rather than making instant coffee.
A Summary of Coffee Brewing Methods
- French press
- Siphon/vacuum pot
- Coffee bags
- Espresso machines
- Aeropress
- Stovetop espresso makers
- Handheld espresso makers
- Chemex
- Percolator
- Manual pour over coffee makers
- Machine pour over coffee makers
Coffee is an innovative and evolving industry. New methods and recipes for making coffee continue coming up. If you’re looking for a list of the best methods available, the quick summary above will assist you. If you’re looking for more details regarding each method, continue reading through this guide to get informed.
Brewing By Steeping
You can make coffee through various steeping methods. Steeping is also known as immersion. It’s known as the most basic coffee brewing method.
By steeping, it means you’re mixing hot water with coffee grinds, allowing for extraction, and filtering the grinds to remain with liquid coffee. The used grinds are discarded or reused in innovative ways.
Brewing by steeping sounds simple. However, you need to ensure that the brew is not under-steeped or over-steeped. If you under-steep, your brew will taste weak. On the other hand, if you over-steep, your brew will taste bitter.
Luckily enough, learning how to steep for a sufficient amount of time is quite simple. Once you get it right, you’ll brew a tasty cup of coffee and uncover unique flavors that you haven’t tasted before.
One of the most commonly used methods of steeping coffee is using a French press. Other methods of steeping coffee include SoftBrew, vacuum pot, and coffee bags. Let’s discuss these steeping methods in detail.
- French Press
Many homemade brews that involve steeping use a French press. It’s a coffee maker that has been used for many decades now.
Most home baristas love French press brews for several reasons. To start with, it’s very easy to brew coffee with a French press. Additionally, it produces coffee with a unique feel and taste. Besides, it’s an affordable coffee maker.
If you prefer using a French press coffee maker, ensure you use the recommended grind size. Using the wrong grind size will taint the taste of the brew.
Tips
Required grind size: You should only use coarse grounds for this method. Using a finer grind will leave some grounds stuck within the filter. Also, some finer grounds will pass through the filter and end up in the resulting brew. Besides, finer grounds will cause over-steeping, thereby resulting in a bitter brew.
Brewing time: Brewing French press coffee is neither a slow nor a quick process. The time required is somewhere in the middle. Basically, the entire process from heating water, steeping coffee, and plunging requires about 10 minutes. However, you should pay special attention when steeping.
Resulting brew: You’ll get a non-harsh, flavorful, aromatic, and unique brew specific to the beans used. However, the brew may have some sediments. Thus, avoid drinking it to the last drop upon serving.
Required skill level: It’s relatively easy to make French press coffee. While it’s a little challenging to make a perfect brew, you only need some practice and adhere to the instructions required to use a French press.
Recommended for: Anyone who loves the uniqueness of French press coffee or anyone who’s preparing coffee for several people such as a crowd, full household, or guests.
Not recommended for: Frequent travelers should use other methods. French presses are typically made of glass. Glass items aren’t recommended for traveling due to their brittle nature. If you travel frequently and you want to carry your coffee maker along with you, try coffee makers made of stainless steel.
Pros
- Unique and distinct flavor
- You can make a lot of brew without repeating the brewing process
- Simple to use so long as the right instructions are followed
Cons
- French press coffee might not taste like your regular cup of tea
- It’s hard to steep to perfection
- SoftBrew
SoftBrew is among the newest coffee-making methods. It was established in 2010. It’s described as a primitive but high-tech coffee brewing technique. SoftBrew works like the French press only that it’s easier to use. In fact, it’s labeled “simple” all around it.
To use a SoftBrew, fill the filter with grounds. Add hot water. Allow the grounds to steep for about 4 to 8 minutes. You now have a ready drink. It’s easy to use like a standard teapot. There’re no special skills required.
A great feature about it is its stainless steel coffee filter. The filter features a high-tech design. It has numerous tiny holes that allow you to fill it with any grind size. You can use it with super fine grounds and it’ll filter them efficiently.
Tips
Required grind size: You can use any grind size of your choice. It’s great for experimenting with different grind sizes.
Brewing time: Upon adding coffee grounds and hot water, it’ll take you about 4 to 8 minutes to have a ready brew.
Resulting brew: The resulting brew is similar to that of a standard French press. Its filter only allows extremely tiny grounds to pass through. Thus, you get a full-bodied brew with a lot of depth and flavor. However, the brew is cleaner than that of a regular French press.
Required skill level: No special skills are required. It doesn’t require much effort to make SoftBrew coffee. With this method, you can get it right the first time you’re brewing homemade coffee.
Recommended for: It’s perfect for anyone who dislikes the fussy process of making specialty coffee. It’s also great for anyone who wants a simple method of making coffee, but with a better-tasting brew than that of instant coffee.
Not recommended for: It’s not ideal for anyone who likes creativity when brewing coffee or anyone who likes brewing coffee with unique styles.
Pros
- Relatively fast
- Simple process
- Available in several sizes
Cons
- It’s made of ceramic and fragile, making it unsuitable for traveling
- Siphon Pot (Vacuum Pot)
A siphon pot, also known as a vacuum pot, is a unique method of brewing coffee. The technique combines different brewing methods. The brew is fully immersed and also uses siphoning to produce tasty coffee.
It’s a relatively challenging method of brewing coffee. It requires a lot of effort. Also, several processes are involved. Thus, it’s not a great method for making coffee daily, unless it’s the only thing you’ll be doing.
While it’s appreciated for making tasty coffee, it can be viewed as a novelty style of brewing coffee. It’s a style some experienced home baristas like to show off to friends about their advanced coffee brewing skills.
Tips
Required grind size: The best grind size is a medium or coarse grind.
Brewing time: You’ll need approximately 10 minutes to brew coffee. However, cleaning the pot is quite tedious.
Resulting brew: Results in a very clean and flavorful cup of coffee when done properly. Since the brew only touches glass material, you’ll get pure-tasting coffee.
Required skill level: It’s a coffee-making method that requires specialized skills. You’ll have to follow each step carefully. A single mistake will spoil the brew.
Recommended for: Anyone who wants to experiment with something weird or anyone who likes working with complex coffee makers will like this method.
Not recommended for: Anyone who prefers simple and quick coffee-making methods won’t like the siphon/vacuum pot method.
Pros
- It produces very tasty coffee when done right
- Anyone who sees you brewing coffee with this method will assume you’re a coffee brewing expert
Cons
- The vacuum pot is extremely fragile and not ideal for traveling
- It’s a very advanced coffee-making method, hence, you might make several mistakes before perfecting this method
- If all you want is a simple cup of coffee, this method will be too strenuous for you
- Coffee Bags
While instant coffee saves the day for anyone who doesn’t want to brew coffee from scratch and anyone who is always on the move, it doesn’t have the best taste. The best alternative is coffee bags.
Basically, instant coffee comprises coffee that dissolves in hot water. On the other hand, coffee bags contain ground coffee that doesn’t dissolve in water. The ground coffee is put in a bag that acts as a filter. You simply plunge the coffee bag into hot water to get a ready brew. You can easily make coffee bags at home.
However, just like other steeping methods, you should avoid over-steeping coffee bags. Ensure you observe the recommended brewing time to avoid over-steeping or under-steeping the brew. Failure to observe the brewing time is probably the only mistake you can make with coffee bags.
Tips
Required grind size: You can buy premade coffee bags or make some at home. If you prefer making coffee bags at home, choose a medium to fine grind size. Although any grind size can work, a finer grind produces more flavorful coffee with this method.
Brewing time: The entire process doesn’t take much time. You’ll only need about 3 to 4 minutes for the brew to be ready. There’s no preheating or grinding required.
Resulting brew: It’s better than instant coffee. However, it’s not fantastic enough since the grounds in coffee bags are hardly fresh.
Required skill level: If you can prepare tea, this method won’t be any difficult. It’s one of the simplest coffee brewing methods.
Recommended for: If you dislike instance coffee and need a quick, simple alternative while traveling or an early morning fix, consider coffee bags.
Not recommended for: If you don’t like the brew that comes from non-fresh grounds or you prefer the entire process of grinding beans for a fresh-tasting brew, this is not the method for you.
Pros
- Super portable
- You don’t need any pricey coffee making equipment
- It’s an affordable option as you only need coffee bags and hot water
Cons
- You don’t get a fresh-tasting brew
- Not an environment-friendly option since there’s wastage
Brewing Coffee Using Pressure
While the term “espresso” may be the first coffee-making method you’ll think about when talking about pressure coffee brewing, there’re several ways you can make coffee with pressure.
Pressure brewing involves extracting coffee from ground coffee by using pressure. Thus, there’s faster extraction and more intensity in the brew than other brewing methods.
The most common methods that involve brewing coffee with pressure include the espresso, Aeropress, and Moka pot methods.
- Espresso Machine
If you know a lot about coffee brewing, then you’ve probably come across an espresso coffee machine. Espressos have been around for many decades. Today, they’re available in several sizes and shapes. They come with numerous features. Although it’s similar to a flash machine due to having similar basics, they’re totally different coffee makers.
In a French press, water under high pressure gets pushed through the chamber containing fine grounds. The water passes through the filter, thereby resulting in a coffee known as an espresso shot.
Espresso machines are available in a wide price range. Some are affordable while others are quite expensive. The multiple choices available make it quite overwhelming to choose an appropriate option. The options available include commercial espresso makers, portable espresso machines, manual lever espresso machines, semi-automatic, and fully automatic espresso makers.
If you prefer the old way of using mechanical equipment, then you can consider lever espresso machines. They work by pumping the lever by hand. They make exceptional coffee. If you prefer a more automated espresso maker, then consider a fully automatic espresso machine. However, fully automatic espresso makers are quite expensive.
Tips
Required grind size: It’s recommended to use a fine and consistent grind. You can test the grind size by pinching it and checking whether it clumps in your fingers. If the grounds are too coarse, they won’t clump. In case the grounds are too fine, they’ll clump excessively.
Brewing time: The time required to brew an espresso shot depends on the espresso machine. Commercial espresso machines warm up within 15 to 40 minutes. Home-bases espresso machines warm up in about 3 minutes. Upon warming up, your brew will be ready within 20 to 30 seconds.
Resulting brew: If prepared properly, espresso is flavorful, sharp, and strong. Besides, you can transform it into Americano coffee by adding hot water. Also, you can froth milk and mix it with espresso.
Required skill level: It depends on the espresso machine. Some work automatically with minimal intervention while most manual espresso machines require specialized skills. Use top-quality espresso beans and a good espresso tamper for the best results.
Recommended for: If you love milky brews, such as latte, or you want a sharp and quick dose of caffeine, then this method is suitable for you. Espressos are very unique. No coffee maker can easily replicate a well-prepared espresso.
Not recommended for: Anyone who likes subtle-tasting coffee shouldn’t consider espresso. Also, if you’re not ready to spend a lot to buy a top-quality espresso maker, or you lack enough space for an espresso maker, or you travel a lot, an espresso maker is not the best option for you.
Pros
- It brews coffee quickly once warm
- Makes a sharp and highly concentrated brew
- Quality and price ranges from relatively affordable to very pricey
Cons
- It’s very challenging to clean
- Takes up a lot of space on the kitchen counter
- Cheaper espresso machines don’t deliver the best results
- Aeropress
Many coffee lovers who travel a lot like the Aeropress. Although it looks like chemistry lab equipment instead of a coffee maker, it makes great and tasty brews.
It keeps the entire coffee brewing process simple. By using the right air pressure, grind sizes, and water temperature, you’ll get a tasty brew within minutes. It’s a fast coffee-making method and makes excellent brews.
A standard Aeropress comprises three components that allow for brewing awesome coffee without much effort. With an Aeropress, you can make several types of coffee including cold brew, regular coffee, and espresso.
Tips
Required grind size: Luckily, you can use any grind size with an Aeropress. However, each grind size results in a different brew. Thus, choose the grind size depending on the kind of taste you want.
Brewing time: There’re several different ways of brewing coffee with an Aeropress. However, you can easily brew coffee within 60 seconds upon heating water to the right temperature.
Resulting brew: You’ll get a tasty and colorful brew. It makes coffee with a clean taste, different from a Moka pot or French press. Overall, the brew can be described as fast, pure, smooth, and rich.
Required skill level: Anyone can easily use an Aeropress. However, you should get things right when brewing for the best results. It’s a great method for a start before you try complex coffee brewing methods.
Recommended for: If you prefer a tasty, clean, and quick cup of coffee, or you travel a lot, consider this method. It’s also great for anyone who loves camping.
Not recommended for: While it’s a great coffee brewing technique for many people, anyone who doesn’t like using paper coffee filters shouldn’t use this method.
Pros
- It makes clean and tasty coffee
- You can customize your brews and experiment
- It’s made of a BPA-free type of plastic that makes it portable and harder to break
Cons
- You’ll need to use paper filters, which leads to wastage
- One brewing cycle can only brew up to 2 coffees, making it tedious to brew coffee for several people
- Stovetop Espresso Maker/Moka Pot
If you don’t have a huge budget for a pricey espresso machine, but you still want to brew an espresso-like shot, consider a Moka pot, also known as a stovetop espresso maker. The best thing about a standard Moka pot is that it comprises a three-chambered brewing process. Essentially, water boils in the bottommost chamber. The resulting steam creates pressure that forces the water upward. The pressurized water flows through coffee grounds and ends in the top brewing chamber. The resulting brew is an espresso-like shot.
If you get this process right, you’ll get a super-strong and bittersweet brew that’ll leave you caffeinated all day. Minimal skills are required to get this process right. A great thing about this method is that you can brew several cups of coffee, about 4 to 16 in one cycle. Thus, it’s a great method for caffeinating a crowd.
Tips
Required grind size: With this method, it’s recommended to use a coarser grind than the fine grind used in espresso coffee makers. If you’re not getting the grind size right, experiment until you get the best grind size. You can start with a coarse grind, then try a finer grind until you get the kind of taste and texture you want.
Brewing time: The process is very fast. Upon heating the water, it’ll take you about 5 minutes to brew coffee. However, it might take you a bit longer if you’re using an induction cooktop. Its fast coffee brewing process makes it great for someone who needs a quick cup of coffee in their morning rush. In case you got a watery or weak brew, it means the grind is too coarse, thereby resulting in under-extraction. If the brew is too bitter, you’ve used a finer grind than necessary, thereby leading to over-extraction.
Resulting brew: The brew is more like espresso but not completely the same. Expect a strong and sharp-tasting brew if you use the right process and grind size.
Required skill level: You don’t have to possess barista-like skills. You only need to get the proper grind size. Getting the grind size right is the most challenging part of this method. However, it’s relatively simple to make tasty coffee with this method. You’ll just fill its brewing chambers, turn the heat on, and monitor the process.
Recommended for: It’s great for someone on a tight budget or anyone who wants something portable and a method that can brew full, strong coffee.
Not recommended for: Not suitable for coffee drinkers who dislike strong coffee. Also, it’s not ideal for anyone who prefers the texture and taste of a real espresso shot.
Pros
- Quick to prepare coffee
- It’s a very affordable coffee maker
- Very portable and great for traveling
Cons
- Some coffee drinkers find it tasting like a low-quality espresso shot
- There’s a high risk of under or over-extraction
Drip or Filtration Coffee Brewing
Drip or filtration coffee is an evolving coffee brewing technique. Newer and more progressive drippers are invented regularly. There’re many options to choose from, making it quite a challenge to find the best one.
Drip coffee includes methods such as drip machines, pour over, and cold brew among others. Generally, you’ll need to grind whole beans for this method. Drip coffee tastes best when brewed with freshly ground coffee beans.
It’s relatively straightforward to brew drip coffee. You simply pour water over fresh grounds placed in a form of a coffee filter.
Water flows through the coffee grounds with the help of gravity. Thereafter, it enters the vessel below. The result is a light-bodied, clear, and clean-tasting brew. You can control the pouring rate by using a gooseneck coffee kettle.
Most drip coffee makers are portable, small, and inexpensive. They’re great for making great-tasting brews in small batches.
In this guide, we’ll discuss drippers such as the Chemex, electric percolator, Hario V60, Vietnamese dripper, Kalita Wave, cold drip, Melitta dripper, clever dripper, nitrous coffee, and Bee House dripper. All of them are great drip coffee machines.
- Chemex Brewer
If it’s your first time to see the Chemex brewer, you’ll probably mistake it for a vase instead of a drip coffee brewer. However, there’s a reason behind its design. It makes extremely tasty coffee in style.
The main benefit that comes with a Chemex is its large capacity. With a Chemex, you can make 3 to 4 cups at a go instead of 1 to 2 cups that you’d get from most drippers. Thus, it’s a great dripper for making coffee to serve a crowd. In fact, there’re bigger Chemex drippers that can brew 10 cups from 50 oz water. If you love entertaining guests with coffee, this is a great dripper for you.
However, just like with other drippers, the Chemex requires more than just putting grounds and water in the machine. It requires a lot of practice to learn more about the right water temperature, grind size, and amount of grounds. Once you perfect it, it’s a dripper you’ll love.
Tips
Required grind size: You’ll need to play around with different grind sizes until you find a grind you like most. Ideally, experiment with medium to coarse grounds, but closer to medium for the best results.
Brewing time: You’ll need a few minutes to set it up. Once set up, it’ll only take you about 3 to 4 minutes to brew.
Resulting brew: It makes a rich tasting brew due to its thick filters. Its filters are about 30 percent thicker than those of other filters. The brew doesn’t have sediments despite the thick filters.
Required skill level: It requires some practice to perfect making coffee with a Chemex. There’re high chances of messing up with this method. For instance, you can under-extract or over-extract the brew before perfecting it.
Recommended for: Anyone who likes pour over coffees will find it great. Also, if you prefer artistic equipment to enhance the look of your kitchen, this dripper will a great choice for you. It’s also perfect for making several cups at a go. You can make 3 to 4 cups in one cycle.
Not recommended for: Not the best option for anyone who likes traveling with their coffee brewer. Also, it’s not great for anyone who prefers making just 1 or 2 cups of coffee, especially during the morning rush.
Pros
- Makes 3 to 4 cups at once
- Very aromatic and rich brew
- An artistic and stylish way of brewing coffee
Cons
- It’ll be an overkill for anyone who just needs 1 to 2 coffees
- There’s a high likelihood of under or over-extraction
- Electric Percolator
There’s nothing cutting edge or new about a percolator in the coffee industry. If you’ve visited a bland coffee shop, you’ve probably taken percolated coffee. However, percolated coffee is only loved by a few coffee drinkers. Most coffee lovers argue that it’s not the best-tasting coffee.
A percolator makes coffee by boiling it multiple times. As a result, there’s over-extraction of coffee grounds, thereby resulting in a bitter brew with a brown-looking mess.
However, if you’d prefer such coffee to no brew at all, then you can make something drinkable out of a percolator.
Tips
Required grind size: The best grind size for this method is a coarse grind. Using finer grounds will totally ruin the brew and make it hardly drinkable.
Brewing time: You should allow the device to percolate for about 10 minutes, which will definitely over-extract the grounds. Preferably, percolate for about 3 to 4 minutes to get a better-tasting brew.
Resulting brew: There’s nothing special about percolated coffee. Nevertheless, you can apply your coffee brewing skills and use a coarse grind to minimize over-extraction. Also, percolate for a maximum of 4 minutes for a more drinkable brew.
Required skill level: You don’t need any special skills to use a percolator. You only need to add grounds and water into the percolator, then switch it on and allow it to brew.
Recommended for: Coffee drinkers who don’t mind about coffee taste and only need to get caffeinated can use this method. It’s also suitable for anyone who wants an easy and quick way of brewing coffee.
Not recommended for: Not ideal for anyone who likes tasty coffee.
Pros
- An easy and quick method
- Fills the home with a lovely coffee scent
- Brews bitter coffee
- You must clean it regularly for health reasons and flavor
- Vietnamese Phin
If you value an easy and quick way of making drip coffee, the Vietnamese Phin is a great option for you. It’s also known as a Phin filter. It makes one cup of drip coffee within 4 to 5 minutes. Thus, it’s great for a solo coffee drinker.
Its brewing method uses a simple process that doesn’t involve any fancy pouring mechanism. Also, it doesn’t require special skills. You simply put grounds and water into the Phin and allow it to brew. The Vietnamese Phin is loved mostly for its ability to make iced coffee.
Tips
Required grind size: A fairly coarse grind is the best option for a Vietnamese Phin. Should be a little finer than the grind used in French press coffee.
Brewing time: You’ll get a ready brew within 4 to 5 minutes.
Resulting brew: You’ll get a unique brew, which is less strong than a shot of espresso but cleaner and smoother than French press coffee. Since it doesn’t use paper filters, coffee oils will flow into the brew like in French press brews.
Required skill level: It comes with simple instructions, which you can master quickly. It’s not very involving like other drippers.
Recommended for: If you’re a coffee drinker who prefers preparing a single serving of drip coffee without having to master technical pouring methods, then you’ve found the best brewing method. Also, anyone who loves Vietnamese iced coffee should consider this method.
Not recommended for: Since it makes a single serving per cycle, it’d be quite tedious to brew coffee for a household or guests.
Pros
- Simple to master
- Durable, light, and portable
- Great for making a single serving
Cons
- Only makes one cup per cycle
- It doesn’t use paper filters, thereby resulting in a sludge that settles in a cup, especially when using very fine grounds
- Hario V60
The moment you see the Hario V60 dripper, you’ll assume it’s simpler to use it than other drip machines. Despite its simple construction, it’s packed with a unique design and a lot of innovation. It features a cone dripping mechanism and a hole through which the coffee drips. The cone is funneled, with the funnel featuring spiral ribs.
It’s lightweight and portable. To use it, you’ll insert a paper filter in place and add coffee grounds. Just like most drip methods, you’ll need some practice to master how to make a perfect brew with the V60. You can master how to use it with a few brews.
Tips
Required grind size: A medium to fine grind will be your best bet.
Brewing time: Blooming takes about 30 seconds. Pouring will take about 3 minutes. Thus, you’ll have a ready brew in about 4 minutes.
Resulting brew: You’ll get a rich, refreshing, and flavored brew without bitterness.
Required skill level: It’s a straightforward process. However, there’s a chance of making errors depending on your experience. Consequently, you’ll have control over the brew, making it possible to customize the taste of your brew for more adventurous brewing.
Recommended for: Any coffee lover who travels a lot, either backpacking or camping, and wants to carry a coffee maker along with them can consider the Hario V60. It measures 2.94 oz, making it a lightweight drip coffee maker. It’s also perfect for making a quick cup of drip coffee.
Not recommended for: If you prefer coffee makers that only require the push of a button to get a tasty cup of coffee, this is not the coffee maker for you.
Pros
- Makes top-quality drip coffee relatively fast
- Very easy and simple to clean
- Affordable price range
Cons
- It uses special coffee filters that you may have to order online
- Kalita Wave
The Kalita Wave coffee is the greatest competitor of the V60. It features a cone-shaped mechanism and a flat-bed design, unlike the V60 that features a conical shape. Its shape minimizes the chances of making errors. However, the shape results in a longer blooming process than with the V60.
The Kalita Wave has become a favorite dripper for many DIY coffee brewers. It makes excellent tasting drip coffee without much effort. It allows for consistent brewing upon learning how to use it. Thus, it’s a perfect dripper for daily brewing.
Tips
Required grind size: Requires fine grounds, with a consistency similar to that of salt.
Brewing time: It brews within 3 minutes, and requires about 30 to 50 seconds to bloom.
Resulting brew: You’ll get a clean flavored and rich brew, similar to that of most drippers.
Required skill level: The design behind the Kalita Wave reduces the chances of making errors. Thus, it’s straightforward to use it. Mastering its brewing process is all about the spiraling pour that’s a little slow.
Recommended for: If you love pour over brews, and prefer something small and lightweight for brewing consistently excellent brews, the Kalita Wave will be your best bet.
Not recommended for: Not the best option for coffee lovers who prefer controlling the dripping process. The V60 is better at this.
Pros
- It’s effortless to clean
- Makes quality brews quickly
- Its affordability makes it great for someone on a budget
Cons
- It uses special coffee filters that can only be bought online
- Clever Dripper
The first time you’re seeing a clever dripper may leave you thinking that it’s like any other dripper. However, if you check it keenly, you’ll realize that its design is a combination of pour over and steeping coffee brewing techniques.
The clever dripper stands out from other drippers due to its small valve that prevents the brew from draining into a vessel or mug until it’s activated.
To use the clever dripper, you’ll insert the filter, add enough grounds, and water. Then allow it to steep as needed. Once ready, place the dripper over your coffee vessel or mug to activate the valve. Once activated, it’ll drain the brew into the mug. That way, you can customize the brew as per your mood or taste.
Tips
Required grind size: A fine to medium grind is the best option. However, you can experiment with the grind size of your choice.
Brewing time: It all depends on your mood. However, the minimum recommended time is about 3 to 4 minutes. You can allow it steep for some extra minutes depending on the taste you want.
Resulting brew: With this method, you’ll get a better brew than French press coffee and drip coffee without their drawbacks. While some coffee drinkers argue that there’s nothing special in its taste over other drip and steeping methods, it tastes good like other great pour over methods.
Required skill level: Just ensure you follow the right steps. Also, observe the timing. With that, you’ll soon become a master of brewing with the clever dripper.
Recommended for: Superb for coffee drinkers who love pour over coffees and desire trying something a little more innovative.
Not recommended for: Coffee brewers who prefer finer coffee equipment won’t be impressed by the clever dripper.
Pros
- It’s affordable
- User-friendly and easy to clean
- Ideal for traveling
Cons
- Although it’s made of plastic, it feels fragile and looks cheap
- Its design is not visually impressive
- Melitta Dripper
The Melitta dripper is extremely convenient. Its design is perfect for coffee lovers who love camping and wouldn’t want to miss their favorite cup of coffee. Its popularity is increasing among coffee lovers who love portable coffee makers.
The Melitta dripper is made of a plastic cone. It makes drip coffee quickly. Although it doesn’t deliver tasty coffee like other drippers, its portability and affordability make it a great choice for travelers and campers.
Tips
Required grind size: A medium-fine grind works best.
Brewing time: You’ll be caffeinated within 4 to 5 minutes.
Resulting brew: its brew is not as tasty as that of more advanced drippers, but it’s better than instant coffee and cowboy coffee.
Required skill level: It’s a simple coffee maker. It doesn’t require any special skills.
Recommended for: Perfect for anyone on a tight budget, backpackers, and campers.
Not recommended for: Any coffee lover who prefers the cleaner taste of more advanced drippers won’t be impressed by the Melitta.
Pros
- Very affordable
- Effortless to clean
- Lightweight and portable
Cons
- Only brews one cup per cycle
- It’s made of plastic and doesn’t brew the best-tasting coffee
- Bee House Dripper
Although it’s a Japanese dripper, it’s becoming more popular across the world. Its popularity is mainly due to its ease of use. Also, it makes great drip coffee and looks more attractive than other drippers. It’s made of ceramic. Besides, it’s available in a wide range of colors.
It’s easier to learn how to use it than brewing with a Kalita Wave or the V60 dripper. When brewing, it drains slowly and works perfectly with a coarse grind. Regardless of how poor you are in brewing coffee, it’s guaranteed to give you excellent brews.
Tips
Required grind size: Preferably, use a medium-fine grind. The grind size should be a little bit finer than what you’d use with a standard dripper.
Brewing time: It makes a perfect brew within 4 minutes.
Resulting brew: It results in a clear and clean brew. Expect more flavorful coffee as it drains slower than most drippers.
Required skill level: You’ll need some practice, but mastering its brewing process is easier than most dripping methods.
Recommended for: If you’re a coffee lover who likes great-looking coffee makers, this dripper will be a great choice. Besides, it fits well in any kitchen.
Not recommended for: It’s made of ceramic. Thus, it’s not the best dripper for traveling.
Pros
- Its ceramic construction makes it retain heat for a longer period than plastic
- It uses standard coffee filters, making it easier to find them from grocery stores upon running out of them
Cons
- It can break easily due to its ceramic construction
- Nitrous Coffee
Nitrous coffee, also known as nitro cold brew or nitro coffee, is among the newest coffee brewing methods. It’s derived from regular cold brew. As its name suggests, nitro coffee is made by infusing cold brew with nitrogen. The resultant brew has a unique and nice texture and taste. Although it’s similar to cold brew, it’s sweeter and crispier.
Nitrous coffee is available in some coffee shops, where it’s served on tap. It’s also available in cans. If you prefer making your own nitro coffee, you can buy a nitro coffee dispensing system.
Tips
Required grind size: Preferably, use a coarse grind, like the size of thick sand.
Brewing time: It requires quite a lot of time to brew nitro coffee. First, you’ll need to prepare enough cold brew, something that can take you several days depending on the system you’re using. Upon making enough cold brew, you’ll set up the nitro coffee dispensing system and instantly pour the nitro brew.
Resulting brew: You’ll get a light, creamy, and crisp brew that resembles frothy beer. The nitrogen content and its high caffeine levels mean that it’ll add a lot of energy to your body. It also gets absorbed into the bloodstream quite quickly.
Required skill level: It’s quite tricky to set up the dispensing system at home. Also, it’s tricky to perfect the pour.
Recommended for: Anyone who loves cold brew will love it.
Not recommended for: Not ideal for anyone who likes flat, hot coffee.
Pros
- It has an intense caffeine punch
- Doesn’t require adding sugar or milk, making it healthier than ordinary coffee
- It’s very refreshing, creamy, and light
Cons
- It’s not an easy DIY coffee brewing method. It requires a lot of time and investing in pricey equipment.
- Cold Brew
Any coffee drinker who has never heard about cold brew may not be very experienced in the coffee industry, or you’re only used to drinking instant coffee. Cold brew is among the most loved caffeine brewing innovations.
Cold brew is brewed by dripping cold water slowly through fresh coffee grounds for several hours, at least 10 hours. For this method, you’ll need to brew with filtered water and coarse grounds. You can brew it with any cold brew maker or any mason jar.
If you’ve not experienced the taste of cold brew, you might assume it’s like a regular hot brew but served cold. However, this is not the case. As long as you’re patient, you’ll get a smooth, unique, intense, and strong-tasting brew. It doesn’t have any bitterness or acidity. Thus, you don’t have to add any sweetener or milk. You’ll get the taste of single origin coffee beans.
A great thing about cold brew is that it remains fresh for a maximum of 2 weeks. You only need to refrigerate it. Thus, one brewing cycle can keep you caffeinated for several days.
Tips
Required grind size: Works best with a coarse grind, like thick sand.
Brewing time: A lot of patience is needed for a perfect cold brew. Brew it for 10 to 24 hours.
Resulting brew: You’ll get an intensely flavored and strong brew without any bitterness. You’ll enjoy full coffee flavors with a smooth aftertaste.
Required skill level: Just ensure you use the right grind size. Also, set up the cold dripper properly.
Recommended for: Suitable for any coffee lover who loves cold drinks, especially those who live in hot areas. It’s also a great option for coffee lovers who dislike the sharp caffeine peak and quick crash of standard coffees. Also, it’ll get you caffeinated without the effects of crashing.
Not recommended for: It’s a very slow process. Thus, it’s not suitable for impatient brewers or anyone who wants a quick morning fix.
Pros
- Doesn’t result in a caffeine crash
- Unique taste with no bitterness
- You can make extra brew and refrigerate it
Boiling Coffee
While there’re several coffee brewing techniques, each with its uniqueness, fancy brewing methods are not always necessary. While some allow for customization and extreme experimentation, you can still brew tasty coffee by simply boiling ground coffee with water. Boiling coffee is one of the oldest and simplest coffee brewing methods.
With this method, all you’ll need is ground coffee, water, and heat. Thus, you don’t always have to complicate coffee brewing. If you don’t have a special coffee maker, you can still make decent brews with simple items.
Some of the most preferred techniques of boiling tasty coffee are the Turkish style and cowboy method. The Turkish style is a method you can always try. However, the cowboy coffee method should be your last resort.
- Turkish Coffee
Turkish coffee has a rich history, dating back to the Ottoman rule in the country. Turkish coffee has a strong punch of caffeine. It has been enjoyed worldwide for many decades.
Although it might seem easy to brew Turkish coffee, you’ll need some skills to do it right, just like with most brewing methods.
The most popular way of making this brew requires fine grounds, water, and a standard Turkish coffee pot, which is known as cezve or Ibrik in Turkey.
You’ll need to simmer the Turkish brew for about 2 to 3 times to get a perfect brew. Although Turkish coffee is strong, it’s exceptionally tasty and foams at the top. It’s almost similar to traditional Greek coffee.
Tips
Required grind size: Use the finest grounds possible, almost powder. However, this will require you to get a special coffee grinder for the best results.
Brewing time: You’ll get one cup within 3 to 4 minutes.
Resulting brew: A thick, sharp, and aromatic brew.
Required skill level: No special skills are required. It’s a relatively straightforward process that requires little practice to master.
Recommended for: Anyone who loves strong, black coffee would find it perfect.
Not recommended for: Coffee drinkers who prefer clear and clean tasting coffee won’t like Turkish coffee.
Pros
- Easy and quick
- A unique and strong aroma and flavor
- Requires minimal equipment
Cons
- Silt from the fine coffee grounds settles in the cup
- You can easily burn your coffee
- Doesn’t work with an induction stove, thus, you can only brew it with a flame
- Cowboy Coffee
The cowboy coffee-making method is the oldest coffee brewing method. Although it’s an old-fashioned method, it works just fine and doesn’t require much effort. It’s commonly used in campsites where you’d find it cumbersome to carry coffee-making equipment. You’ll only need a saucepan and a flame to brew cowboy coffee.
In this method, fill a saucepan with water and boil it. Then add ground coffee. Next, remove the saucepan from the flame and allow it to brew for about 4 to 5 minutes. Give the brew more time for the grounds to settle at the bottom. Upon the grounds settling, pour the brew into a coffee mug slowly. You don’t require any fancy process to brew cowboy coffee.
Tips
Required grind size: A medium to coarse grind is the best option. However, don’t use fine grounds as you’ll get a sludgy mess.
Brewing time: Once the water boils, it’ll only take you about 4 to 5 minutes for the coffee to brew. You’ll also need few minutes to allow the grounds to settle. Also, allow a little time to pour the brew slowly and steadily. Thus, you’ll need at least 10 minutes for the entire process.
Resulting brew: Generally, it’s more of getting lucky based on your brew time, grind size, and other variables. However, it’s better than taking instant coffee. However, you can’t get it from a coffee shop.
Required skill level: It’s as simple as boiling an egg. No special skill is required.
Recommended for: Great for anyone who wants to enjoy drinking coffee but your budget can’t allow you to buy any type of coffee maker.
Not recommended for: The brewing process is a little messy. Thus, you’d rather carry a simple dripper for camping.
Pros
- No fancy coffee equipment is required
- You can brew it almost anywhere
Cons
- There’s nothing special about the brew
- You can easily burn your brew
