This is how you choose the right preparation method for you!
"If you want to buy damn good coffee and prepare it well, you have to choose a method that expresses dedication, skill and enthusiasm."
Today, there are so many different ways to make coffee at home! Some people are already overwhelmed by the multitude of options. We want to make it easier for you to make a good decision. From the classic pour over to the esoteric siphon, we will break down the different ways of making coffee and highlight the qualities in each finished cup and the technical skills that each method requires. You will find out which method is best for you.
The differences between coffee brewing methods
All you need to make coffee is ground coffee, water, and a filter. But to understand the differences between coffee brewing methods from start to finish, we'll look at the following variables: the texture or mouthfeel of the finished beverage (or "why we like it"); the filter material, the brewing method and grind size tips (or "how it works"); and the ideal brewing mindset and previous experience (or "who it's for").
Pour-over method
WHY WE LOVE POUR OVER COFFEE
The pour-over method produces coffee with a delicate and smooth texture that is somewhere between juicy and tea-like. The flavor of a pour-over coffee is often the most expressive, partly due to the filtration that adds shine and clarity to the cup, and partly due to the amount of water used in relation to the ground coffee.
HOW IT WORKS
A paper filter that fits into a filter is all you need for a pour over coffee. The paper filter ensures a clear mouthfeel as it retains oils and undissolved coffee particles from the cup.
Although there are countless filters on the market, we are very enthusiastic about our Hario filters . Designed to simplify the brewing of coffee, its conical shape has a similar profile to other ceramic filters, but its design promotes a more even extraction and brings out the best flavors of the coffee.
If you like the brewing method but would like to make more than one cup at a time, the classic Chemex carafe can make up to 8 cups of coffee at a time.
TIPS ON GRINDING
For single-cup filters, a medium grind size, about as coarse as sea salt, is optimal. Extraction time—the time from the first pour to the last—should be less than 3 minutes to achieve the most balanced flavors. With Chemex, the grind size depends on the amount of coffee you're using; if you're making more than a few cups, the grind size should be a little coarser than you would with a hand filter, otherwise the water will over-extract the coffee, resulting in bitterness.
WHO IS POUR OVER SUITABLE FOR?
Pour overs are for those who appreciate a short but focused morning ritual and aren't afraid to experiment. While hand brewing is considered "entry level," using a hand filter requires concentration and care. The biggest challenge to the pour over method is the pour technique, a series of four pours where the stream of water leaving the kettle gently soaks the coffee grounds. Because it's the method we value most, we've turned our pour over method into a science. Learn more about it in our Brew Guide . Get yourself a set of scales, a grinder, and a gooseneck kettle, and you're well on your way to coffee perfection.
Filter coffee machine method
The great appeal of a good coffee machine lies in its convenience: damn good filter coffee at the touch of a button.
HOW IT WORKS
Depends on the machine, but the drip coffee maker mimics the hand-brewed brew. A conical filter sits over a pot. Insert paper filter (unless the machine has a built-in reusable filter), fill with ground coffee and press "start". Like a pour over, the paper filter provides a clear mouthfeel.
We prefer machines like the Moccamaster , which have sophisticated features that mimic the technique of the analog pour-over method.
TIPS ON GRINDING
A medium grind, about as coarse as sea salt, is ideal. If you want to make more than a few cups, you should grind a little coarser.
WHO IS A FILTER MACHINE SUITABLE FOR?
For those who are short on time in the morning and want something quick and easy to use, a decent filter coffee machine is just the thing. To optimise your coffee enjoyment, we recommend using a scale to weigh your fresh coffee and a good grinder to get the right grind.
French press method
WHY WE LOVE FRENCH PRESS!
We love the full-bodied coffee that comes from the French press method. The texture is heavier and denser than a pour over. For this reason, the French press preparation tastes delicious black, but even better with milk.
HOW IT WORKS
French Press is an immersion brewing method, which means that coffee grounds are completely covered with water and then strained through a metal filter. Metal filters allow oils and undissolved coffee particles to pass into the cup.
TIPS ON GRINDING
A medium grind, slightly coarser than for a pour over, is optimal, like very coarse black pepper.
WHO IS THE FRENCH PRESS PREPARATION SUITABLE FOR?
French Press is accessible to everyone and is especially suitable for people who love their coffee for breakfast, as the French Press also serves as a serving carafe and is available in different sizes.
The technology is uncomplicated.
AeroPress method
WHY WE LIKE THE AEROPRESS METHOD
AeroPress is the Swiss Army knife of brewing methods. We love it for its versatility—it's a method that welcomes improvisation—and for its smooth and silky mouthfeel. AeroPress coffee can be quite concentrated and espresso-like in its intensity, and you can lengthen the short extract with hot water to create a sort of Americano.
HOW IT WORKS
AeroPress combines immersion (like a French press) and filtration (like a pour over because it uses paper filters). The plastic device was invented by engineer and physicist Alan Adler, who wanted a faster brewing method than the typical drip coffee. To do this, you wet a paper filter, insert it into the device, put the two plastic parts together, add coffee and water, and press the coffee out with the plunger. The result is concentrated coffee that is suitable for diluting with hot water.
TIPS ON GRINDING
The grind must be finer and approach the espresso grind.
WHO IS THE AEROPRESS SUITABLE FOR?
AeroPress is perfect for the traveler, the minimalist, or just any coffee lover. Its built-in features, like the numbers on the machine, mean you don't need a scale or a special kettle. Once you get the hang of it, making your coffee in 1 minute is a breeze, the AeroPress technique does require some practice at first.
Siphon method
WHY WE VALUE SIPHON PREPARATION SO MUCH
It looks like the secret invention of a mad scientist, the siphon brewing method is beautiful, intricate and theatrical, producing a delicate, tea-like cup of coffee. The technique can be quite fussy, but for the money, it's one of the coolest brewing methods around.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
The siphon brewing method uses immersion, vacuum pressure and fire. The way the glass device works is this: Water is added to the bottom part of the siphon, a glass bulb. A flame heats the water to a boil until the water seeps upward into the top part of the device, called the funnel. Once the water reaches the right temperature, coffee grounds are added to the hot water. After initial stirring, remove the siphon from the heat source. The change in pressure and gravity pulls the coffee down through the filter to the bulb.
TIPS ON GRINDING
The grind should be medium-coarse, like table salt. Even more important than the grind size are technical aspects, such as the stability of the water temperature and the stirring of the coffee grounds.
WHO IS THIS UNUSUAL TYPE SUITABLE FOR?
Siphon making is very esoteric and involves some effort and is probably best suited to the experienced enthusiast, the hobbyist or someone who enjoys putting on a good show for their friends ;-).
Cold brew method
WHY WE ALWAYS LOVE COLD BREW
Cold brew coffee is crisp and refreshing. The mouthfeel is silky and light. Depending on what type of coffee you use, profiles can be deliciously fruity or tart or chocolatey and rich.
HOW IT WORKS
Cold brew is quite simple: ground coffee is steeped in room temperature water for 8 to 12 hours and then poured through a filter. There are many cold brew makers available, but we prefer the Hario Cold Brew Bottle , which makes the process as simple as possible and functions as both a brewing device and a serving carafe.
TIPS ON GRINDING
The grind should be medium-fine, like granulated sugar.
WHO IS COLD BREW FOR?
Cold brew coffee has long been an insider tip in our café, and for some time now our guests have also been enthusiastically preparing it at home. It is for everyone who wants a refreshing coffee drink in the summer or at any other time of the year. The technique is simple and the results are brilliant.
