There are a lot of different ways to make coffee. Most people know the most common ones – espresso machine, stove top, drip machine, etc. But, there are a bunch of different ways to brew coffee at home and even different variations of those aforementioned ones. Like other things in the realm of coffee making, the many brew methods available can seem daunting. Especially if you walk into any store to buy a coffee machine and see all kinds of options. It’s hard to know what the best one to choose is, and what makes them all so different.
If you are in the market for a new coffee machine, or just want to know what you are getting from the one you already have, there are a few ways to know which method of brewing is best suited for your taste buds and your lifestyle. When deciding on brewing methods, you may want to ask yourself– what your ideal cup looks like, how you want your coffee to taste, how much time you want to spend making it, and your desire for easy consistency.
What Do You Want In Your Cup ?
This question will likely have a straight forward answer, and will guide you in answering the ones that follow. If you are a lover of lattes, cappuccinos, and all things espresso based, you may look into the realm of espresso brewers rather than a standard drip coffee brewer, and vice versa. Knowing what the cup of coffee you want to be drinking at home is the best place to start.
Moreover, different brewing methods, regardless of the beans you use, will produce a different taste experience. A pour over versus a french press for example, can make the same coffee taste different. On one hand, a pour over will likely give you a cleaner, lighter and more refined tasting cup compared to a french press which is a method of immersion brewing that often creates a richer and more full-bodied taste to the very same coffee.
How Much Time Do You Want To Spend?
For some people, making their morning coffee is a ritual. While others just want to have a cup of coffee they can grab and go on their way out the door. There is no wrong answer, whether making coffee is something you are happy to spend time and energy on, or if you would rather something more quick and efficient. Cold brew, for example, requires that the grounds are immersed in cold water for at least 12 hours. However, an automatic drip machine can take less than five minutes.
There is also the process required after you’ve used a certain method of brewing. Some require more maintenance or can be more difficult to clean. Something like a Clever or Hario V60 uses paper filters, and requires very little cleaning and general maintenance. On the other hand, a french press, because it does not use a paper filter, can be more time consuming to clean. Some machines also have built in grinders and can develop oil build up from beans and need to be cleaned following the instructions in the owners manual. All the aforementioned methods are capable of making great cups of coffee, but the process required is all different, so it really depends on what you are comfortable with.
How Important Is Consistency?
This may seem like an obvious yes kind of question, but hear me out. In any brewing method, it’s possible to achieve and maintain consistency. But, some brewing methods are more finicky than others in this department. Espresso machines, for example, are trickier to maintain consistency of flavour. There are a lot of factors that can really change how it tastes – and drastically. As well as an Aeropress, which is entirely hands on from start to finish, and is impacted more by human error. But, automatic drip machines can be more easy to manage, especially considering they often remove some variable factors such as amount of grinds to water ratio and dripping/immersion time. But, for some folks, playing around with how they make their coffee in order to figure out what they like best is part of the fun and that’s totally understandable. So, if you want to be fully hands on in making your coffee, rather than a machine doing it for you, an Aeropress or a Hario V60 is a great option.
What Is Your Budget?
One final thing to consider is your budget in choosing a brew method. Espresso machines can be fairly expensive, while a plastic V60 can be less than 20 dollars. There is of course a wide range between those two things and you can find variations of a french press for example at a wide range of different prices. Also, some require purchasing paper filters as you go, so are not just a one time price commitment.
Do some research based on these questions, and you might find something that’s exactly what you need. As always, if you want to talk some more about what might work for you and your routine, you’re always welcome to come in and chat with any of us and we’d be happy to help!
