Many of us cannot start the day without a cup of coffee. But just what is the best way to prepare your morning cup of joe? There are many different brewing methods that you can use to prepare coffee. These each use different types of grounds, have a different type of flavour, take a different amount of time to brew and come at a different cost. By comparing different methods, you can find the perfect brewing method for your lifestyle and tastes. Here are just 8 of the most common home coffee brewing methods compared.
Instant coffee
Grind of beans: Pre-ground
Flavour: Less robust, some find it too flat and bitter
Preparation time: 1 – 2 minutes
Cost: Low
Instant coffee is the fastest and cheapest way to get your coffee fix. Simply add granules to a cup, pour hot water in and stir. Its flavour falls short of other brewing methods, which can put off serious coffee aficionados. However, if you’re all about convenience and saving money, it’s your best option.
Coffee bags
Grind of beans: Pre-ground, similar to teabags
Flavour: Better than instant, but can vary a lot
Preparation time: 2 – 5 minutes
Cost: Low to moderate
Coffee bags are just like teabags, but they contain ground coffee instead. Like instant coffee, you add the coffee bag straight to the cup and then pour in hot water. You’ll need to wait a little longer to let it brew compared to instant coffee. However, it’s worth it for the richer taste. That said, the flavour still isn’t as complex as other brewing methods.
French press
Grind of beans: Coarse grind
Flavour: Rich, full bodied and aromatic
Preparation time: 4 – 5 minutes
Cost: Low to moderate
Also known as a cafetiere or simply a coffee press, the french press is a traditional brewing device that’s often capable of making more than one cup. Coarsely ground beans (which you can grind yourself or buy pre-ground) are used to produce a much richer and full bodied flavour than many other brewing methods. To prepare, place the grounds in the jug and pour hot water on top, before allowing to brew. Then press down the plunger to separate the grounds and infused coffee liquid. Finally, pour into a cup. Clean-up can be slightly messier than other brewing methods, but many coffee enthusiasts find it’s worth it for the richer taste.
Aeropress
Grind of beans: Fine to medium grind
Flavour: Smooth with a unique richness
Preparation time: 2 – 3 minutes
Cost: Low to moderate
An Aeropress is a unique device usually designed for brewing single cups of coffee. A plunger is used to force hot water through ground coffee and a filter directly into a cup. Aeropresses are popular for their portability and the unique smooth but rich taste they produce as a result of using finely ground coffee. Aeropresses are similar in cost to french presses.
Moka Pot
Grind of beans: Fine to medium grind
Flavour: Strong and aromatic, espresso-like
Preparation time: 5 – 10 minutes
Cost: Low to moderate
Moka Pots are sometimes known as Italian coffee makers or espresso pots. They are used to make strong espresso-like coffee. This is brewed using steam pressure. Traditional moka pots involve cooking coffee over a flame on the stove, however you can buy electric moka pots too which automate the brewing process. You can buy moka pots in different sizes with some of them capable of brewing multiple cups at once. One of their biggest drawbacks is that they can be a pain to clean.
Drip coffee
Grind of beans: Medium grind
Flavour: Smooth and typically quite balanced
Preparation time: 5 – 10 minutes
Cost: Moderate
Drip coffee makers brew hot water over coffee grounds, which is then dripped through a filter into a jug. These coffee makers are often designed for brewing multiple cups of coffee at once making them perfect for large families – a typical drip coffee maker jug will contain 8 to 12 cups of coffee. Some have thermal carafes instead of jugs that allow brewed coffee to stay warm throughout the day. Medium ground coffee beans are used to create a smooth and well balanced flavour.
Pod machine
Grind of beans: Pre-ground in pods
Flavour: Varies by brand
Preparation time: 1 – 3 minutes
Cost: Moderate to high
Pod machines as manufactured by companies like Nespresso and Keurig have become an increasingly popular option in recent years. Pre-packaged coffee pods are inserted into a machine, which then brews and pours coffee straight into your cup. It’s possible to buy pods infused with all kinds of flavours from vanilla to caramel. You can even buy hot chocolate pods. This convenient option offers a lot of variety to your morning cuppa. However, the taste of this coffee can vary a lot from brand to brand. Some people find that pod coffee lacks freshness, but others find the variety of flavours much more fun.
Bean-to-cup machine
Grind of beans: Whole beans (machine grinds them to a fine grind)
Flavour: Smooth and rich
Preparation time: 30 seconds to 1 minute
Cost: High
Bean-to-cup machines can be more expensive than other coffee brewing devices. However, they can be used to replicate the type of coffee you’d get from a barista. These machines typically involve pouring in whole beans, which are then automatically ground and infused with hot water, before being poured directly into your cup. Some bean-to-cup machines also come with fun features like milk frothers for manually practising cappuccinos, while others incorporate fully-automated milk frothing. The process is typically very fast, while also delivering a high quality taste. It’s worth taking your time to shop around for the best coffee machine to suit your needs. Do you want a fully automated machine? Or would like some manual control?
Conclusion
When choosing a coffee brewing method, think about what is most important to you. Is saving money a priority? Stick with instant. Want the richest flavour you can get? Try a French press or Moka pot. Want to be able to brew lots of cups of coffee at once? Consider a drip coffee maker. Want a method that’s speedy, but still delivers high quality flavour? Invest in a bean-to-cup coffee machine. Of course, you can switch between multiple methods for different occasions – you don’t have to stick to one method!