BREW BETTER COFFEE

Why is it that coffee brewed by your local barista always tastes different than the beans you brew at home?

There are so many factors involved in brewing a perfect cup – from temperature, water chemistry, particle size and distribution, time, and quality of the beans – that making a quality cup might seem like an impossible feat!

But excellent craft coffee doesn’t have to be complicated if you learn and practice the technique of whichever brewing method works best for you.

Here’s a breakdown of each brewing method so you can achieve your perfect cup, every time!

POUR OVER

When you first see a Chemex, you may want to use it as a vase rather than a brewer… but there’s a reason it looks the way it does: it makes friggin amazing coffee, and it does it in style.

The primary benefit of using a Chemex over other drippers is capacity- you can easily make 3-4 cups in one go, making this gem a crowd pleaser.

You’ll need to practice mastering the finer details regarding grind size, water temp, and coffee volume, but once you do, prepare to fall in love!

Check out this step-by-step guide by @craftcoffee: https://www.craftcoffee.com/how-to-make-coffee/chemex-brew-guide

ESPRESSO MACHINE

Anyone who knows anything about coffee knows what an espresso machine is- they’ve been keeping us caffeinated since 1901.

Today they come in various shapes and sizes, with loads of features and gimmicks. Don’t get confused by flash machines though because the basics are the same: pressurized water is pushed through a chamber/puck of finely ground coffee beans, through a filter, resulting in what we call a shot of espresso.

This method is best suited for you if you like a milky brew (e.g., a latte) or if you’re the type that likes a quick and sharp hit of caffeine. The only drawbacks? They take up kitchen counter space and they’re an absolute b**ch to clean.

Check out this guide by @homegroundsco on how to pull the perfect espresso shot: https://www.homegrounds.co/how-to-use-an-espresso-machine/

STEEPED

The idea of instant coffee is great- it comes in a small jar so you can take it anywhere; just add hot water. There’s just one major problem, though… it tastes like ass. Enter the coffee bag: the solution to ass-tasting instant coffee.

Ground coffee (not dissolvable coffee, which is how instant is made) in a filter bag is plunged straight into your hot water, and you have your brew. If you can make tea, you can make steeped coffee!

Have you ever tried making your coffee this way?

MOKA POT

Don’t have a few hundred bucks to spend on an espresso machine, but still looking for that espresso-shot-like-kick that comes from a pressurized brew?

The stovetop espresso maker (aka the Moka pot) is the next best thing.

The magic behind the Moka pot is in its 3-chambered brew process. Water in the bottom chamber boils, and the steam causes pressure that pushes water up through the coffee grounds into the top chamber.

If done correctly, the end result is a bittersweet and super strong concoction that will get you through the day. Here’s a guide by @bluebottle on brewing Moka pot coffee: https://bluebottlecoffee.com/preparation-guides/bialetti-moka-pot

FRENCH PRESS

The French press is the unofficial mascot of home brewed coffee; it’s been steeping coffee in households since before your grandparents were born, and it has a very loyal, cult-like following amongst the home barista community.

Why so?

It’s likely thanks to multiple reasons, but our money is on the fact that it’s super easy to use, can be picked up for pocket change (almost), and produces a brew with a distinct taste and feel like no other method.

If you’re into the French press, make sure to use the right coffee grind as this little known but super common mistake taints French press coffee all over the world.

Check out this recipe by @crema.co: https://crema.co/guides/french-press-coffee

VACUUM POT

Ever feel like brewing coffee is a job for a chemist?

Also known as the siphon pot, making coffee this way is as unique as it comes; it’s a combination of brewing methods; a full immersion brew (as your coffee goes into the water) but also uses siphon action to create a great tasting cup.

At the very least, mastering this brew style earns you some serious bragging rights- whip it out when your friends are around and show them how advanced you are in the art of the brew.

Just make sure you warn your neighbors before using one, otherwise they might think you’re on the set of Breaking Bad…

AEROPRESS

The aeropress has a cult-like following amongst the traveling coffee community, and it looks more like a science project than a brewer. But if you ask us, it’s the best thing that happened to coffee. And many people say it brews the best cup they’ve ever tasted.

When it comes to the aeropress, simplicity is the name of the game; the right water temp, the right air pressure and the right size grind leave you with an excellent tasting brew in a matter of minutes! (Seriously, it’s one of the fastest coffee makers you can get your mitts on). This method is best suited for you if you’re a traveler or just someone who appreciates a quick, clean and great tasting coffee. Or perhaps you love camping? The aeropress ticks all the boxes!

COLD DRIP

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard of this one! Cold brew is one of the most popular caffeine-infused innovations of our time (and no, we’re not talking about iced coffee). In a nutshell, it’s made by slowly dripping cold filtered water through your fresh grinds for a long period- often 10 hours or more.

Is it just like hot coffee, but cold? Hell no. In the end, your patience will be rewarded with a strong, intense, unique-tasting coffee with a super smooth finish- no acidity or bitterness. Since you can taste the real origins of the coffee bean and where it comes from, there’s no need for milk or sweeteners.

Our personal favorite part? Cold brew coffee stays fresh for up to 2 weeks, so fill up a few old jars in the fridge and with one cycle you’ll stay happily caffeinated on damn-great-tasting coffee for days.

TURKISH COFFEE

From 1299, the Ottoman Empire ruled Turkey for an impressively long stint. What was their secret? We bet it was strong Turkish coffee!

Brewing Turkish coffee might seem easy, but like most brew methods, there’s skill in doing it right. The most common way involves a Turkish coffee pot, water and very finely ground coffee beans.

After simmering a number of times, you’ll end up with a brew that you’ll either love or hate: strong, but exceptionally tasting with a thick foam on top.

For a complete guide on how to brew the perfect cup of coffee, check out this article that provides comprehensive tips: https://www.coffeebitz.com/blog/how-to-make-perfect-cup-coffee/.

We hope you enjoy your cup a little extra today!

Cheers,
Sonam & Dan