Best Ways to Make Coffee at Home
Finding the best ways to make coffee at home for your life can be quite the journey. From set-it-and-forget-it to weighing out your water, your ideal brew process is out there. And we’re going to help you find it. Here are some of our favorite brewing devices for crafting coffee at home.
French Press
The go-to for many and best training wheels for someone looking to move upward and onward from their automatic brewer. You can brew multiple cups with just one brew process, great for hosting guests or if you’re a multi-cup-a-day drinker. For the latter, be sure to empty the coffee from the french press upon brew completion; you’ll risk over extracting the coffee if you leave it brewing for hours. The french press is known for incredible strong and oily coffee, so be prepared.
Mr Coffee
Automatic coffee brewers are ideal for the low-maintenance coffee drinker. Merely add some grounds, pour some water, and not only will your coffee be ready quickly and with little effort, but the warmer will keep it toasty until your next cup. Like the french press, automatic brewers are good for making larger batches, but do be aware that it can be difficult to control the quality.
Kalita Wave
The Kalita Wave doesn’t only make beautiful coffee, but it looks good while doing it. The brew process is like that of a pour over, but the flat-bottom filter (as used in an automatic brewer) allows for even extraction. The metal-bodied carafe maintains heat more readily than in ceramic carafes, keeping your coffee nice and toasty until you’re ready to enjoy.
V60
The V60 is a single-cup brewing method that leaves ample opportunity for user control. Easily achieve full immersion with the V60, as the vessel gives good control to water distribution. Designed in a way that it can rest right on your mug as it brews, the V60 also has a larger opening for a faster brew. Customize the result of your brew by altering the speed at which you pour water over the grounds. Its intricate capabilities enthrall professionals, but we encourage everyone to try the V60!
Chemex
The Chemex brewer is similar to the V60 in process, only the carafe and filter are much larger with less vortex-like brewing capabilities. Its high capacity allows for more coffee to be brewed at once and the wide opening supports continual pour and ground saturation.
Siphon
Recommended for the dedicated and intentional coffee enthusiast. The attention to detail required to craft a tasteful siphon coffee is nothing to write-off. The base heats the water which is then forced to the top of the beaker. It is here where you pour the ground coffee and stir for saturation. There’s no doubt that the effort needed for this brew method isn’t noticeable in the final product, if done well. Don’t underestimate the potentially problematic setup and dismount, but the result is well worth it.
Clever Dripper
The dripper is similar in outcome, but requires much less care and attention than other single-cup brew methods. Many “by the cup” cafes use this method, as it allows the user to leave the setup unattended as it brews. After the water filters through, you can return to a delectable cup of coffee.
Espresso Machine
Attempting to duplicate the shot that comes from your local shop can be a large undertaking. See, there a large production that goes into pulling a great shot of espresso; an ideal grind and properly-treated water are just the beginning. We wholly encourage you to invest in an at-home machine, if you’re so interested. It is very possible to make great espresso with the proper care and focus!
Aeropress
The aeropress brewing device is a hot topic in home brewing due to its expansive methods for use and recipe possibilities. Throwdowns, competitions, and championships have all been established in the name of this plunger-resembling device. An aeropress is the key to making the most compact and involved cup of coffee you can make as a home brewer. If you’re keen on agitation, bloom, and various other intricate steps to home-brewing, this might be your new favorite toy.
If you liked this article, check out our other guides on where to find the best coffee in Austin, Atlanta, and Philadelphia.