Which Way to Drip: Our Favorite Ways to Make Coffee at Home
There are several benefits to brewing your own coffee - from better quality control to saved time to a superior coffee experience. For many, our crew included, it is more fun and fascinating to have a hands-on approach to your brewing process. The growing trend for gourmet coffee making has resulted in an impressive range of gadgets and differing opinions. While we support all brewing styles, we’re focusing on a few of our favorite and crowd-pleasing manual brewing methods.
The French Press
Bodum French Press Coffee Maker
No paper filter, no problem - and even better, no waste! A French Press works by soaking ground coffee directly in hot water rather than letting water pass through the grounds and then a filter. This is also known as the “immersion” method, and because of this filtration method, you’ll always want to use a coarser grind than you would for a drip coffee. Since the grounds will be in contact with the water, a fine grind would leave you with a bitter, over-extracted brew. When done correctly, coffee made in a French Press is a dream. It tends to be more robust and richer than drip coffee because you don’t lose any of the flavorful oils in the paper filter. Start by pouring your coarse coffee grounds into the carafe, fill it with boiling water, and stir it to make sure all of the coffee is properly saturated. Then wait five minutes, put the lid on, and slowly (this part is essential, so don’t rush) depress the plunger to press all the grounds through the water and to the bottom of the carafe. Voilà, there you have it: French Press coffee!
Springline Pro Tip: Once the coffee has finished brewing, pour it into your bug or a thermos as soon as you can. As the grounds are still in contact with the water after the plunger has been pushed down, letting it sit for too long can lead to sludgy, over-extracted coffee.
The Aeropress
Not quite as common as the French Press, the Aeropress is a favorite of coffee lovers on the go. The compact brewing device works by forcing hot water and coffee grounds through a tiny replaceable filter and straight into your coffee cup. Coffee brewed using an Aeropress is generally very smooth with low acidity. The Aeropress is compact and lightweight enough to bring with you just about anywhere you go. It is the perfect travel option - no more frustration over Airbnbs without a coffee maker or a broken one. Also, a great companion to
Percolator
Bialetti Moka Aluminum 9-Cup Espresso Maker
Initially patented in 1933, the percolator is a stovetop style coffee maker that uses steam pressure from the boiled water in the lower section to pass through the coffee grounds in the pot’s mid chamber. Brewed coffee then sits in the higher chamber. As Alfonso Bialetti first created the percolator, you can’t go wrong with a Bialetti brand percolator. You’ll want to use a medium-coarse grind and brew for about 5 minutes for a strong yet smooth cup of coffee. The percolator is a great option for frequent campers and is easy to clean.
The Pour Over
The pour-over method is proof that you don’t need expensive equipment or the latest gadgets to brew a great cup of coffee. This process is low tech and high return. A simple filter cone is one of the best ways to get coffeeshop worthy coffee from the comfort of your home. It is a simple process that requires a bit of practice, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll be able to do it blindfolded or, at the very least half-awake. Here is the process:
- Arrange a pour-over coffee filter in your cone and place the cone over a vessel. The vessel could be a coffee cup or a carafe if you are looking to make a large batch.
- Pour boiling water into the filter, let it drip out entirely, and discard the vessel’s collected water under the cone. This rinse helps to prevent any paper bits and flavors from ending up in your coffee.
- Now that your filter is rinsed, you can add your freshly-ground coffee to the cone and make sure it’s placed over whatever vessel you’re brewing into. Pour in your coffee grounds and give them a shake, so the grounds are evenly distributed. You don’t want a mountain or valley on either side.
- Next, pour enough boiling water to saturate the grounds fully, but not so much that there is water pooling on top of them. This method is called “blooming” and helps the coffee’s flavors come through and really shine. Then wait 30 seconds, you’ll notice the coffee start to expand or bloom.
- Continue to add boiling water and pour in a circular motion. Be sure not to pour all the water at once. You should be stopping and starting, so the cone never fills up with water. Keep repeating until you pour out your measured volume of water. Now your coffee cup or thermos is full of delicious, freshly brewed pour-over coffee!
Cold Brew
Cold brew coffee is crisp and refreshing with a silky and light mouthfeel. Cold brew coffee is quite simple: the process immerses ground coffee in room temperature water for 8 to 12 hours, then poured through a filter. Your grind should be medium fine, like granulated sugar. Cold-brew is excellent to make in large batches to ensure you always have brewed coffee on hand at home. The technique is easy, and the results are a refreshing cup of coffee any time of year.
Additional Tips
- When using a filter, always first rinse the filter with hot water to remove any chemicals on the paper.
- Start with cold filtered water, when possible.
- Use freshly roasted beans and grind the beans just before brewing.
- Don’t be afraid to tweak your brewing method to your liking! Everyone’s taste preferences vary, so play around adjusting the grind or amount of coffee or water to suit your palette.
- Don’t forget to compost your used coffee grinds!
While your brewing method is an integral part of creating a great cup of coffee, it is only half of the equation. If you want exceptional coffee, you have to start with quality beans. At Springline Coffee, we are proud to say all of our roasts and blends are made with the finest beans. Our meticulous hand roasting approach has been refined over the years based on feedback from customers like you. When you place your order, you can rest assured that you’ll be receiving your coffee within days of the roasting process for the freshest possible brew. Find your new daily ritual by taking a look at our roasts and blends.