The Best Home Brewing Method You’ve Probably Never Heard Of
So good you’ll never want instant coffee again
So you like coffee but feeling your home setup is a bit lackluster or simply want to experiment with the way you get your caffeine fix. Well, you’ve come to the right place. I’ve gathered a couple of brewing types in a list as well as including a deep dive on my favourite method. All will have links to guides to help you out with recipes and timings. Firstly let’s start with,
The main ways you can brew your coffee at home (that you probably know of)
Also commonly known as a Cafetière it is a staple in most homes. Recognisable for its distinctive plunger; it is cheap, easy, and repeatable. For those who have only ever had instant coffee, this will definitely be a step up with it being an infusion brewer (water passes through the coffee grounds).
As a consequence rich coffee oils seeping through leaving you with a nice little brew. Saying that you do need to be aware that there will inevitably be a silty residue at the bottom of your mug and if you accidentally drink that you’re not in for a good time.
Easily one of the most recognisable and well-regarded brewers. The Moka Pot is a simple pot made from aluminium originating in Italy and invented by Alfonso Bialetti in 1933. Good for a strong, bitter coffee the Moka Pot doesn’t take long to brew at all and is a big reason behind its popularity.
However, due to the high coffee to water ratio and shorter brew time you can often find that it suffers from lighter roasts of coffee. You don’t get to enjoy the acidic coffees or if so it is done with greater difficulty than other methods. For a simple bitter brew, this is a no-brainer.
Invented in 2005 by Alan Adler, the inventor of the Aerobie throwing ring- hence the name. This nifty little contraption is easily one of the most portable brewing methods. Being cheap, durable, and very easy to clean it is adored by many- it also makes a really nice coffee. Similar to a French Press the water and coffee steep together. However, completing the process a piston is used to push the water through the grounds then through a paper filter- so a mix between your traditional espresso machine and filter coffee makers.
The unique feature of AeroPress is that it has such a variety of recipes. You can put your own stamp on your coffee-making process. There has recently been somewhat of a cult following that has developed a World AeroPress Championships. Click here to see some of the previous year's champion recipes and give it a shot!
Other Brew types I haven’t mentioned:
Home espresso machine- count yourself lucky if you have one of them
The electric filter machine- a consistent cuppa but rarely anything special
The vacuum pot- for if you are feeling a bit pretentious
My go-to home brewing method
As you can tell from the picture above, my go-to brew is the classic pour-over (otherwise known as the filter method). This is when the coffee is made via percolation, or in simple terms, water passes through the coffee extracting the flavour, and then is filtered from the drink with a paper or cloth. The beauty of the method is that there is no right or wrong way and so much variation. The link above is the official Hario V60 method, here is a more beginner one.
You may be wondering why I like this method more than all the other ones. With it being seemingly very complex why would I go to all this effort for a cuppa? Good question, here are three reasons why:
It is a slow process
Arguably out of all the methods out there pour-overs can take the longest and have multiple steps in them. In a hectic, bustling, and busy day I sometimes find I never step back and slow down. The beautiful routine and process of literally seeing the drink develop before my eyes are wonderful. I take the 5 minutes or so to take a step back from screens and whatever I was previously doing and ponder life. It’s a very calming method and one I will enjoy over any other.
It helps develop your coffee knowledge
Whilst with other methods you can easily chuck some coffee in a pot and wait a bit, you are an integral part of the pour-over method. You have to learn the measurements, the brewing time, grind sizes, the right weight, and temperatures. It all develops a more rounded understanding of coffee and also when you buy new beans and equipment you learn how these all affect the process. Pour overs got me into researching independent coffee roasters and watching how-to videos.
It just tastes better
Don’t get me wrong I love myself a good flat white. That silky milk, the texture, (and when done well) the art. However, most coffee places end up giving you a stronger tasting cappuccino when you ask for a flat white because they don’t know how to steam milk properly. Most non-independent coffee shops are notorious for serving burnt or very dark roasted beans so lots of foam and milk just makes sense. People then have this fear of coffee without milk but they simply haven’t had a good cup of it before.
Adding milk to any drink takes away from the core part of the beverage- the coffee- all the flavour gets clouded. Pour overs have this beautiful, clean, light sensation. Whereas milk-based espresso drinks are heavier and just don’t taste nearly as good in my opinion. They are more of the caffeine fix rather than the coffee experience.
So I’ve convinced you to get into pour-overs, here’s what you’ll need:
The only real difference between the two is the size and filters they take. I usually use V60 for just myself and Chemex when friends are around.
(optional) A coffee grinder
You can buy your coffee pre-ground. It does save you some time and hassle, however, ultimately the freshness and taste of the coffee beans are simply not there if left in the open too long. Even a simple grinder like the one linked can allow you to grind your beans just before use and get more taste.
(super optional) Pouring kettle
For those of you serious about coffee and maybe with an upcoming birthday this could be a good present. These kettles enable a steady flow and pour rate onto your coffee in the various stages of your brewing. For the average consumer, you won’t be able to tell much difference but for those looking for an aesthetic gadget or wanting to level up your coffee game, this is for you.
Coffee beans
This is where pour-overs really stand out; you get to experiment and get the most out of your coffee experience. Trying out new beans is a huge part of that and incredibly fun. I always recommend supporting your local independents if they have their own beans. But some solid brands I like are; Origin Coffee,Colonna, and Square Mile Coffee Roasters. A great service to try if it seems all quite confusing is Hasbean. This is a subscription service that sends you unique and brilliant coffee straight to your door without you having to choose. I personally use this to find new brands I like and experiment with flavours. I highly recommend it.
Conclusion
Maybe you hate pour-overs, maybe you love them, maybe you know nothing about coffee and were simply curious. Either way, I hope this article taught you something new or inspired you to push the boat out with your usual caffeine fix.
As always thanks for reading and if you have any questions on anything feel free to send a message. Happy brewing!