If you’re looking to brew a better cup of coffee at home without using a coffee machine, we’ve got some different methods for you to try. And with so many different options to choose from, we know it can be tough to understand which one is the right one for you.
To help you choose the right brew method for you, have a read of our top three methods below.
Aeropress – Best for a quick cup of coffee and those on the go
The AeroPress has become increasingly popular among the coffee community and especially for those travelling. Reason-being, it produces a truly brilliant cup of coffee, comprises of only 3 individual tools that you can easily store in your luggage and requires little effort.
To make an AeroPress coffee, you’ll need:
- An AeroPress
- Paper filters
- A stirrer (your AeroPress should come with a stirring tool)
How to make the best cup of coffee using this method is debated – how long to leave to steep; how many grams of ground coffee to use and so on. You’ll have to experiment a little to see what works for you. Until then, here is our preferred method:
- Boil your water, place the filter in the cap and then pour some water over your paper filter to eliminate the ‘paper’ taste.
- Add 17g ground coffee into the AeroPress. If you do not have scales then a scoop is provided with the Aeropress, so use this as a starting point.
- Pour the water in, stir, put the plunger on (don’t plunge!) and leave to steep for 60 seconds.
- Give it another stir, before plunging.
Push down the AeroPress over a mug, and stop just before it starts to ‘hiss’ to produce a perfect cup of coffee.
Cafetiere – Best for coffee when friends are round
Cafetiere coffee is an old favourite, and a really easy way to brew your own coffee at home. One of the great things about Cafetiere coffee, is you can purchase different sized vessels depending on how many cups you are serving.
To make a Cafetiere coffee, you’ll need:
- A Cafetiere
- A stirrer
You can alter the amount of ground coffee you use, depending on how strong you like your cup and how many cups you are serving. See how we make ours:
- Rinse the vessel with boiling water.
- Add your coffee to your vessel. If you do not have a set of scales then your Cafetiere should come with a ‘scoop’ so you can have a play and work out how many scoop measures per cup of coffee.
- Pour the water in and stir gently. Place the plunger on top and leave for 3 minutes.
- Plunge down, and pour into your coffee cup.
Pour Over/Drip – Best for those wanting to really experiment
It might look like a scientific experiment, but trust us, this method produces a truly delicious cup of clean coffee. And once you get the hang of it, you won’t look back.
First thing to learn when making a pour over coffee, is how to grind your coffee. The grind of your coffee will alter the taste completely – a coarser grind can produce a weaker cup whilst a finer grind can product the opposite with a hint of bitterness. You’ll need to experiment with the grind to find what works for you and your taste buds.
To make a Pour Over coffee, you’ll need:
- A Pour Over set (Chemex or V60 are a good choice)
- A filter
- A stirrer
- Place your cone on top of your coffee mug, and add a paper filter.
- Boil your water, and rinse your filter to remove the ‘paper’ taste (as we mention in the AeroPress method) and heat the vessel. Discard the water.
- Place the cone and filter back over your coffee mug, and add your coffee grounds into the filter.
- Pour a small amount of water over the coffee grounds and leave for 30 seconds. This is called ‘blooming’.
- During the blooming period you want to gently stir the grinds, which agitates the coffee and gives an even cover of water over the grinds.
- Pour the rest of your water over the grounds in a circular motion and see your coffee drip through into your mug and enjoy a clean tasting coffee
Whichever method you choose to try, remember these two general rules to go by:
You should not use boiling water on your grinds. Leave your boiled water to sit for a couple of minutes so it drops between 92c and 95c, and
Use 60g of coffee grinds per litre of water as a starting point. To work out the coffee you need use the following – 60/1000 x volume of your vessel = grams of coffee require.
If you think you could get serious about your home brewing then you’re going to want to invest in a good set of scales that are accurate to within 0.1 grams.
All of the methods require some experimenting and time to discover what works best for you. If you need tips on which method to choose, how to grind your coffee for the perfect cup, or just need a little help, pop into Kudos and our baristas will be happy to talk you through. You can even pick up some home brewing equipment in our retail section, not to mention some fresh beans.
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