Different Brewing Methods
What if I told you there is more to making coffee than the plain boring drip pot or those pods?
I won't tell you how to brew your coffee. The way I see it is the best way is your favorite way. Let's look at some of the options.
French Press
This is my personal favorite method of brewing.
It requires a coarse grind and hot water poured over.
What's good about the French Press is the oils emulsify with the water, allowing for deeper flavor and longer ability to enjoy it.
This is my go-to for relaxing mornings where I can enjoy a good book while sipping for hours.
Espresso
Espresso is probably the most popular method aside from drip pot due to its uses in fancier drinks.
It requires a finer ground, darker roast and an espresso machine. You shouldn't need a lemon slice with it!
Espresso is great for sipping by itself, making cappuccino, lattes and iced coffee.
Pour Over
This is a more advanced method of brewing coffee due to the many variables involved. It relies entirely on the brewer's ability. For that same reason people swear by this method.
It generally requires a medium grind, hot water, a filter and a container in which to pour everything.
This is a great way to do coffee if you're willing and able to put that much effort into every cup.
Cold Brew
This is becoming an increasingly popular method of brewing coffee due to the lack of bitterness or acidity associated with hot coffee.
It requires the most coarse grind available, a good filter and about 12 hours of brewing time.
Due to the fact that caffeine dissipates with heat, a cold method retains much more caffeine than regular methods. Therefore, it's advisable to dilute it slightly.
Another popular method attached to cold brew is Nitro, which is when cold brew coffee is run through a whipped cream canister, but fueled by nitrogen instead of CO2. This gives it a smoother flavor and a heady foam on top, making it look and taste like a stout beer.
Turkish Coffee
This method of brewing coffee is by no means a regular method. Turkish coffee is when the grounds are boiled directly over heat in the pot, then served in small shot glasses.
It requires the finest grind available, room temperature water to start, a special copper pot.
I wouldn't recommend it for daily drinking because it takes a lot of work and only a small amount is produced.
This kind of coffee would be something you should do with a few friends on a special night.
Ethiopian Coffee
Much like the Turkish coffee, Ethiopian style coffee is more of a cultural experience.
This requires the coffee to be ground with a mortar and pestle, the coffee itself from Ethiopia and is brewed over charcoal.
People in Ethiopia view coffee very much how I do. This is an entire afternoon ritual with friends and family. By no means should this method be used to replace Dunkin or Starbucks!