Since starting our small and humble website, we have acquired and cycled through practically every possible contraption there is for brewing coffee in our office.
Variety is the spice of life, and it’s no different when it comes to picking a brewing method for our coffee. We have a knack for seeking coffee knowledge and have scoured the world wide web and coffee trade shows to find the best methods to make coffee.
The amount of coffee-making apparatuses available today compared to 10 years ago is astonishing.
There are the classic automatic drip machines, pod machines, pour-over rigs, and even one that looks like it came straight out of a science lab (siphon coffee).
When selecting the best way to make coffee at home, you will want to consider the following:
- How much space does it take?
- How quick and convenient is it?
- Is it easy to clean?
- How many cups do I need it to brew?
- How do I prefer my coffee to taste?
I know, this might sound like a lot. But don’t worry.
In this article, we will guide you through our 8 favorite home brewing methods. We broke each one down by ease of use, convenience, best suited for, pros/cons, and flavor – we will help you in your pursuit of a coffee method that matches your lifestyle.
1. Automatic Drip Coffee Brewer
FLAVOR
7 / 10
BREW TIME
8 – 10 Minutes
BEST SUITED FOR
- Families or big households looking to brew more than 1-2 cups at a time
- Anyone looking for convenience and a timesaver
- Anyone who does not care to be involved in the coffee brewing process
PROS
CONS
This brewing method is your classic coffee machine and is commonly used in restaurants, offices, and homes.
If you are looking for convenience, automatic drip coffee brewers are the easiest way to brew coffee at home. You can brew big batches without having to attend to it aside from filling it with water and coffee grounds. Modern innovations have fitted drip machines with programmable features, adjustable water temperature, coffee blooming abilities, and even ones with built-in coffee grinders.
Not all automatic drip coffee brewers are made the same. In fact, through our product reviews, there are many that do not meet the minimum requirement for brewing great coffee at home.
Things you should look out for:
- Precise brewing temperature that can brew at 195°- 205°F / 91°- 96°C (SCA recommended)
- A shower head that can evenly dispense water over the coffee grounds
Automated drip brewers are the most hands-off method of brewing coffee at home. It’s been around since time and there is a good reason for that. Although it might not be the first pick for coffee connoisseurs, if you pick one that is part of the Specialty Coffee Association Certifed Home Brewer Program, you can be sure it will be brewing a pretty solid cup of coffee.
2. Pour Over Brewing
FLAVOR
9 / 10
BREW TIME
5 – 8 Minutes
BEST SUITED FOR
- Small households
- People who seek a simple, yet effective way of brewing amazing coffee at home
- Anyone who wants to learn and get more involved with coffee brewing
PROS
CONS
Pour-over coffee is one of the simplest forms of brewing coffee and is proof that you do not need all the high-tech gear to brew an amazing cup at home. It is a great choice for people who like a clean and well-balanced cup of coffee without wanting another appliance on their counter.
It’s one of the reasons why it is our favorite way to make coffee, especially if we are trying a new batch of beans.
If you ask us, it’s not just hype.
Pour-over coffee has become a popular method and is often the method used by many specialty coffee shops around the world. There is a good reason for that. This minimalistic method does a great job at highlighting the attributes, notes, and nuances of coffee beans.
There is a variety of pour-over contraptions to choose from, but the fundamentals are the same. Consisting of a filter cone and paper filter, it is the most affordable, simplest, and easiest way to get a coffee shop worthy cup made in the comfort of your own home.
Popular Pour Over Coffee Makers:
- Hario V60
- Chemex
- Kalita Wave
Pour over is a manual brewing method that rewards precision. It does require some finesse if you want to get the most out of this method. For instance, you could use a gooseneck kettle, digital scale, and timer to really dial in your brew. But it is also not a prerequisite, in a pinch, you could also use any kettle, coffee scoop, and guesstimate, and still get a good cup of coffee.
What makes pour-over great is you get to design your own ritual, you can make it as simple or as intricate as you like. It a brewing method for people looking to brew small batches at a time and looking to get more involved with their coffee. If you haven’t tried it yet, I highly suggest you give it a shot, it is a rewarding process to learn and master.
Pro tip: Using freshly ground coffee will significantly elevate the result of your brew
3. French Press
FLAVOR
7 / 10
BREW TIME
5 Minutes
BEST SUITED FOR
- Anyone looking for a budget-friendly, convenient, and a timesaving coffee brewer
- Families or big households looking to brew more than 1-2 cups at a time
- Anyone who does not care to be involved in the coffee brewing process
- People who enjoy milk/cream with their morning joe
PROS
CONS
The french press is one of the most popular immersion brewing methods for many home coffee lovers. It’s simple and requires minimal work. Simply pour your grounds into the carafe and pour hot water, steep for four minutes, depress the plunger and your coffee is ready for serve.
It does not require filters or special equipment. The french press brews coffee simply by steeping ground coffee with hot water rather than having water pass through ground coffee. This is also known as immersion coffee brewing and it brews a fuller body and richer cup of coffee when compared to dripped coffee. It’s great for anyone who enjoys milk/cream with their morning joe.
Compared to the other manual brewing methods, the french press is the most user-friendly and cost-effective way of making coffee at home. French press comes in a variety of sizes ranging from 2-12 cups, so you can pick one that suits your brewing needs. Another good thing is it does not take up much space and you can easily store it in a cabinet when it’s not used. It’s affordable and is ideal for anyone looking for a no-frills method of brewing coffee for themselves or a group.
Pro tip: Serve the coffee as soon as it finishes steeping. Leaving your coffee in the french press for too long could lead to over-extraction. The results will leave you with a bitter and burnt tasting batch of coffee.
4. Aeropress
FLAVOR
9 / 10
BREW TIME
2 Minutes
BEST SUITED FOR
- Travelers and people who need a portable coffee maker
- Coffee enthusiasts who are looking for a versatile brewer that can actually brew good coffee
- Small households that like to brew coffee occasionally
PROS
CONS
The Aeropress was invented in 2005 and has quickly grown in popularity in the coffee enthusiast community.
And rightfully so.
Its compact size and fast brew time make it a reliable method of brewing coffee while traveling. This funny looking (by conventional standards) coffee brewer acts the same way a syringe does, a plunger creates pressure and forces hot water through coffee grounds and a filter into a mug. It is light and packs away small, yet it can still brew a very flavourful cup of coffee whether you are in a hotel traveling, camping in the woods, and even at home.
Coffee brewed in the Aeropress is one of the reasons why this cult classic is at the top of the coffee world. The coffee is dark, smooth, full-bodied, and very low in acidity, often compared to espresso. It takes about 1-2 minutes to brew a fresh cup of coffee, and clean up with the Aeropress is easy.
There are hundreds of different recipes for Aeropress as coffee enthusiasts are constantly coming up with new and innovative ways to make the best coffee with it. Even if you already have other coffee brewers at home, the Aeropress is something worth owning as a coffee lover. The convenience, portability, and ability to brew good coffee makes it a staple in any kitchen or travel pack.
5. Moka Pot
FLAVOR
8 / 10
BREW TIME
10 Minutes
BEST SUITED FOR
- Espresso lovers seeking to brew a strong and bold coffee at home
- Anyone seeking a reliable and portable brewer
PROS
CONS
The Moka Pot is the quintessential coffee maker in Italy. Originally designed by Italian inventor Alfonso Bialetti, it is still one of the most popular and nostalgic ways of brewing espresso coffee at home. It comes in various sizes so you pick one that suits your brewing needs.
It brews coffee with a flavor profile closer to espresso in terms of strength and boldness. It’s strong, dark, and bitter. The reason behind this is the Moka pot extracts coffee similarly to espresso machines, by using pressure. A Moka pot consists of three chambers, with boiling water in the bottom chamber. When the water boils in this chamber, steam causes pressure to build up, pushing hot water through the grinds to produce a dark rich cup of coffee.
Things you should look out for:
- Stovetop compatibility – For example, if you have an induction stovetop, make sure you pick a Moka pot that is compatible with induction.
- Stainless steel vs. Aluminum – Newer Moka pots are constructed of stainless steel allowing for an easier clean-up and increases the lifespan of the pot.
- Safety Features – There are two core safety features on any Moka pot; a safety valve and an insulated handle.
The Moka Pot is a stovetop coffee maker and can be heated up using various heat sources depending on which model you get. It is a great portable brewer that you can throw in your bag for weekend trips. It is easy to use and clean and would be a great choice for anyone looking for a manual brewing method that makes a strong cup of espresso coffee.
6. Cold Brew
FLAVOR
9 / 10
BREW TIME
10 – 24 hours
BEST SUITED FOR
- Anyone who enjoys their coffee cold
- Anyone looking for a simple and cost-effective way to making cold coffee
- People who have sensitive stomachs towards the acids in coffee
PROS
CONS
Cold brew coffee is essentially cold coffee brewed without using any heat. It is very different from iced coffee where hot coffee is brewed and poured onto ice. In a nutshell, cold brew coffee is made by steeping coffee grounds in cold water over 10-24 hours.
It is one of the newest innovative ways to make coffee. It has gained popularity due to the unique coffee it produces. Cold brew coffee is strong, crisp, and has a super smooth finish. This brewing method significantly reduces the amount of acidity of coffee through its no heat extraction method and is a popular choice for many people with sensitive stomachs.
Brewing cold brew coffee is super simple and requires minimal effort. All the work is in the preparation. By combining your coffee grounds and cold water in a cold brewer overnight, you’ll be able to indulge in a fresh batch by morning. The best part is you do not necessarily need a “cold brewer”, although having one would be more convenient, you can also use a mason jar or a french press.
If you like cold coffee, cold brewing is the way to go. It’s a very affordable way to brew cold and delicious coffee at home with minimal equipment.
Pro tip: Cold-brewed coffee can be stored in your fridge for up to two weeks
7. Espresso Machine
FLAVOR
9 / 10
BREW TIME
2 – 5 Minutes
BEST SUITED FOR
- Coffee enthusiasts who are looking to make specialty coffee drinks at home
- Anyone who is willing to take the time to learn and perfect the sophisticated process of brewing espresso
- Large households that can afford the countertop space
PROS
CONS
Espresso machines are the cream of the crop of coffee equipment. It’s been around forever as it is still seen as one of the best ways to brew coffee. What makes espresso machines different from a drip coffee brewer is the pressure. Espresso machines use pressurized water to push through a puck of finely ground beans and filter to create espresso.
Accurate and high pressure is essential. There are different types of home espresso makers that are fully automatic, semi-automatic, and manual.
Things you should look out for:
- Accurate pressure gauges
- Warranty coverage
- Automatic vs Manual
This brewing method is much more sophisticated and by far the most expensive way to brew coffee at home. It is not a low-effort way of making coffee at home. Compared to the other coffee-making methods, espresso machines made for home use are expensive, require skill, effort, and dedication. So unless you are a trained barista, or looking to dedicate time to learn the art of pulling espresso, it may not be worth the investment for home coffee brewing. In addition, they are finicky equipment that requires regular maintenance and tend to break down easier.
With that being said, espresso machines can be very rewarding if you are willing to brave the steep learning curve. Being able to make cafe-style espresso and espresso drinks at home is a skill and convenience worth pursuing.
8. Siphon Coffee Brewer (Vacuum Pot)
FLAVOR
8 / 10
BREW TIME
15 Minutes
BEST SUITED FOR
- Coffee enthusiasts who are looking for a beautiful counter piece
- Anyone who is willing to take the time to learn and perfect the sophisticated process
- Large households that can afford the countertop space
PROS
CONS
Siphon coffee brewers are as unique as they come as it looks like something right out of a science lab. Siphon brewers use a combination of immersion brewing and siphon action to create a unique cup of coffee. It is not the most convenient way of making coffee as it requires a significant amount of effort. From our experience, it is not the best method for making coffee every day, unless you are an enthusiast and willing to put in the time every day.
This novelty brewing method attracts curious eyes whenever we have it out in the office. It is a great statement piece in any kitchen, and as well yields a great cup of coffee. Though we are not fully convinced if it is worth all the effort required when compared to other more user-friendly methods like pour-over.
Final Thoughts
There isn’t a one size fit all solution when it comes to picking out the best way to make coffee at home. We listed out the 8 most popular methods and each one of them has their strength and weaknesses.
Our favorite is still poured over. It’s the method that consistently gets used in our office. It’s versatile and allows room for experimentation. This is still not the best method when it comes to brewing a batch for a crowd, so we often use our drip machine when the occasion calls for it.
We hope this article has helped you understand the different nuances between the different ways of making coffee. And that it enables you to pick a coffee brewing method that truly fits within your lifestyle and coffee habits.
What is your favorite way of making coffee at home? Leave a comment below, we would love to hear your thoughts.
