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In today’s automated age, most people prefer the convenience of K-cups and other automatic espresso machines. But let’s face it. As a coffee lover, you know that good quality coffee isn’t created by just hitting a brew button on a machine. Life is too short to drink bad coffee. It’s time you master some manual coffee brewing methods.
Coffee snobs and purists want absolute governance over every facet of their demitasse. Manual coffee brewing methods give you control over the each step of the coffee making process. You get to choose your own roast and brew it exactly the way you like it.
Coffee, when done with love and effort, can be a wonderfully affirming way to start the day. Let’s take a look at the different manual coffee brewing methods, so you can decide which one is right for you.
Pour Over
Pour over is one of the oldest, simplest, and most common manual coffee brewing methods. With the increasing popularity of pour over coffee, it is not uncommon to see a barista preparing coffee using this brewing method. Not only is it limited to coffee shops, it is also becoming a popular option for home baristas.
The pour over method involves the use of a filter. Here, hot water is poured over freshly ground coffee. Water passes through the coffee grounds, dissolving soluble solids, and become our prized black beverage. This produces a distinctly bright and clean cup of coffee. With good quality beans and proper ground size, it will take your cup of coffee to a whole new level.
French Press
French press is a full immersion brewing device with a metal mesh filter. It doesn’t have the bells and whistles found in other coffee machines, but it does produce great tasting coffee. Coffee purists love it mainly because of its simplicity and its ability to make coffee that is richer, more caffeinated and full of antioxidants. It is excellent at capturing the flavors and aromas from the beans and drawing out coffee’s oils.
With this brewing method, the coffee grounds are soaked, steeped, and strained in hot water. This yields coffee with more bite, and more intense flavor and aroma than drip coffee.
Coarse ground coffee works well with French Press, so the grounds won’t pass through the filter. But since the screen cannot be too fine, there is always a chance for some grounds to escape in the final cup.
Aeropress
If you want to make a thick, and luscious brew even when you’re out on the field, then the Aeropress is perfect for you.
The Aeropress is a lightweight, portable, and durable innovation from Aerobie. It uses total immersion and gentle pressure to make your coffee taste like no other. No coffee ground is left to dry out. This allows for rapid and full flavor extraction. The end result is a rich, espresso-like cup of coffee.
With the Aeropress, you can make coffee in a jiffy. In fact, your coffee will be ready in a minute. Now, long wait times are a thing of the past. Plus, there is an Aeropress recipe for every type of coffee beverage you can imagine.
Chemex
Coffee is part passion and part chemistry. The Chemex marries these two elements together.
Chemex is a pour-over style of coffee brewer, but with a few key differences. The Chemex has a beautiful, iconic design. Unlike the traditional pour-overs, its hourglass-shaped flask is made entirely of glass. This material do not absorb chemical residues or odors. Its design and simplicity enable it to stand far above the rest of the competition.
The process is similar to that of pour-over method. The defining feature of this method is an ultra thick paper filter set flush against the walls of the server. Because of this, the water flows more slowly than pour-over methods. It can also make anywhere between 3 to 10 cups of coffee.
If you want to brew more than a cup of coffee and you value extremely clean coffee, consider getting a Chemex.
Moka Pot
If you like good coffee and old-age traditions, then you should try making coffee in a Moka Pot.
The Moka Pot is a tiny, Italian-made, eight-sided wonder. This stovetop style coffee maker is a true blue classic, and is present in every cucina in Italy.
The Moka Pot uses steam pressure from boiled water to push water up through the coffee grounds and into the top chamber. It brews a big-bodied, dense, viscous cup. The process can be a bit frustrating, but it can be rewarding once you get the hang of it,
Due to its ability to produce an appropriately dense, viscous espresso, it’s experiencing a resurgence lately. If you want that espresso-shot-like-kick that comes from a pressurized brew, the Moka Pot is for you.
Turkish Coffee
The Turkish Coffee is one of the oldest style of brewing coffee that dates back to the 16th century. Turkish coffee is brewed in an ibrik, a small metallic pot with a wide base and narrow top. This intense and luscious beverage is described as black as hell, strong as death, and sweet as love.
Unlike other brewing methods discussed above, cold water is poured into the pot so you will need a heat source. Put the pot on a stovetop to heat the water. Also, the coffee grounds are left to settle at the bottom of the cup or brewing vessel. There is no need to filter the ground coffee out of the brew before consumption.
If you are willing to try something different, give Turkish coffee a go. It might just be your new favorite brew.
Manual coffee brewing methods are on the rise
Manual coffee brewing methods are the newest trend in the coffee world. It is expected to intensify in the at-home market in the coming years.
Despite the introduction of state-of-the-art coffee machines, it’s comforting to know that there will always be a place for manual brewing. With the manual brewing methods mentioned above, there is no need for coffee brewing gadgets, electric power cords or flashing green lights. It’s just you, a few simple tools, and some good, solid techniques. You enjoy the full experience of quality coffee. That is what manual brewing is all about.
With enough skill and practice, you can make coffee that taste leagues better than the ones you buy from you local coffee shop.
