What are the 3 main methods for brewing coffee?

If your first coffee of the morning is super important to you and you are looking to find the way that best suits you, read on. There is nothing better than freshly brewing an amazing cup of coffee for you and /or your partner, first thing before breakfast or your morning commute. However, there are many methods and many products to navigate through and this can be overwhelming. Here we will explore the methods and the products we use here at Mosey to give you some clarity around where to start. The following is a list of the 3 most popular methods for brewing coffee at home to produce a beautiful brew that will set the tone for your entire day.

#1 - Espresso

Well duh…of course espresso would be on this list. This is the most commonly well known method made famous initially in Italy and then into the Australian Specialty Coffee market with our invention of the flat white. Great for a houselhold who enjoy coffee with milk, an espresso machine and grinder can be a great addition to the kitchen line up. Now whilst it might sound great in theory to dive head first into an espresso machine, there are a few things to consider before shelling out your hard earned willy-nilly.

1. Space

   Do you have enough? Espresso machines, grinders, and accessories can take up valuable bench space, so ensuring you have enough is going to be important. It’s not like a jaffle iron that you pull out from the corner cupboard. Select a spot where the machine will get used but not in the way, as that is most likely where it’s going to stay.

2. Budget

   To get started brewing espresso, you really just need an espresso machine, pre-ground coffee, and milk. A quick Google search shows a Kmart Espresso machine for $95. However, using pre-ground coffee is going to negatively affect your ability to produce consistent, delicious espresso, so we would highly recommend a grinder.

   Hand grinders or electric grinders vary in affordability, but I would always invest the bulk of my budget into a grinder instead of the espresso machine. Grind consistency, freshness, particle size, and repeatability are all the benefits of owning a good quality grinder. This translates into much better espresso,

   more often.

3. Skill

   It takes a fair bit of knowledge and practice to consistently brew quality espresso, but as long as you’re in it for the long haul, it can definitely be done. A little quality YouTubing and application at home can deliver great results, but it’s a steep learning curve, especially when you want good coffee, now. Check out our blogs on Home Espresso Tips for some guidance if you’re interested in learning more.

#2 - Filter

Filter coffee holds a special place in my heart as it’s my favorite way to drink coffee, and I make a batch every morning for myself and my wife before I start work. As we rotate through differing single origins in the roastery, I am treated to an ever-changing landscape of flavors and aromas, which I feel absolutely blessed to experience. This method is great for black coffee drinkers, but it can also take a dash of milk with the right coffee. All you need is ground coffee, a brewer, and boiling water.

Space and skill (arguably) aren’t really an issue when it comes to filter unlike an espresso machine. A 2 cup v60 brewer only takes up as much room as your favorite coffee mug, so storage is simple. And as long as you can pour water in concentric circles into the brewer, skill isn’t that much of an issue either.

The 2 main challenges with filter lie in the following 2 variables:

1. The Coffee

   Choose the right coffee for your taste and application. If you can’t go without a dash of milk in your coffee, choose a coffee that has notes of chocolate, caramel, vanilla, nuts, etc. Our Chill Pill blend is very suited to milk and would be great in that particular situation.

   Alternatively, if you prefer black coffee or want to delve into dark side, a Single Origin coffee would be my suggestion. There are a myriad of flavours that can be discovered in coffee so choose one’s that appeal to you or talk to your local roaster for some guidance if you’re unsure.

2. The Grind

   The basic recipe for filter would look something like this:

   20g of coffee with 320g of water extracted in 3:00 mins

   The amounts of coffee and water matter. It’s like making cordial. Too much, too sweet. Too little and, well, you know. But this is easy to get right with little skill or equipment, maybe a gram scale. But the grind plays a very important part in how your filter is going to taste, and a key measurement of grind size is time.

   If your grind size is too coarse, water will flow through too quickly, reducing the solubles dissolved in the brew, producing a weak and sour coffee. Total brew times of less than 2:00 mins would most likely be under-extracted like this.

   Too fine, and water will flow through too slowly, causing over-extraction, resulting in a bitter and astringent tasting brew. Total brew times of more than 3:30 mins may taste like this.

   So, yet again, we, the home barista, are at the behest of grind size, and yet again, the solution is - a grinder. Freshly ground coffee will always taste far better, and you have more control over your brews and how they taste. So if you can, an investment in a grinder will lift your brew game, but keep your budget modest in the process.

#3 - French Press / Plunger

Most households have been gifted one of these in their time, and it never ceases to amaze me how many of these wonderful contraptions just sit in the back of a cupboard, never to see the light of day. Aesthetically, the Frenchie is one of the most beautiful ways to brew coffee and wow your friends. Again, the Frenchie can be used for black or white coffee with a dash of milk but be careful with which coffee you choose as per the Filter examples. There are a few tips when using these as follows:

1. Recipe and method

   Use a brew ratio of 1g coffee : 14g water with a total brew time of 4:00 mins

   Start with 20g of coffee ground coarsely in the French Press

   Add 280g of boiling water and stir to ensure all ground are wet

   Allow to brew for 4:00 mins

   After brewing, using a spoon, remove the top crust of foam and grounds and discard

   Place the press and lid on top of the brew and press until just 5cm under the surface

   Do not press all the way to the bottom as this will disperse coffee silt into the brew

   Pour and enjoy

Again, as with all the above brew methods, the coffee you choose is super important. You can have the best equipment in the world but if your ingredients are of poor quality, the result will always be subpar. If you are looking for brewing equipment or specialty coffee beans, you can browse our products to see if they would be suitable for your home application. Click here for more.

About the author

With over two decades of experience operating teams within Restaurants and Cafe’s, Dave is not only an award winning coffee roaster but also an experienced barista trainer, successful manager and entrepreneur. Managing and roasting within businesses such as White Whale Coffee Roasters, Tattooed Sailor Coffee Roasters and One Penny Black, Dave can provide you with the knowledge and know-how on how to take your home coffee experience to the next level. Whether you need advice on coffee to buy, machines, a grinder, or just want to give filter coffee a try, we can point you in the right direction. Need help with a blend for espresso or want to know what a single origin is? just ask. We’d love to help and share our passion for coffee.

David Patteson - Mosey Coffee Roasters