Coffee Brewing Methods: Planning and Guide

Brewing a good cup of coffee is largely a matter of personal preference but there are four major areas to consider before you brew: the type of bean, how it will be ground, the water used for brewing, and what method will be used to brew the coffee. So, you need to understand the coffee brewing methods and plan well before going into the action.
We will discuss a few important things here like choosing the coffee bean, grinding it properly and properly present good coffee.

Tips, Guide and Planning on Coffee Brewing Methods

Before planning the coffee brewing you need proper beans and perfect espresso machine. With quality coffee beans and machine, now you can brew a quality coffee with the help of proper tips. Let’s find out the efficient information on coffee brewing methods.

Choose a Coffee Bean for Coffee Brewing

The first step to brewing a good cup of coffee is choosing the bean. Coffee beans vary depending on the region and conditions. They have grown as well as the type of roast in this way. The bean’s aroma is a good indicator of its flavor so when choosing a bean, make sure to use your nose.

It is a good idea to taste as many varieties of coffee possible to figure out the region and roast that you prefer best. For a more in-depth look at different coffee varieties, visit the Coffee Primer.

Regardless of the variety of bean, freshly roasted coffee will always have better flavor. Look for a roasting date stamp on the package to ensure freshness. The coffee flavor will be at its best within two weeks from the roasting date.

Ground Coffee vs. Whole Bean Coffee: How to Make Good Coffee at Home

Buying ground coffee as opposed to the whole bean can be convenient but it can also greatly impact the flavor. Once the bean has been ground, the surface area and exposure to oxygen increase allowing for faster oxidation. Oxygen, in this case, is the enemy of flavor. For optimum flavor, coffee should be purchased whole and ground at home, just prior to brewing.

Grinding Coffee Beans

If you do choose to grind your own beans, there are two basic models for home grinders: blade and burr grinders.

Blade Grinders:

Some efficient blade grinders are the most popular of the two types, due to their low cost. Blade grinders act similarly to a blender with two or more blades that spin and slice through the bean. It happens with breaking it into pieces. This method is often seen as less desirable because of the inability to control the size and uniformity of the grind.

Burr Grinders:

Some efficient burr grinders are preferred by most coffee aficionados because of the ability to adjust the grinder to the desired size and the uniformity of the grind. Coffee brewing methods need proper grinders. Burr grinders work like gears rotating together, grinding the beans as they pass through.

The size of the grind is determined by how close the burrs areas they rotate and grind together. Most commercial grinders use the burr mechanism. Burr grinders are also available for home use although they are generally more expensive than blade grinders.

Choosing the correct grind for your brewing method will help you achieve an optimum cup. Most coffee brewers will have a suggested grind listed in the instructions but you can experiment with grinds to find what you like best.

Good Water, Good Coffee

Most people these days drink either bottled or filtered water because the flavor of their water is less than desirable. As a rule of thumb, don’t brew your coffee with water that you wouldn’t enjoy drinking plain. Any flavor that is in your water will be present in your brewed coffee, no matter how strong the brew.

Starting with cold water also helps eliminate erroneous flavors. The gases and minerals that flavor water are less soluble in cold water than hot.

Always follow your machine’s regular cleaning and maintenance suggestions to prevent build up which can lead to rogue flavors in your coffee.

Coffee Brewing Methods

Boiling

This is perhaps the most rudimentary method of brewing coffee. Ground coffee and water are combined, brought to a boil, and then removed from the heat. As the brew begins to cool, the grounds settle to the bottom of the pot or cup but are not removed prior to drinking. Take water from the safer water source, as you can take it from the filter or the pull down kitchen faucet, that can provide healthier water.

Any grind can be used with this method depending on how thick or strong you like your coffee. Turkish coffee, which is made with the boiling method, uses finely ground coffee and yields a very thick, muddy cup. Larger grounds will settle out faster and produce a cleaner cup.

Steeping

Steeping methods allow the coffee and water to be in contact for prolonged amounts of time. This allows for maximum flavor extraction from the bean. Because the coffee and water are not boiled together, fewer acids are released into the brew. Steeping methods also differ from boiling in that the grounds are usually separated from the brew via sieve or filter prior to drinking.

Larger grinds are preferred for the steep method because of the long steep time and to prevent smaller particles from passing through the mesh sieve or filter. Machines that utilize the steep method include French presses, vacuum brewers, and the Aero Press.

Filtration

Percolators, Moen faucet makers,  electronic drip machines, and single-cup pour over filters all use the filtration method. In this method, hot water is poured over the coffee grounds and allowed to drip through a filter.

The coffee and water are in contact for a fairly short amount of time and therefore a finer grind is usually preferred. The strength of the coffee can be adjusted by the amount of water used or the size of the grind. Most home coffee makers in the United States use the filtration method.

Steam Pressure

Steam pressure is used to make espresso, which can be drunk straight or used to create a variety of other beverages. In this method, pressurized steam is forced through coffee that is ground to a fine powder. This method creates an extremely concentrated brew in a very short amount of time.

The quality of the machine and the amount of pressure it generates will greatly affect the quality of the brew. Moka Pots are a non-electronic steam pressure brewing device used on a range top and are a good, low-cost alternative for brewing espresso at home.