Definitive Guide to Coffee Brewing
Coffee can be as complicated as you want to make it, with the different brewing methods affecting its flavor, aroma, and body. Here we will take a deep dive into different coffee brewing methods and explore how each method changes the taste of the coffee.
Drip Coffee
Drip coffee is the most common coffee brewing method. It involves pouring hot water over coffee grounds that are held in a paper filter, which allows the water to drip through into a pot or carafe below. Drip coffee is known for its clean, crisp taste, and is a popular choice for those who prefer a less intense coffee experience. The paper filter removes any coffee grounds, resulting in a smooth, sediment-free cup of coffee. This is the most versatile and in many way the most foolproof brewing method!
Pairs well with the Ad Astra! You’ll get deep sweet and nutty, chocolatey notes! Rich and Indulgent!
French Press
French press, also known as a press pot, is a brewing method that involves steeping coffee grounds in hot water and then pressing them through a metal or mesh filter. This results in a rich, full-bodied coffee that is often preferred by those who enjoy a stronger, more robust flavor. The metal filter used in a French press allows more coffee oils to pass through, resulting in a more complex and nuanced taste. A dark roast is typically recommended for French press coffee, as it can stand up to the longer brewing time and create a bold, rich flavor.
Pairs well with the Papua New Guinea! You’ll get dark chocolate notes with a mild nuttiness and a small amount of acidity to cut the richness at the end!
Espresso
Espresso is a concentrated form of coffee that is made by forcing hot water through finely ground coffee beans under higher heat and pressure for only a short period of time. This produces a thick, creamy liquid called crema that is enjoyed in small, intense shots. Espresso is the base for many popular coffee drinks, such as cappuccinos and lattes. The pressure used to extract the espresso creates a rich, bold flavor that can produce tasting notes that you wouldn’t normally find with other brewing methods. A medium to dark roast is recommended for espresso, as it needs to be strong enough to cut through the milk in a latte or cappuccino.
Pairs well with the Twenty-Two! You’ll get notes of earthiness, smokiness, and mild berry! It’ll be very complex and you will get different notes as you continue to sip on it!
Pour-Over
Pour-over coffee involves pouring hot water over coffee grounds that are held in a filter. A pour over starts with pouring over a small amount of water in order to wet the bed of the coffee, often referred to as “blooming” the coffee. The water is slowly poured over the coffee, allowing it to extract the flavors and aromas from the beans, sometimes with the barista slowly agitating the funnel in order to allow the finer particles to settle at the bottom. This method allows for precise control over the brewing process, resulting in a clean, balanced cup of coffee. Pour-over coffee is often preferred by those who enjoy a more delicate, nuanced flavor profile. A light to medium roast is recommended for pour-over coffee, as it allows the unique flavor notes of the coffee to shine through.
Pairs well with the Colombian Huila! You’ll get a light but very complex cup of coffee with notes of red apple, peach, and tangerine with a mild sweetness.
Aeropress
The Aeropress is a relatively new brewing method that has gained a lot of popularity in recent years. It involves using a small, portable device to press hot water through finely ground coffee - it ends up being a happy medium between a French Press and a shot of espresso. The result is a smooth, rich cup of coffee that is similar to French press coffee, but with less sediment. The Aeropress is versatile and can be used to make a variety of coffee drinks, including espresso-style shots. A medium to dark roast is recommended for the Aeropress, as it creates a strong, bold flavor.
Pairs well with the Rare Bird Natural! You’ll get notes of cherry jam and a sweet butterscotch with a mild milk chocolate!
Cold Brew
Cold brew is a method of brewing coffee that involves steeping coffee grounds in cold water for an extended period of time, usually 18-48 hours. This results in a smooth, low-acid coffee that is often preferred by those sensitive to the bitterness of hot brewed coffee. Due to the long brew time, you can often get a very rich brew with a heavier sweetness, particularly when done on a dark roast. A medium to dark roast is recommended for cold brew, as it needs to be strong enough to withstand the long brewing time and create a bold, rich flavor.
Pairs well with the Ethiopian Yirgacheffe! You’ll get notes of strawberry and blueberry with a mild sweet caramel note the whole time!
Turkish Coffee
Turkish coffee is a traditional brewing method that originated in the Ottoman Empire. It involves finely grinding coffee beans and boiling them in a pot called a cezve. The coffee is brewed with sugar and served unfiltered in small cups that are placed in heated sand to provide a more uniform heating profile to the vessel. Turkish coffee is known for its thick, foamy texture, and its strong, robust flavor. The brewing process infuses the coffee with the flavors and aromas of the ground beans, resulting in a rich, full-bodied cup of coffee. Turkish coffee is typically brewed using medium to dark roast coffee beans.
Pairs well with the Mocha Java! You’ll get notes of sweet strawberry and dark chocolate with a mild earthiness throughout!
Moka Pot
The Moka pot is a stovetop brewing method that originated in Italy. It involves boiling water in a lower chamber and forcing it through ground coffee in a middle chamber, then collecting the brewed coffee in the top chamber. The Moka pot brewing method produces a bold, strong cup of coffee with a thick, espresso-like texture. For many parts of the world, this is still the go to brewing method, and there are multiple countries where this would still be the default for “espresso.” A dark roast is recommended for Moka pot coffee, as it can handle the high temperature and pressure of the brewing process.
Pairs well with the Sumatra Gayo! You’ll get notes of dark chocolate and plum with a mild tobacco smokiness!
Percolator
The percolator is a classic brewing method that involves boiling water through coffee grounds in a metal basket. The water circulates through the basket and back into the pot until the coffee is brewed. Percolator coffee is known for its strong, bold flavor and full-bodied texture. The brewing process can extract a lot of the coffee's natural oils, resulting in a slightly bitter taste. To balance out this bitterness, a medium to dark roast coffee bean is recommended for percolator coffee.
Pairs well with the Rare Bird Washed! You’ll get notes of milk chocolate and toffee sweetness with a little lemon to cut the richness!
