COFFEE BREWING METHODS
Part of the fun in brewing your own coffee is choosing the device that speaks to you. There are numerous options available making this choice exciting, but potentially overwhelming. Here is a rundown of the most common brewing methods, why they're great, and how to use them.

AEROPRESS
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This manual coffee maker is a relatively new invention that brews coffee using pressure, forcing water through the grounds.
The Aeropress is quick, simple, and produces and amazing cup of coffee. The result is clean smooth, and a great display of flavor. You can brew and almost-espresso or a gentle cup of coffee, or anything in between. The mechanism is all plastic and rubber too, making it great for travel. There a few different ways to use the Aeropress, so if you decide to purchase one (which I do recommend) I would advise you to check out some YouTube tutorials. The great thing is, no matter how you use it, it’s fast and delicious.
Grind Size: Medium/Fine, fine for a more espresso style
Time: Roughly 1.5 minutes
FRENCH PRESS
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The beans are brewed by immersion in this manual brew method, and then strained to separate the grounds from the coffee.
The French press brews the coffee grounds by immersion. The grounds are fully submerged and then strained after the allotted time. This a reliable, easy and satisfying way to make coffee. The coffee from a French press is fuller bodied and a little denser than that produced by other methods. The French press has a certain romance to it, maybe because they’re made to share? I’m not sure, but it will always have a special place in my heart.
Grind Size: Medium/coarse
Time: 5-10 minutes


POUR OVER
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As straight forward as the name implies, water is poured over top of coffee grounds, and filtered into a carafe with the help of gravity.
Probably the most popular way to brew, currently. There is good reason for that; while trendy, pour over coffee also produces a clean, light-bodied, flavorful cup. It is also a fairly simple process. The beans are placed in some sort of filtration device, then hot water is poured over the grounds, and the coffee drips through the filter into the cup or carafe. There is technique to the pouring method, and a gooseneck kettle is recommended, but overall, it’s pretty straightforward. The most popular pour over devices are the Chemex and the Hario V60, but there are countless other models that will get the job done.
Grind Size: Medium
Time: 3-5 minutes

COFFEE MAKER/DRIP COFFEE
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The electric machine that you probably have on your kitchen counter! The electronic device dribbles hot water over the coffee grounds and allows gravity to extract coffee through the filter, into the pot.
I can’t think of anything as convenient as a coffee maker, or as comforting as entering the kitchen first thing in the morning to the waft of coffee dripping into the pot. While this may not make the most consistent or highest quality cup of coffee, it is certainly a tradition and staple that many of us adhere to. There are hundreds, if not thousands of models that use this technology to present on demand coffee, but the process is consistent across the board. Keurig is its own version that also brews individual servings electronically, but once again, same process.
Grind Size: Medium to medium/course for a full pot
Time: 10-15 minutes

COLD BREW
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This passive brewing method uses immersion over an extended period of time to extract flavor and caffeine from the grounds.
For fans of iced coffee, leveling up is easy with the cold brew method. Unlike traditional iced coffee, cold brew coffee is smooth and full-bodied, and accentuates the flavors of the bean. Cold brew is brewed by immersion over 8-12 hours, so planning ahead is necessary. This can be done in any sort of carafe, and mason jars work great. Once you’re ready to enjoy your brew, pour the coffee through a filter to separate the grinds, and there you go!
Grind Size: Coarse
Time: 12-24 hours

WORTH MENTIONING
Those described above tend to be the most practical and satisfying methods to making a good cup of coffee. If you want to take it further, there are many more options, but they can get a little persnickety. A few others worth mentioning are; siphon brew method, moka pot, percolator, espresso machine, and Turkish coffee. I have no doubt that there are the time and effort, but they require a little more patience, attention, and equipment to achieve the desired result. But by all means, explore what speaks to you!