So, this looks like the start of a relatively new community (at least for me), and we surely have some new people coming over from the coffee subreddit, so let's get some conversation going!
What's your current favorite brew method? I've been really getting into my flat bottom brew lately, with the Stagg XF. I just feel it's been a bit more forgiving than my v60, and it's been pulling out some pretty solid tasting notes in my latest beans.
What're y'all brewing with?
EDIT: I absolutely love the traction this post got! And I love seeing all the methods everyone is using daily. Thank you all
I recently started using my French press for cold brew and lovvve it. The cheap Amazon cold brewer I have gets so much sediment since I don't grind my own beans, but the french press is perfect. Downside is the one I have only brews half a gallon so I'm saving/looking for a bigger one
I’ve got a stupidly expensive espresso machine and several stupidly expansive grinders. I used my machine every day for about 5 years. But lately I’ve been pouring water from my kettle into a plastic cone like my dad did in the 80s. Haha. Full circle. I’ve upped my bean quality though.
Hey, pour over is just a good old classic. You can't really repeat the ritual or flavors you get with it anywhere else. And sometimes the most simple is the most enjoyable.
That's awesome. I recently learned how to use mine properly and it's great. Do you add anything to it? And do you drink the whole 30g? :D I find it's a bit much for me, but good for sharing with my partner.
i also prefer my moka coffe and since i am an sucker for coffe i have several Bialetti Moka pots. 1c, 2c, 3c, 4c, 6c and 12c. i seldom use the 6 and 12 cups but every morning i start with a 4 cups before work...
V60 is definitely my favorite, but as I continue to collect more gear, I almost feel guilty if I dont go back and use some for a little bit. So I'll go on binges with my French press, the Stagg, chemex, aeropress, aeropress with prismo.
And if either James Hoffman or Lance Hedrick drop a new video highlighting a piece I already have, you better believe I am gonna go back and try what they are suggesting.
Same. I have a gaggia classic I use for afternoon espresso a few times a week, but the French press, aeropress, moka pot all sit there silently judging me for their neglect.
Majority pourover (Mugen most often, V60 sometimes, and I just got an Orea that I've used a couple of times so far), espresso if I'm feeling up to it (Uniterra Nomad), usually as a small milk drink or sometimes an aerocano, occasionally straight espresso. If I want a milk drink and don't feel like actually dealing with espresso workflow, aramse sofi south indian filter.
Very much understandable. I just love the morning ritual of making a good cup of coffee, and after tons of practice and hundreds of different beans, it's fun to mix it up with different brew styles and recipes!
Ours is vintage, got super lucky and found it at Goodwill. It's a pre-millenium model from about 1980. A little descaler and new gaskets, and it works great.
I wish it had a bigger portafilter, but it's really not a big deal for us.
French press. Pre-heat with boiling water before adding freshly ground coffee. Slowly pour water at 95 degrees over the coffee. Stir with wooden spoon, insert lid and let stand 5-10 minutes. Slowly press plunger to bottom. Serve and enjoy.
I like to think I know a little about coffee, but this thread shows that I don't really know anything. My brew method? I have a shitty little $50 espresso maker I got as a birthday gift a while ago, and use that to make the best damn lattes I've ever had.
I love my Flair Pro. I like being able to dial in my pressure profile (basically extraction flow) by hand depending on the beans or just my mood. Other wise I’m a stainless moka pot guy.
Another flair user. The flair is great because unlike an automatic, you can see how the grind or bean amount affects the extraction time. Different beans often require different grinds and amounts for a good shot. You won't get this with an automatic.
Yes, but it isn't a huge deal. I just have a small pot I put the brew head in while the water heats up to a boil. When the water hits a full boil, I turn off the stove, place the brew head and mug, and then pull the shot, the little bit of time the brew head and water are removed from the heat and poured gets it close enough for me to the right temp.
EDIT: Everyone that is thinking about flair, make sure to get one with a pressure gauge. It would be impossible to know if you are using the right pressure be feel on something you have never used before.
I'm astounded that this is the only mention of cold brew here. It's great! Listen people, if you haven't tried this before, here's what you do: Next time you're making your daily coffee, get a jar and make cold brew at the same time. Then you can try it later when it's ready.
put what you think is a reasonable amount of grounds in a jar
then put a bunch more, and a little more to be sure
fill the rest of the jar with water and put a lid on
shake it if you want
let it sit 12--24 hours on the counter, or 24--48 hours on the fridge
strain the grounds out however works for you. If you're a coffee drinker, you probably have some kind of strainer that will work, but if not, you can shake the mixture (again) so that the ground sink to the bottom, and then (optional) wait a bit for sediment and then pour carefully.
I now do cold brew almost all the time. It takes the same amount of time whether you make a large or small batch, so I make 4 days worth, and over the last 2 days I start another 48 hour batch.
I definitely enjoy cold brew, especially during summer, but it generally pretty muted in flavor compared to a pourover or French press. I usually make it when I get a bag of beans that I am a bit disappointed with, as a lot of the underlying tasting notes aren't as present in cold brew and it still allows me to enjoy the coffee.
I mean, heck, I want to get some whip cream canisters and nitrogen canisters to make my own nitro cold brew as another coffee project.
I really want to try this, but hot coffee is my comfort blanket. Would you recommend heating it and if so how? Is cold brew best served over ice, room temperature, or just chilled in your opinion?
Seeing lots of comments from people taking their coffee seriously. And here's me, happy with instant coffee!
Although I have been on a journey from instant coffee, drip, Nespresso, espresso machine and finally back to instant. Albeit still using the espresso machine here and there. Seems like I could try a few new things from the comments here.
That's what this community really should be about! Having fun with the coffee we have, but having even more fun with the journey to the next best cup. I know I'm constantly trying and learning new things.
While instant isn't as good as a fresh brew of coffee, the real problem I have with instant is that the probability of finding something awful is very very high. And the awfulness can be so so much worse than random beans done in a random drip machine.
What's your own instant favourite right now? I've found some decent stuff with Cafe Direct and Clipper/Marks and Spencer, but could always find more (and potentially better) options.
Honestly it’s whatever cheapest lol. I’m not after “quality” when it comes to instant. It’s merely something quick to drink so I can’t make any worthwhile suggestions.
When I do fancy something a little better, I grind some beans to put through the espresso machine.
To name something though I usually end up with Tesco branded coffee or Kenko.
Current go to is a Hoffman pour over cause I don't really have to think about it anymore.
Favorite method would have be the siphon pot. Once you get the timing and grind dialed in for the bean it's consistently the best tasting brew method at my disposal. Not to mention it is fun to watch while it draws down.
I remember the first time I went to a "third-wave" café and saw a barista brewing up a siphon pot. I felt like I had stepped onto a spaceship, couldn't stop staring at it.
This thread is demonstrating one of my favorite things about the coffee community: There is a fundamental semi-seriousness, acknowledgement of diminishing returns, and awareness of varying tastes in (almost) all quarters. A lot of gear-heavy hobbies take themselves way too seriously, but the coffee folk with an $8000 La Marzocco espresso setup, with a $7 plastic cone and a kettle, and waiting in front of the microwave with a bottle of instant and a spoon are all just trying to have a pleasing coffee experience.
My fancy, ritualistic coffee is a shot of espresso in the morning, usually prepared like a Brauner with a dash of milk inversely proportionate to how well I did at making the espresso that day.
A few weeks ago I upgraded from my old (ca. 2010) Lello Arite 1375 Chinese thermoblock pressurized basket "espresso" machine and Capresso Infinity grinder combo ($140+90+accessories) that were kind of mediocre to start with and literally falling apart by the end, to a Brevelle Bambino and Turin SK40 ($350+200+accessories) and have been delighted by the additional ability to play with parameters (and occasionally revolted by the results while I was getting my bearings). The old set up produced a long-tuned pleasing thing that may or may not technically count as espresso, but in retrospect may have been a relative of the extraction optimum from that "Systematically Improving Espresso" paper from a few years ago. The new one is full grind-controls-infusion espresso experience. The bambino is "nice for the price" and has a delightfully fast heat up and surprisingly good steam wand for when I'm feeling foamy, but slightly annoying manual shot controls. The SK40 is just great so far, my only tiny complaint is that every now and then I have to give it a little rock to get the last of a dose of beans out of the feed cone.
I also really enjoy how this setup is sitting in superposition of ($600 is an absurdly expensive way to make coffee | $600 is absurdly cheap to make real espresso).
Home espresso is never really practical, but I find the ritual of preparation deeply pleasing (weights and ratios and times and gadgets! Instant feedback! Total focus!), and enjoy the experience of varying parameters.
I also drink a fair amount of Instant when I'm out during the day, I've been recommending Mount Hagen to everyone who will listen lately because it's like $10 a jar and so much better than any of the other instants I've tried.
...and I have a coworker with an office aeropress that I sometimes play with, and I want but have no real reason to have one for home. The super clean immersion brew is a really interesting way to experience a coffee, and of course one never has enough coffee paraphernalia.
This is easily my favorite response, and a clear representation of just loving coffee for coffee. From the extreme scientific end of it, to just needing that caffeine fix in the middle of a long day, to the intrigue of trying something new.
Thanks for the response and a walk through your day in caffeine.
Amusingly, for the last several years I pretty much only have two significant caffeine doses in a normal day, typically coffee shortly after I wake up and at around 2 in the afternoon.
I used to slowly creep my consumption up until I had to painfully detox myself down once or twice a year, but I've been trying to be more consistent and mindful about that. It's also made me more thoughtful about having good coffee at the times I have coffee.
...and I've been listening to/reading a lot of James Hoffmann and his slightly florid self affacing style while I was learning the new setup, and it's creeping into my writing.
I love this comment! And that you aren't an instant coffee snob. Sometimes we just want a quick fix too. The problem with instant coffee is that the quality can be so varying, with some being downright awful. I've liked Cafe Direct's Macchu Picchu blend, as well as Clipper/Marks and Spencer (I'm sure they're both from the same manufacturer) heavier roasts, especially the decaf, but I'm always on the look out for more. Will check out your recommendation if possible.
At home, it’s a cheap pour over setup. In the summer I’ll sometimes do a Japanese iced coffee pour over if it’s hot. (Just adjust the ratio and start with ice in the pot.)
I use a flair signature and love it. The 58, IIRC, heats the brew head for you. It takes some trial and error, but I love using my flair. I've noticed different beans require different quantities and grinds to get the right flavor. I can take two bags of different beans, use the same grind setting, same amount of grounds, and have one shot pull in 15 seconds, while the other pulls in a minute. You won't see this with the auto espresso machines so you won't get the quality.
It is a bit more work, but having control over the entire process means that once you get good, you will make really good espresso with it.
I've done it enough where I can eyeball bean amounts, don't have to time the pulls, and can tell the water temp by how much is in the pot I use and how long it has been off boil, so it only takes me 5ish minutes from grind to pull. When I first started, it would take me 15 or so minutes.
As far as lattes and such, you will need to get a steamer, frother, whatever for that, but I have learned to love cortado since it is just microwaving some milk.
I haven't done too much dialing in on the Flair 58. It's a shared machine, and we have someone else who's been appointed the Flair czar (does maintenance, turns on/off in the morning, sets grind size). However, its been very surprising how different bags of beans will pull. Fresh beans pull fast, and you can tell more oils are there. As time goes on, it takes longer to pull the shot.
I haven't noticed any problems with the pre-heating. We leave the head pre-heated all day, and have a kettle right next to the machine. I hit the kettle to boil, dump my beans in the grinder (I used to weigh out exactly, but have gotten good at just eyeballing at this point. It turns out a scant shot glass of beans is about right.), grind and tamp down, and by that time the kettles at boil. Load and pull.
We have a frother that's actually pretty good, but I'm mostly either drinking a straight shot, or adding in a bit extra water from the kettle to stretch it out.
I've been really pleased though. I don't know how long it takes to pre-heat from a cold start though since ours is in "always on" at work. I'm fine with my setup at home for now, but if I wanted to jump into home espresso, I'd go with one of these. Its dead simple, and has worked really well.
Right now it's aeropress and it will remain aeropress until I make a shit cup or have a bad morning, then it'll switch to v60 and repeat the same process until I switch to chemex. Then, eventually we will come full circle back to aeropress and start everything all over again. The circle of life. The ouroboros of my morning coffee, if you will.
My second cup of the day is and will always be an espresso.
I know pour over is seemingly the norm at the moment but I'm still chugging along with my 10 years old Bodum stainless steel french press. Tastes fine to me and keeps the coffee hot decently long. Though I've been pondering to do the additional step of pouring it through a Hario filter and see if it refines the taste any further.
I replaced my Flair Pro with a Rancilio Silvia (which I have since modded because I can never be content in my coffee process). And for non-espresso drinks, a Hario V60
Aeropress daily. Using James Hoffman's method, more or less. Occasionally I need to get the French press out.
I've been toying with the idea of getting an espresso machine. However, everyone I know who has one has gone back - sooner or later - to their previous method of brewing. And the espresso machine ends up being for special occasions. I'm not sure it's worth it at that point.
I might get a prismo for the aeropress to see if that will satisfy my "What's next?" craving...
I was real nervous about the step from Aeropress to espresso, but I knew that I liked good espresso from cafes nearby so I eventually took the plunge.
I got a basic Breville grinder/espresso machine, which makes decent coffee, not great, but good enough, but I really prefer espresso to other coffee drinks, and my wife loves it when I make her a latte, so overall it's been a huge upgrade.
If you prefer espresso or latte style coffees, or you just enjoy trying new sorts of coffee things and tinkering with grind size, then an espresso machine will be great, otherwise you are wise to stick with the style of brewing you know you enjoy.
This is basically me. I love my aeropress and it makes great coffee. But there is just something so special about espresso I can't get else where.
If you splurge and get an espresso machine then please share your story!
I bought an espresso machine September last year and I have used it multiple times almost every day since then. I think the only time I have had non espresso based coffee since then is when I've been at someone else's house. If you are curious about espresso then I would recommend going to speciality coffee shops in your area and ordering espresso based drinks and seeing if you prefer them to your aeropress.
I haven't done cold brew/iced coffee with it. I do use a cheap Black and Decker maker that the carafe warmer is broken on. That thing is surprisingly good at making my iced coffee.
French press, but using our boy James Hoffman's method. If I do it how I initially learned, I find my coffee turns out too acidic and dusty. With his method it's amazingly good.
Though if I need to make a large amount of coffee, filter coffee.
I was so surprised how much more I enjoyed his method over my previous attempts. Don't get me wrong, I still think most French press attempts turn out pretty good and are much harder to screw up than a v60. But after switching to Hoffmann's method it has been consistently solid
I’ve been doing a kind of play it by ear, 4:6 method. I use a scale and timer but kind of listen to the flow? I’ve been thinking about how pour overs can be like espresso, where I flow profile, and so I want to have the highest flow on the first pour after wetting. Sometimes I wet the ground twice. No swirling. Idk what I’m doing really.
Honestly I'm pretty happen with the inverted aeropress method. Wait a couple of mins once the kettles boiled so it's ~80°C, brew for a couple and press.
Makes a decent brew.
Although gotta say, my wife got me some fancy coffee bags ( ground coffee in a paper mesh bag), legit had me thinking about switching.
My Cafelat Robot is my daily driver and on the weekends I add in a couple of brews from my Chemex. At this point in my 20-year coffee journey those are all I need.
I make myself and my wife two espresso each per day. I use a DF64 flat-burr grinder and a Gaggia Classic Pro with flow control and PID. I roast my own coffee and prefer Ethiopian Dry processed beans.
I go through phases, but lately I've been mostly using a Hario Cafeor. It's basically a stainless mesh v60, and it produces incredible coffee once you get used to its idiosyncrasies. Anyone who prefers metal filters over paper should give it a try.
I love my mocha pot/bialetti! I have an ancient double shot bialetti which I picked up from my parents. It works great because I can always make espresso for latte, cappuccino or what ever I feel like! Such a tiny versatile little machine. Great for students!
My one-and-done is a full mug from my decade old Ikea moka pot. This is made with hot milk, wazzed up with the cheap little milk frother they sell. The result is a huge quadruple "cappuccino". This wires me up all day.
If I'm not up for that, I'll just make a cup or two from my areopress. Inverse method, steel filter.
I've been mostly doing V60 for the last 6 months or so and the Stagg XF when I'm not. My next purchase is probably a Clever, but I'm not sure. Otherwise, I've got a Phin for making Vietnamese style coffee, an Aeropress I use from time to time, of course the Chemex and press pot when I want 1 liter of coffee at a time, and a cold brewer that I haven't used for probably a year or so.
I don't use my Flair brewer nearly as much as I expected, which is too bad. I like it, it's just a bit of a routine to get it set up, heated, and brew an espresso.
Started using the Kamira a year ago. If you know what you are doing (there are many small things to do that could ruin the brew), you will drink the most delicious coffee ever. Not even a professional espresso machine could match it, no joke.
It is! Usually I boil some water before use, and after the brew i let it sit on the flame for a brief time to evaporate all water left overs with the valve open. Also you're supposed to boil some vinegar inside it for 5 to 10 minutes every 1 or 2 months, effectively cleaning everything. After 1 year no signs or smell of mold.
If you ever have the possibility to try it, just do it and follow a reliable guide.
I am on my 4th Chemex in 11 years -- I broke 2, my wife broke 1. Maybe they're too fragile, maybe we're too clumsy, probably something in-between. But I adore the clean cup you get out of one, and I've tried all the methods listed here so far.
For me it's the ability to get coffee that's strong enough so that most of the cup can be hot milk. I've been chasing that for years.
Cafetiere was always disappointing, never bothered with any of the pourover methods because I couldn't see how they were any good for "milk drinks". I was never aware of aeropress really and when I did hear about it it just looked like another way of making filter strength coffee so steered clear of that.
Then I discovered the Moka pot which I used for years by cramming it with as much coffee as I could get into it which used to get pretty close to espresso strength but obviously not proper espresso.
Eventually we bought a Bambino Plus in lockdown and have been knocking out at least decent 2 lattes per day ever since (usually more if my wife is home)
Still not convinced I can get enough coffee in each shot though... I'm regretting the 53mm basket size!
I do a ridiculously low tech method: I grind coffee with a hand grinder, put the coffee loose in a cup, pour boiling water over it, then pour the coffee out and try to not get any grind bits with it. So, no filter at all. basically a really cheap-ass version of a French Press or a pourover (my second glass French press broke...).
I use the stock Gaggia classic with the barista 8-10g basket. I actually grind 7.5g of Mr Espresso Neapolitan Espresso, which is the closest I have been able to find to a real Italian espresso. The grinder is a barazza sette, and the settings give me a nice short shot of espresso after ~20s.
Overall, heaven!
I've been using Hario V60 for years at this point, always works well for me. Tend to either use the 2 or 3 sized one, depending on how much coffee I need.. Which is mostly driven by number of meetings.
This year as its getting warmer, I've started using the Hario Mizudashi for over night cold brew though and absolutely loving it!
I've done all the methods and roasts and beans and blends over the years, and there is nothing more stable, dependable, and satisfying than a single cup of pour-over Folgers. With cream. Boil water, #2 filter, enjoy.