Comparing 7 Home Coffee Brewing Methods: What’s Best for You

If you are wondering which home coffee brewing method is best overall, you should first know how brewing methods compare. This article is a short summary of the 7 most common ways to make coffee and how to determine the best brewing method for your needs. 

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In short, there is no “best brewing method.” Each method specializes at different things, and what works best for others might not work best for you.

There are many different types of coffee makers each with different strengths, conveniences, and end results. A quick google search for coffee brewing methods will reveal an overwhelming amount of information, especially for beginners. Considering this, I have put together a short comparison and overview of 7 coffee brewing methods and their most important features. I hope you find it helpful!

When considering different types of coffee makers for your home, keep these things in mind:

• Do you need to brew your coffee quickly or can you take your time with it?
• How many people will you regularly be making coffee for?
• Do you already own some basic equipment such as a kettle, scale, or burr grinder?
• Do you like clean tasting coffee or coffee that is bold and heavy?

Each coffee brewing method varies in ease of use, accessibility, serving size, speed, and taste. This is the best way to determine which coffee maker type is most compatible with your needs.

How to Compare Coffee Brewing Methods

I have rated each coffee brewing method on a scale of 1 to 5 (5 being the best) using a few parameters that may help you in comparing the different coffee makers. Keep in mind, these are based on my experience and are somewhat subjective, but this can at least give you a general idea about how the methods compare.

• Ease of Use describes the level of involvement of a particular brewing method.
• Accessibility describes how easy the method is to learn.
• Single and Multiple Serving refers to how well a brewing device caters to specific serving amounts. Some methods are best for making large amounts of coffee, and some are better suited to single servings.
• Speed refers to the brewing time of each method.
• Taste refers to the traits of a method’s resulting brew. Additionally, the term body refers to the heaviness of the brew.

Most of the manual coffee brewing methods listed require some specific accessories such as a kettle and scale. These tools are useful for more than just coffee-making, and you will find them worthwhile investments for use in the kitchen. Additionally, you may wish to invest in a burr grinder so that you can grind beans to your preference at home. Many of these methods require a very specific grind consistency that can only be accommodated by this type of grinder.

Read More: 3 Must-Have Brewing Accessories

After these considerations, we are ready to move on to the methods themselves.

The Automatic Drip Coffee Pot

• Ease of Use: 5/5
• Accessibility: 5/5
• Single Serving Capability: 1/5
• Multiple Serving Capability : 5/5
• Speed: slow (but allows for multitasking)
• Taste: Somewhat clean with little body, slightly bitter; not particularly strong

Most people probably own some type of automatic drip coffee pot. This method is simple in that you add ground coffee and water, press a button, and the machine does the rest. However, the convenience comes at a cost of quality and flavor.

Many coffee pots impart a plastic or metallic taste into the coffee due to the use of low quality boilers and plastic construction. Additionally, you can’t control the extraction process, and the resulting cup can easily miss the mark.

Coffee pots are useful for making large amounts of coffee, but they are a poor choice if you just want to make 1 or 2 cups. Coffee pots can take a while to brew but are fully automatic once you have started the process, allowing you to multitask.

Some examples of quality coffee pots include the Bonevita BV1900TS (view on Amazon), the Breville Precision Brewer (read my review).

The Pour-over

• Ease of Use: 3/5
• Accessibility: 2/5
• Single Serving: 5/5
• Multiple Serving: 2/5
• Speed: fast with practice
• Taste: Balanced blend of body and brightness; little bitterness when executed correctly

The pour-over works similarly to the coffee pot except you control the variables of extraction manually. To make the best use of any of the pour-over methods, you will need a scale and a kettle. The taste of pour-over coffee is better developed, brighter, and usually more interesting than that of the coffee pot. However, the pour-over makes a much smaller amount of coffee and requires some finesse.

Most of the pour-over devices use small holes to help regulate the water flow. The grind of coffee and pour speed will change the end result. You will want to use a paper filter to get the best results from a pour-over, otherwise the extraction time will be too short.

The process of using a pour-over involves boiling water, grinding coffee, setting up and pre-wetting the filter, adding coffee, and finally pouring the water over the coffee. The pour speed will make a noticeable difference in the taste, making this method a bit less accessible. A gooseneck kettle and a scale are essential to hitting the mark using a pour-over.

Some examples of devices using pour-over design include the Hario V60 (view on Amazon), and the Kalita Wave (view on Amazon).

The Chemex

• Ease of Use: 4/5
• Accessibility: 4/5
• Single Serving: 5/5
• Multiple Serving: 5/5
• Speed: slow (but allows for some multitasking)
• Taste: Very clean, bright; nuanced with very little bitterness

Even though the Chemex uses a very similar process to the pour-over, it works somewhat differently because the filter actually regulates the flow of water. This makes the chemex easier and more predictable to use compared to standard pour-over methods.

The Chemex method consists of an hourglass shaped vessel and a special designed filter. These filters can be more expensive than regular filters, but they are thicker and much more densely woven. Chemex filters remove most of the body from the brew which allows for subtle flavors to become more noticeable. The end result is just about the cleanest and brightest cup you can get.

The Chemex (view on Amazon) is available in several different sizes and styles, along with variations of the Chemex filters (view on Amazon).  You will also need a scale and a kettle to make the best use of this method.

Read More: Why is the Chemex Better?

The Aeropress

• Ease of Use: 4/5
• Accessibility: 5/5
• Single Serving: 5/5
• Multiple Serving: 1/5
• Speed: fast
• Taste: Smooth, strong; well developed but less nuanced than pour-over methods due to immersion

The Aeropress is a recently engineered method that combines immersion brewing with paper filtration. The combination of these factors makes the Aeropress forgiving of mistakes and easy to learn. The Aeropress can brew a variety of drinks and is a great single serving method to compliment other devices.

The Aeropress consists of a BPA-free plastic brewing vessel and a plunger along with a scoop, funnel, filters, and a filter holder. All of the components stack neatly and fit into a small bag for traveling, making the Aeropress a great choice for those who prefer to take their coffee with them.

The Aeropress process involves mixing hot water and ground coffee in the brewing chamber and pressing down on the plunger. This pushes the coffee through the filter and into your cup. The resulting brew is a single serving of strong tasting coffee with little or no bitterness.

The Aeropress is only available in one version, which you can view on Amazon by clicking here. You don’t necessarily need a scale, but you will need a kettle to make coffee with an Aeropress.

Read More: A Beginner’s Guide to Using an Aeropress

The French Press

• Ease of Use: 5/5
• Accessibility: 5/5
• Single Serving: 5/5
• Multiple Serving: 4/5
• Speed: moderate (but allows for multitasking)
• Taste: Full bodied, bold, and heavy; subtle flavors are muted by the heaviness of the brew

The French Press works quite differently to the other methods and yields a unique brew. This method consists of a beaker and a plunger assembly and works by steeping coarse coffee grounds in water for a few minutes. After this time, you simply push down on the plunger and pour out your coffee.

The French Press uses a mesh filter rather than a paper filter, allowing coffee oils and some small sediment to remain in the cup. This is part of the appeal of a French press as the resulting cup is very strong and somewhat heavy. For this reason, the French press is a great option for bold coffee lovers.

French presses are very easy to use provided that you use coarse coffee and set a timer. This method is very forgiving of mistakes and provides a completely different experience to other coffee methods. It also pairs well with other coffee-related gadgets.

French presses come in various shapes and sizes. The French press I currently use is the Bodum Colombia (view on Amazon). You will need a kettle to make use of a French press; a scale wouldn’t hurt either. Since the coarse grind is essential, a burr grinder is highly recommended.

Read More: How to Use a French Press

The Espresso Machine

• Ease of Use: 4/5
• Accessibility: 1/5
• Single Serving Capability: 5/5
• Multiple Serving Capability: 3/5
• Speed: very fast
• Taste: Rich, nuanced; strong due to concentration of coffee

Real espresso requires a machine that can extract very finely ground coffee under a certain amount of pressure. Espresso machines that are even remotely affordable take practice to use and learn, but the results are worth the effort. Espresso has a rich and complex taste with a syrup-like consistency. It is great on its own or paired with steamed milk (the latte) or hot water (the americano).

One of the advantages of owning an espresso machine is that you can make and consume your coffee very quickly, if you desire. The process involves heating the portafilter, grinding coffee, tamping, and extracting. This can all be done within a minute or so of turning on the machine. The espresso machine is a great choice for a coffee connoisseur who is also occasionally in a hurry.

There are also some pod-based alternatives, such as the Nespresso (view on Amazon), which actually make a decent espresso. You will pay more over time due to the cost of the pods, but they are absolutely foolproof and are much nicer than other pod-based coffee machines.

To make quality espresso, you will definitely need a high quality burr grinder if you are not using a pod-based machine. Machines such as the Breville Barista Express (view on Amazon) already have a great burr grinder built in, which is a nice convenience. The Breville Barista Express is a solid entry level machine, and is actually the machine that I use and recommend for learning how to make espresso.

Read More: Best Beginner Espresso Machine

The Stove Top Coffee maker

• Ease of Use: 3/5
• Accessibility: 4/5
• Single Serving Capability: 5/5
• Multiple Serving Capability: 3/5
• Speed: fast
• Taste: Rich; strong, somewhat bitter

The stovetop coffee maker works by heating water and passing steam through coffee grounds into a reservoir at the top of the device. The process involves adding ground coffee to a metal filter basket, filling the bottom chamber with filtered water, and screwing the two components together. You then place the device on your stove using medium to low heat until you hear sputtering, signaling that the brew is finished.

The resulting coffee is somewhat concentrated and rich, though a bit on the bitter side compared to other methods. Cleanup is not quite as simple as other methods, because you have to wait until the device cools down to clean it out. However, the device is still somewhat convenient since you don’t need a scale or a kettle.

There are several different brands of stovetop coffee makers, but the best known version is the Bialetti Mokapot (view on Amazon).

The Best Coffee Brewing Method For Your Home

I hope this guide is helpful to gain a basic understanding of how each brewing method compares. Because brewing methods all do different things, the best brewing method comes down to what’s best for you.

You might consider more than one method so that you have some options for coffee styles and serving sizes. A good example of this (and a combo that I enjoy) is the Chemex and the French Press. These methods compliment each other nicely in terms of taste, versatility, and serving size.

If you are new to coffee, you may benefit from checking out my list of the best ways to prepare coffee, which ranks different coffee drinks in order of how easy they are to drink for beginners.

Have any questions or comments? Let me know below!

Happy brewing!