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
Nothing too fancy. Kettle and a french press.
This is the way
My daily method. Cheap, easy and good coffee.
That’s what I have done for decades.
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 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.
use that to make the best damn lattes I’ve ever had.
Hey man, that’s all that matters
My go to is my trusty v60. I used to scale and weigh everything before grinding. Now I just eyeball everything.
Bialetti Moka pot. I switched from espresso to the moka pot over a year ago and it is my favorite brew now.
I’ve been loving light roasts for a while now so I haven’t been going near my Moka, but I suppose I should explore what it can do with lighter roasts?
Great idea! I use a La Pavoni Europiccola (lever espresso machine) when I have time, Bialetti Moka pot or pour over when I don’t.
I’ve wanted a Europiccola for so long but I’ve currently had a Cafelat Robot for the last year and a half. Did you get a new one or vintage?
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.
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.
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.
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.
That’s one I haven’t tried yet. I have a cat that likes to destroy everything, and I find even want to introduce that to the equation yet.
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 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.
Is it easy to control the water temperature? As I heard, Flair Pro must be pre-heated to prevent temperature drops.
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.
Totally agree. My wife talked me into the pressure gauge and I have no idea how anyone can pull a great shot without it. And most of the fun is experimenting with different pressure profiles. And it’s pretty easy to preheat as @neanderthal said. I put my brew head on top of my open kettle so the steam heats it while the water starts to boil. The brew head itself is very thick and retains heat well. I saw a video that shows you do get a drop in temp over a pull which is usually 30-60 seconds for me. But also I’m at high altitude so while I have a different set of temperature issues to deal with I don’t know that I’m experiencing as dramatic a drop off.
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.
Just pouring into another pre-heated vessel to stop the brewing process is the move!
Might use this as an excuse to buy a second french press, thank you!
Yeah that or a thermos or a nice serving vessel is the move! just keep hot water in that while you brew your frenchpress and after you plunge, you can slowly pour it over into the pre-heated vessel! Then you won’t have a bad cup on the last one due to continuous brewing
I’m no coffee snob. Gas station dark roast, little cream no sugar. Under a dollar in a hurry.
Hey man, sometimes you just need that bittrr punch of caffeine. Ain’t nothing wrong with that.
Cold brew in a Toddy. Store in fridge. Add milk/ice/hot water to taste.
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.
That’s a good point. It’s also less bitter than some other methods, which people may or may not prefer.
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?
I often heat it up, just put it in the microwave. I also often cut it with water, depending on how strong I want it to be. I think it’s good at any temp!
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
