Common Coffee Brewing Methods

French Press

The French press (or press pot) actually brews the coffee in the hot water (as opposed to drip machines that only pass the water through the coffee and a filter). After a few minutes, a metal filter is pressed through the brew catching the coffee grinds and then trapping them at the bottom of the carafe.  What is left over is full-bodied coffee with all its aroma and essences. Paper filters hold back coffee grinds, but they can also filter out coffee's oils and flavors as well.

One of the main advantages to using a French press, other than great coffee taste,  is the amount of control you have.  You can control the water temperature (which incidentally should be around 190 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit, a temperature that drip makers do not achieve), you can control the amount of coffee you want to add, and you can control the brew time. Four minutes of brew time and 30 seconds of "plunging" time is best.

Another great feature about the French press is that it is extremely portable and only requires hot water. You can take it camping or use it in places with limited kitchen space, like a boat or an RV.  Some press pots can also be used to brew tea in the same manner.

Don't leave your brewed coffee in the press-pot with the grounds after you brew it! Either consume it or transfer it to a carafe, preferably a thermal carafe.

Vacuum Brewer

Vacuum brewers aren't very common, but they make coffee just about as well as a French press since the coffee and water are brewing together.  A vacuum brewer has an upper and a lower chamber connected by a tube with a small filter inside. Coffee grounds are placed in the upper, and water is placed in the lower. As the lower chamber is heated, the water rises up to meet the coffee in the upper chamber where the brewing begins. After brewing, the water (now coffee) cools and seeps back down into the lower chamber leaving the used coffee grinds behind in the upper chamber.  Normally, the upper chamber is then removed and the lower chamber is used as the decanter for the finished coffee.

Vacuum brewers can be electric, stovetop, or even used over a sterno can for dramatic tabletop brewing!

The Toddy Maker

The toddy maker uses an unusual cold-brewing method that creates a coffee concentrate.  This concentrate is then mixed with hot water to make coffee.  The concentrate can be stored in a refrigerator and used to make one cup at a time if you so desire. This method makes for extremely low-acid coffee, which is recommended for coffee drinkers with stomach conditions.

Although this method sounds rather odd, the result in taste is very surprising. One drawback is the amount of time it takes to brew. A good idea is to brew the coffee overnight. Once brewed, the concentrate can produce more than just one pot of coffee, so it's not a nightly event for morning coffee!

Drip Grind with a Permanent Filter

Permanent filters are nice because they allow for better coffee taste. As mentioned earlier, paper filters can filter out more than just coffee grinds.  Flavorful oils can be left behind in the filter and not make it to the finished brew. Since permanent filters allow for more liquid to pass through, the end result is more flavorful. Gold-plated perma-filters are the best since they don't add any unwanted metallic taste, and they are resistant to corrosion.

Drip Grind with a Paper Filter

The most common brew method happens to be the one with the least amount of flavor and aroma. However, mornings usually need to be made quick and simple. Most people have never had their coffee brewed any other way.  If you are one of these people, do yourself a favor, get a small French press maker, and start experimenting!

Brewing with Espresso