Best way to brew coffee at home…I’ve tried them all. I am not a coffee snob but I do appreciate a good mug full of rich coffee; it taste like morning to me. I want to share with you 4 methods that produce amazingly different coffee and 1 method you should, almost, never use!
This time I am not going to go into beans – whole vs pre-ground coffee beans is a whole different argument; and honestly I toggle between them depending on the week. We do buy organic coffee; yes it costs more but it is still cheaper than going to an expensive chain store…check out this article Why Organic Coffee is So Important.
And I’ll skip preparations once it is in your mug – some of us just like coffee with your cream. But I will say it is best to avoid the chemically laden flavored creamers. Ick. Once you’ve had real, preferably raw, cream in your coffee…oh man you’ll never want to go back.
So what is the best way to brew coffee at home? I’ll present mine favorites and let you decide what you think – some certainly take more time and effort than others. But let me tell you, it can be so worth your time.
Best Way to Brew Coffee at Home 5 Methods
#5 Instant Coffee – or WHY? Why would you do that?
Ok, obviously I am not a fan of instant coffee. It is just sad in its preparation and flavor. The only time I really use instant coffee is when I am making a fast batch of Coffee Liqueur. Sadly I haven’t found an organic instant coffee locally. Instant coffee is definitely NOT the best way to brew coffee; in fact you’re not brewing it at all. If that isn’t enough, some people have shown that instant coffee could be bad for your health (source) where a good organic coffee has health benefits (source).
Cold brew is similar to the French press. But, as it name would suggest, it is brewed with cold water. It isn’t that this is a new method to make coffee but it has become increasingly trendy so more people are hearing about it now. If you like a iced coffee you’ll love this method. It does take about 12 hours to make your cold brew coffee; but it does produce a sweeter cup and is said to have less acid. You don’t have to drink it cold, you can had hot water to heat it up; but seems a waste to heat a cold brew. If you’re going to the trouble of making a 12 hour coffee with cold water, enjoy it over some ice! There are several different “systems” to make cold brew but I like this Mason Jar one the most.
To make your best cold brew use your mason jar and a sieve. Pour your cold, filtered water over the coffee, cover and allow it to sit overnight, or about 12 hours. Best to leave it on the counter top and when you’ve removed the sieve, place it in the refrigerator.
When you’re talking about the best way to brew coffee you cannot leave out the way most Americans make theirs at home. I have an auto drip coffee maker and I enjoy the coffee it produces. I’ve never found that a more expensive auto drip machine makes a better cup than the cheap one I have. In my mind, and taste buds, and auto drip is an auto drip. There is always the benefit of being able to set your machine to have coffee prepared for you when you wake up. My machine looks like the one my dad made his coffee with. Sure you can get fancier drip machines or single serve machines now but they all basically make a decent cup of coffee (depending on your beans) that will wake you up and start your day off right. If you’re brewing with an auto drip, there is no shame in your coffee game.
Make make the best auto drip coffee use good beans and filtered water. Be sure to keep your machine clean with regular cleanings with white vinegar. Consider a machine that does not require a paper filter for better flavor.
Like your brew strong and full of extra POW? Well let me introduce you to the French Press method of brewing coffee. A lot of people have avoided this method of brewing at home because they think it is more work. But actually it is a pretty fast way to make your coffee – about 5 minutes.
To make a French Press coffee at home you’ll need a French Press coffee maker. You’ll put your favorite beans in the container, add your hot water and allow it to steep for at least 5 minutes. When you’re ready to make a mug you press down (where name comes from) the strainer and reveal the brew. You can allow the coffee to steep longer for more of a caffeine kick and stronger flavor…at your own risk. 😉
I consider this THE best way to brew coffee at home, or camping or anywhere! Some call it camp coffee or cowboy coffee; I call it delicious! Not only does it produce an amazing flavor, it leave leaves the coffee bean oils in it as well. Traditionally made on an open flame, you can make it successfully on your stove top too.
I don’t make it daily but I do make it often. I recently broke my top and I am awaiting a replacement; I miss my rich, flavorful percolated coffee. Sure sometimes I get a few grounds in my cup but it is totally worth it.
To make your percolator coffee fill with water and add a few tablespoons of grounds (don’t go too fine or you’ll have it in your mug) to the basket. Put the percolator on your stove and wait for it to come to a boil. Once you see that liquid coming up in the knob at the top, you’ll turn the burner down to medium. Allow it to brew for about 12 minutes (well it works for me), then to it to the lowest setting and pour away. You won’t have to worry about your coffee going cold because of the auto turn-off feature.
Well there you have it – the best ways to brew coffee at home. These are my 4 favorite methods, what is yours? Whatever way you make your coffee be sure to see how you can Recycle Coffee on Your Homestead!