by Claire Star and Nicole Jordan
Rather than going to a cafe for my morning coffee, I prefer to brew a cup in the comfort of my home. Now don’t get me wrong, I love a good latte or cappuccino. But the sense of accomplishment I feel when I assemble my own coffee is unparalleled to what a barista can do. I mean, with the grumpy morning complex I developed as a child, how else am I supposed to tackle the world every morning? I simply can’t walk outside uncaffeinated to then be greeted by a perky barista whose latte art just reminds me of my own laziness. And since I make my own coffee every morning, I have tried several different methods to brew the perfect cup. Below, Claire and I discuss the four methods that we use to brew coffee. -N.
The AeroPress
The AeroPress, $30, is a funny looking contraption that makes ridiculously smooth espresso-strength coffee without a fancy, expensive machine. I discovered the AeroPress this summer, promptly forgot about my French press, and turned the rest of my family into converts. It takes a little practice (I highly recommend Blue Bottle’s brew guide for instructions), but once you get the hang of using the AeroPress, you’ll never look back. Plus, since it’s made of plastic, you can take it camping without worrying about breaking parts and clean up requires only a rinse with water. -C.
2 minute brew time. Blue Bottle’s brew guide.
2 minute brew time. Blue Bottle’s brew guide.
The Bialetti Moka Pot
This classic Italian espresso maker, $20-40, is new discovery of mine. It’s so incredible, I wish I had known about it sooner. While the brewing time on with this stovetop pot is the longest out of the other methods discussed, it produces a smooth rich cup that retains a majority of the coffee oils. In my opinion, it’s the easiest to assemble and clean. It only requires a rinse out with some warm water. When I have my morning coffee, I like to add bit of hot water on top of my coffee and then cut it with a splash of milk. After one cup, I’m set in terms of caffeine for the rest of the day. -N.
5-7 minute brew time. Blue Bottle’s Bialetti brew guide.
5-7 minute brew time. Blue Bottle’s Bialetti brew guide.
The French Press
This French Press, $20-50, is a favorite for Claire and me. Our love of the French Press began when we discovered that a decent cup of coffee was hard to come by on our campus. We headed to Zabar's to find that the French Press had the most simplistic design, easy brewing process, and ability to make two or three cups of coffee at an affordable price. This coffee method became ritualistic on our daily routine. Claire would brew the coffee to a smooth dark perfection in her press and I would attempt to froth warm milk in mine so we could have each have a cafe au lait in the comfort of our dorms. As for clean up, just rinse it out with warm water and occasionally a little soap. -N.
4 minute brew time. Blue Bottle’s French press brew guide.
4 minute brew time. Blue Bottle’s French press brew guide.
The Pour Over
The pour over, $10-30, may be the most foolproof method of all. In essence, the pour over is a standard drip coffee maker, but without the electricity. To use, place a filter in the basket, dampen the filter, add the grounds, pour in the water, and voila! Simple to make and easy to clean. There are a couple different ceramic and glass models (here’s a great article about different pour over methods), but the simplest plastic pour over dripper can start at about $10. -C.
3-4 minute brew time. Blue Bottle’s Pour Over brew guide.
// photos via The Everygirl, Alternative Brewing, Camille Styles, SafkaKitchen, Flickr.
Tags: by Claire, by Nicole, Coffee/Tea
3-4 minute brew time. Blue Bottle’s Pour Over brew guide.
// photos via The Everygirl, Alternative Brewing, Camille Styles, SafkaKitchen, Flickr.
Tags: by Claire, by Nicole, Coffee/Tea