Have you ever wondered why that fancy cup of coffee from your local barista tastes so much better than the brew you make at home? It’s not just about the beans! The method used to brew your coffee plays a massive role in the flavour, body, and overall experience you get in each cup.
Coffee brewing isn’t a universal deal—different techniques highlight different aspects of your coffee beans. Let’s explore some of the most popular brewing methods, from the hands-on pour-over to the trusty coffeemaker, so you can discover the perfect method for you.
Pour-over coffee offers a delicate, smooth taste experience with a vibrant clarity of flavour. The nuances of your chosen coffee beans really shine through with this method. This method involves slowly pouring hot water over freshly ground coffee held in a paper filter inside a dripper.
The water gently extracts the coffee’s flavours, resulting in a clean, bright cup. Aim for a medium grind, approximately the texture of coarse sea salt.
The classic coffeemaker wins top marks for pure convenience. Get a decent cup of coffee with minimal fuss—just the flick of a switch. Similar to the pour-over, hot water passes through ground coffee held in a filter, but your trusty coffeemaker automates the entire process.
A medium grind, like sea salt, works best or slightly coarser if you’re making a larger volume. If your mornings are all about ease and speed, the coffeemaker is your trusty sidekick.
The French press is a favourite for its rich, full-bodied coffee. The texture is heavier and denser than a pour-over, making this brew shine when paired with milk or cream. This method involves steeping coarsely ground coffee directly in hot water, then filtering it using a metal mesh plunger.
This immersion method allows the coffee oils and fine particles to pass through into the cup, creating a bolder flavour experience. For the best results, use a medium grind that’s a bit coarser than you’d use for a pour-over (aim for something like coarse black pepper).
The AeroPress is a coffee lover’s multi-tool. We love it for its versatility and the delicate, silky-textured coffee it produces. Think of it as a combination of French press immersion and pour-over filtration. To use it, you place coffee and hot water in the plastic chamber and then plunge it through a paper filter.
The result is a concentrated coffee that can be enjoyed solo for its intensity or topped up with hot water for a more traditional style. Since it requires a finer grind (nearly like espresso), the AeroPress offers endless opportunities for brewing experimentation.
The siphon might look like something out of a science lab, and honestly, the brewing process is just as cool. Its theatrical preparation produces a beautiful, delicate, and tea-like cup of coffee.
The technique relies on water vapor pressure and changes in heat to brew the coffee and perform a gravity-defying filtration. You’ll need a medium grind (like table salt) with this one, but precision in grind size is less critical than other factors like water temperature and timing.
Cold brew coffee is a summer staple, but truthfully, it’s delicious year-round. It offers a crisp, refreshing taste experience with incredible flexibility in flavour profiles—everything from fruity to chocolatey can be achieved. Cold brew uses a simple steeping method, immersing medium-fine ground coffee in room temperature water for a long period.
The result is a smooth, low-acidity coffee concentrate. Cold brew enthusiasts adore its ease of preparation and the perfect grab-and-go refreshment it provides.
There’s a whole world of coffee brewing waiting to be explored. Remember, the perfect brewing method is the one that makes your taste buds sing. Don’t be afraid to try different techniques and personalise the process to discover your ultimate coffee routine.
Ready to take your coffee game to the next level? Explore our selection of coffee equipment and beans at John Street Beverage. Contact us on 01322 381380 to get started!
Whether you’re looking to order our incredibly rich and robust Street & Co. Coffee or want to discuss private label options for your business, we can’t wait to hear from you. Give us a call or email us for more information on all that John Street Beverage has to offer. Taste the difference that dedication and passion can make with every cup.
