Coffee Crash Course: Learn the Basics to Improve Your Coffee Experience

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Table of Contents

Coffee Brewing Methods
Coffee Makers
Conclusion

Sometimes just few more details can make the real difference. With this in mind at SoloEspresso we have prepared this crash course on Coffee Brewing Methods.

Here we will take you through the basics of the most common coffee brewing methods in very simple and actionable steps.

Have you ever wondered what if that first cup of coffee you drink in the morning can taste even better? Or wish to experiment new types of coffees without having to be a Pro Barista?

So let’s get into it and help you improve your coffee experience with new brews. We hope in our list below you’ll quickly recognize which one will satisfy your palate.

Coffee Brewing Methods

There’s no perfect, right method. All these coffee brewing methods are—and will stay—part of coffee culture because each person likes something different. Each of these brews brings out something different from coffee grounds.

Let's move on with this coffee crash course and find out which one is your favorite.

Espresso

This is the drink you try when you need a caffeine boost and you love your coffee extra strong.

A shot of espresso is only a small amount of coffee—only 1 fl oz/30ml--, full of flavor, that you enjoy without adding milk or even sugar.

The ideal espresso temperature Celsius is 90.5-96 degrees (195 to 205 degrees Fahrenheit).

Main Characteristics

Made with about 8g of coffee
When made correctly it has a layer of crema on top

PROS

Strong coffee
The process brings out most of the flavor of coffee grounds
You don’t waste coffee because you brew one shot at a time
Quick brewing process, so ideal if you’re in a hurry

CONS

You need an espresso machine
Too acid (bitter) for some; this is an acquired taste
Expensive type of brew

Drip / Filter Coffee

In a coffee crash course the drip brew cannot miss. It is one of the oldest, classic ways of coffee brewing. You’re probably used to it since many households have been using it for years.

You can place any type or flavor coffee in one of the machines, so you can always make exactly what your taste buds desire. You can also cater for a large group of people at one time.

Main Characteristics

It takes about four minutes to brew using a drip coffee maker
You can customize the coarseness of the grounds to your coffee preferences, so use fine or medium according to your taste preferences
Will be high in caffeine
Because the machine has a consistent way of brewing, all your cups of coffee can taste the same

PROS

Oils get absorbed by the filter so your cholesterol won’t be affected negatively
Make large amounts of coffee at once
It’s an easy process
You can use any roast type you love

CONS

Easy to waste coffee since it may not all be used by the time it becomes stale
The taste is easily affected by plastic parts, metal of the machine or by standing in the carafe for a long time
You have no control over the water temperature so quality coffee beans’ flavor may not be optimized

French Press

This is the brew you pick if you love strong coffee. Because the water and grounds can stay in contact for a long time—depending on the brewing time you pick—all possible flavor is extracted.

See also in what the French Press is different from Drip Coffee and Pour Over. If you are a coffee Connoisseurs, you surely don't want to miss how to brew coffee with a Chemex Coffee Maker.

Main Characteristics

The coffee will be rich in flavor
This is a fuller type of coffee brew
A method you can easily do yourself which requires no skill

PROS

You get better flavor because there aren’t filters that block the chemicals that give coffee aroma
Simple procedure that any coffee lover can use
You determine the strength of your brew
Hygienic process since the French Press coffee maker is washed after each use
You can cater for more than one person at a time

CONS

Very high Cafestol levels can boost cholesterol levels
Some grounds may end up in your cup
It takes trial and error to determine the perfect brewing time
Coffee can become bitter if left in the press too long

Single Serve Brewing

This is your quick answer in the morning and you can pick any flavor you want. A single serve brew comes from water run through a coffee pod, into your cup.

Each pod caters for one person, so you don’t have to settle for what someone else just had. Pick your favorite.

Main Characteristics

Many coffee makers are designed for K-Cups, which are available in many flavors, even tea and hot chocolate
The strength of the brew is determined by the water temperature and how long the water stays in contact with the grounds in the pod
Some machines allow you to customize the temperature and strength of your brew

PROS

Pick any flavor coffee you’re in the mood for
Fast process because you only wait for one cup to brew
On high end machines you can pick how strong you want your coffee to be
Can get many antioxidants when you drink dark roasts
You don’t have to measure coffee, because the pod contains the right amount
You don’t waste coffee because only enough for one cup is produced at a time

CONS

Can taste of metal if the pod is made of steel or aluminium
Weak coffee compared to other brews
Long, tedious process to cater for large groups of people
Expensive coffee brew method because the pods can be quite costly
Most machines don’t allow you to use your favorite beans or grounds

Stovetop Brewing

Another classic to be added to this coffee crash course. For most Italians this was the coffee - point.

Here’s how you make your favorite brew for a large group of people. On the stove top you’ll add water and coffee grounds together. After boiling and stepping you can then filter it when pouring it into your cups.

A Moka pot uses a similar process but will filter the coffee on your behalf.

In both cases, what you’ll be left with is flavorful coffee and because it’s easy to make it’s accessible to all coffee lovers.

Main Characteristics

You can make any type of coffee as long as you have grounds
Beware of grounds ending up in your coffee even after filtering

PROS

Make large amounts of coffee for big groups
Keep coffee hot without burning it and ruining the taste
Affordable coffee brewing

CONS

You may waste coffee if everything isn’t used

Aeropress

Here’s how you get an espresso-like coffee without having to purchase a costly machine.

With an Aeropress you can have an espresso at any time, since the device can easily travel wherever you go. By using water at the right temperature and steeping it correctly all the flavors you love will come out.

Main Characteristics

Easy to brew and easy to clean afterwards

PROS

Strong coffee
Make it wherever you are
Can decide how long you want to brew, according to your taste preferences
You don’t waste coffee because you make one or maximum two cups at a time

CONS

Not ideal for catering to large groups

Coffee Makers

One thing you expect from a coffee course is to understand more about Coffee Makers.

Why so many on the market? Much of it has to do with modern society’s search for faster methods and more variety.

While classic brewing methods stay popular, during the late 20^th century coffee aficionados prompted manufacturers to find more effective brewing machines. And that’s why you can now take your pick from this list below.

Espresso Machine

The espresso machine pushes nearly boiling water through coffee grounds.

If you’re a true coffee lover an espresso machine should be on your shopping list. Though it’s a more expensive device, the strong flavors of the coffee you get is worth it.

All the espresso making process takes is:

Placing water in the machine
Put coffee grounds in the portafilter
Tamp the coffee grounds firmly in place
Screw the portafilter into its slot
Place your espresso cup under the spout and switch the machine on
Water will run through the grounds and into your cup

The strength of your espresso will be determined by how fine your grounds are and how quickly the machine pushes water through them.

You can alter these aspects to create the perfect espresso.

Espresso is also often served with water on the side.

Characteristics

Coffee is usually extracted at 9 bar pressure
Machine pushes an espresso’s amount of hot water through coffee grounds
Most high end machines have features that allow you to make other drinks such as cappuccinos or lattes.
You may need a grinder to get the grounds fine enough

PROS

Delivers higher quality coffee than most coffee makers
Striking appliances that complement your kitchen
Machine does the work so it doesn’t require skill on your behalf

CONS

You only produce a shot or two at a time so you can’t quickly serve a whole group of people
Machines need servicing and troubleshooting and seals need replacing
More expensive coffee maker than most
Tedious to clean

Drip Coffee Maker

Water is heated up and then runs through the grounds & a filter. The hot water brings out the flavor of the coffee while the grounds stay behind as they can’t move through the filter.

With this brewing method you get exceptional flavor when the machine can heat up water to very high temperatures. You can usually customize the strength and taste according to your preferences.

If you want to go in more details, we have an in depth guide on drip coffee makers with some of them reviewed.

Characteristics

A ten minute process, though this is determined by how much coffee you make at a time
It’s a longer process than some other brewing options
Water and grounds stay in contact for a considerable time
Can have many extras such as:

Coffee grinder
Timer and programmable options
Flavor and strength settings

French Press

Here’s a brewing process you can do in your home and customize your coffee to your specific taste. All you need is a French press, filters, grounds and boiling water.

You place the grounds and water in the press & let it brew for a few minutes. You then press the grounds to the bottom of the container and you can pour your brew.

Here’s a handy tip: Don’t leave the coffee in the press but rather drink it immediately or pour it into another container. If you leave it inside your brew is still in contact with the moist grounds which will affect your brew. As coffee becomes stronger it contains more and more acid, which gives you that bitter taste most of us hate.

When it comes to coffee, timing is everything.

Characteristics

It’s a 10 minute process
Coffee steeps for around five minutes
The longer it steeps, the stronger your coffee will be
Grounds can’t be too fine as they’ll pass through the filter and ruin your brew

PROS

This is a clean and healthy coffee making method:

Because you’re using glass—instead of filters or plastic—there’s less chance of unwanted chemicals getting into the coffee during brewing
When coffee is boiled antioxidants get preserved which means you get a healthier drink

You’re in control: You can adjust the strength of a French Press brew according to your preferences
Almost anyone can make this brew because a French Press is available in most stores and doesn’t require a huge capital investment
Easy to clean

CONS

It’s not an automatic process and requires your attention throughout
The press can’t keep the coffee warm, so you need to drink it immediately if you don’t want to waste coffee
Needs cleaning after each brew

Single Serve Coffee Maker

If you want that perfect cup of coffee in the morning, this is an ideal machine to place in your kitchen.

Purchase a programmable one so you can set it to have your brew ready when you get up in the morning.

You use a pod for each cup of coffee and there are many available on the market, so find your favorite flavors.

Characteristics

Use pods such as K-Cups
The machine pushes hot water through the pod’s contents
Adjust strength by customizing temperature
Pick the amount of brew to match the size cup you want to drink from

PROS

You can find one that meets your budget and feature requirements
No waste of coffee since you make one cup at a time
Some machines allow you to make other drinks too, such as tea

CONS

More expensive per cup than some other methods, because you must purchase pods
Creates a lot of waste and litter in the form of used K-Cups
Some units require you to refill the water reservoir after each brew

Stovetop Brewing / Moka Pot

Here’s what some call the ‘stove top espresso’. This Moka Pot comes all the way from Italy where Alfonso Bialetti patented it in 1933.

Why did this unique design reach the far corners of the earth? Because it was much used in the Italian armed forces during the Second World War.

With Italian soldiers stationed across Europe or moving elsewhere after the war, this coffee maker gained global popularity.

Today you’ll find many types of Moka pots so you can pick one that fits your requirements in terms of size and even décor style.

It’s what you can use to cater for large groups of people. You simply have to get a Moka pot large enough to hold coffee for everyone.

During the brewing process water in the bottom chamber is heated up to boiling point. The steam creates pressure in the chamber that pushes the boiling water through a funnel into an upper chamber. On its way to the top the water passes through a filter with coffee, creating your brew. We have an entire post on how to brew an espresso with the moka if you are interesting in this specific brew

Characteristics

Seals need regular replacement
Different sized Moka pots are available
Coffee is extracted at a pressure of 1 or 2 bar
Taste and aroma is dependent on:

Temperature of the heat source
How fine the grounds are
The bean used
Type of water used

PROS

When done right the process automatically produces crema
You can use this brewer even if you have no electric power source, since it works on a stove or fire too
You can keep coffee hot inside without the brew getting a burnt taste

CONS

Must clean after each brew
You may need a grinder too so you can get grounds that are fine enough
Tricky to sustain the same flavor and strength across different brews

Aeropress Coffee Maker

This coffee making idea is barely a decade old and already a favorite method of many coffee aficionados.

One of the huge benefits is how quickly you can enjoy a strong cup of coffee because it takes under a minute to steep.

Best of all is you can enjoy strong, flavorful coffee without purchasing expensive, electrical appliances.

The Aeropress was invented in 2005 and made of polycarbonate.

But don’t worry. Because of concerns regarding BPA in plastic ware, the company—Aerobie—later switched to using copolyester, making sure only BPA-free materials are used.

Two plastic tubes fit into each other. You place water and grounds inside, let it steep and then place it over your cup.

It’s like using a syringe. You press down on the one plastic tube, forcing the brew into the cup.

Characteristics

The water you use must be hot, but just below boiling point so your coffee doesn’t turn out bitter
Use fine grounds to optimize flavor
There are two ways of using the Aeropress:

A normal method
An inverted method that allows the coffee to steep a bit longer

The Aeropress set includes accessories to help optimize the process:

A paddle to stir the brew to optimize flavor extraction
A scoop to get the right amount of grounds each time
Filters
A cap that can fit over a cup to limit wastage and spatter
A funnel used to neatly pour grounds into the tube

Conclusion

We hope you’ve recognized that coffee making can be much more than you’ve experienced thus far.

Your next cup can match your palate’s particular preferences if you make a few adjustments to your coffee making habits.

And now you’ve seen that it doesn’t have to cost you much—or take up much of your time—to customize your brew. Which method will you try out first?

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