Coffee Maker’s Roadmap

Six brewing styles to enjoy at home.

For centuries, we’ve been enjoying the simple pleasure of home-brewed coffee. Here are six popular brewing styles to try

If you ask any coffee connoisseur, they’ll tell you that the way the beans are brewed makes a big difference to the final taste, freshness, aroma and texture of the drink. The style of brewing used to extract this goodness from the coffee beans also makes a difference to the drink’s nutritional value. From a simple plunger to an electric espresso machine, it’s easy to find a brewing method that suits any budget.

1. Plunger

This is one of the simplest coffee-brewing methods. It works by steeping coffee grounds in boiled water before pressing the grounds down with a plunger. One of the main benefits of making coffee with a plunger is that the strength of the brew is very easy to customise. This preparat ion method produces a stronger cup of coffee because the coffee beans don’t pass through a filter but come into contact only with the hot water and coffee grounds.

2. Cold Brew Coffee

Just as the name suggests, this is coffee that is brewed cold. However, this coffee differs from regular coffee in that it is smoother and less acidic. Actually, it is about two-thirds less acidic compared to normal hot coffee. The lower acidity of coldbrewed coffee produces a naturally sweeter taste.

3. Espresso Machines

There are different variations on how espresso machines work; steam, piston, pump and air-pump-driven. Despite the variation in sizes, the basic function of this type of coffee preparation works by forcing pressurised, near-boiling water through a ‘puck’ of ground coffee to produce a thick, concentrated coffee shot, also known as espresso. Most commercial espresso coffee machines you see in cafés operate using this method.

4. Drip Coffee Maker

This coffee-brewing method uses the force of gravity to extract the rich f lavour from the coffee grounds.

Coffee prepared by the drip method has a higher PH compared to drip coffee; in other words, it is less acidic. The advantages of using a drip coffee maker is you greatly reduce brewing time, as it only takes 30 seconds to make a cuppa, and the equipment is inexpensive.

5. Moka Pot

This is a stovetop coffee maker which uses steam pressure to make strong, espresso- like coffee. It brews the coffee by passing boiling water pressurised by steam through ground coffee. Advantages of using a moka pot – besides making an excellent cup of coffee – are, the pot is made from aluminium, which helps keep the coffee warm, they are relatively cheap to buy, and can be used on either electric or gas stovetops.

6. Turkish Coffee

This type of coffee preparation typically only works for ver y finely ground coffee. The coffee grounds are prepared in a brass pot over a very low heat, resulting in a stronger coffee profile. The lower brew temperature used in preparing Turkish coffee helps in eliminating the bitter taste that is found in boiled coffee.

So whether you’re at home enjoying a brew made from a moka pot, or savouring a barista-made latté from your loca l ca fé, expec t t he different methods to produce different outcomes.