What Coffee-Brewing Method Makes the Best-Tasting Cup?

the kitchn ^ | 2022 | Jill Waldbieser

[CondoleezzaProtege]

It doesn’t take much digging through the vast array of coffee-making apparatuses, either at your local kitchen store or online, to get overwhelmed. There are drip machines, pod-machines, French presses — even this odd-looking contraption.

When selecting the best brewer for you, you’ll want to consider a variety of factors: How fast is it? How much cleanup is required? How much coffee does your household consume? And of course, there’s taste.

1) Aeropress
2) Drip Machine
3) Pourover
4) French Press
5) Moka Pot
6) Pod Machine

[chalkfarmer]

Especially if you are allergic to mold!

[gundog]

[chalkfarmer]

My very first cup of coffee was cowboy coffee!

[DesertRhino]

Kuerig tastes the worst and it’s about 55 dollars a pound compared to loose coffee. I like the loose pods better. But I like Juan Valdez instant the best.

And occasionally I like New Mexico pinon nut coffee.

[neverevergiveup]

I've gotten so used to espresso it's hard to drink ‘just coffee’. That said, pour-over is great but can filter out some flavor - depending on the filters being used. French press is also good - but you have to have the right kind of grind (coarse). I haven't used an Aeropress, but I've heard they're really good. I agree that grinding just before use, and optimizing the grind to the type of coffee and the method used to brew or extract are crucial.

[MayflowerMadam]

“Pods are most convenient.”

Yes. And there’s less waste than with brewed. At least that’s the case for us.

There are methods that taste better, but convenience is important.

[neverevergiveup]

I want one of those!!

[JohnnyP]

We used to like the Toddy system:

https://toddycafe.com/product/toddy-cold-brew-system

You dump a pound of your favorite grind into their big white container, pour water over the grounds, let sit overnight, then pull the plug and let it drain through the filter into a decanter.

To serve, pour a jigger of the concentrated coffee into your cup and add hot water.

[CaptainPhilFan]

French Press or percolator

[nomorelurker]

“no one has brought up cowboy coffee???”

Story by Ben K. Green from his “Horse Trading” series of books.

Came upon the camp of another cowboy one night and the guy asked if he wanted a cup of coffee. Guy then proceeded to pour some beans from a burlap bag into another cloth bag, laid that on a rock and wacked it several times with a hammer and dumped that into a pot of boiling water.
Green said it was the worst cup of coffee he ever had.

[fso301]

Put a pot of water on to boil. In a cup add sugar, CoffeMate and a tablespoon of Sanka. Pour boiling water into the cup. Stir until everything has dissolved. Enjoy.

[Pollard]

5 cup drip which is really 3 cups
Moka Pot I rarely use that makes 1 small, strong cup

[Lurker]

French press.

L

[MayflowerMadam]

Is that Gene? (RIP)

[Fiji Hill]

7) Percolator

[datricker]

I’ve found that getting the temperature just right seems to have the most impact on taste. I got a double filter French press for Christmas a couple years ago that works great. I’ve found water at 200 degrees for 1 minute and 45 seconds about yields an awesome cup of coffee provided you used good beans. Oh and if you go with a French press you need a good burr grinder to get a consistent coarse grind so the press filters it out. Otherwise small grounds get through and that is gross

[CaptainPhilFan]

PS:

Coffee grinds make a very good dog deterrent in your yard or garden. Used or fresh.

Just sprinkle and the dogs will not pee or poop there.
You might also get some cool mushrooms.
Repeat as necessary.

PPS:
At my first Thanksgiving as a host, I boiled the coffee for about 20 minutes in the stovetop Pyrex percolator, to make sure it was done.

Cheers!

[Big Red Badger]

Cowboy Or Instant !?!
.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

"Cowboy coffee." That's how I started out 50 years ago. A simple percolator, coarse grind, over a fire. Did a great job and the sights and sounds of a percolator are really fun to watch and hear. When I moved to San Francisco in '73, I found a small coffee roastery on Chestnut Street called "Caravansary." Bought my first Turkish hand-grinder there and learned to grind my own beans. What a breakthrough!

I had a field service engineering job in power plants the first five years out of college. I travelled all over the western states to jobs and got tired of the really crappy truck stop coffee. I then put a small propane camp stove in my car trunk and could bring out my grinder and percolator whenever I stopped. Nothing like a good fresh brew at the roadside rest areas.

For the updated "Cowboy coffee," how about Cole Hauser's "Free Rein"? (he's the guy from "Yellowstone"). His "American Dirt" blend is great (if you like very strong and powerful coffee). My wife, a big "Yellowstone" fan, found his coffee and bought some -- really good!

[fuzzylogic]

The one that costs me a few pennies per cup tastes the best :)

Freeze dried coffee is what I was brought up on (UK)....never been spoiled so I’ll just keep it up.