PerfectBrew Logo Blue

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

Table of Contents

  • Updated: April 2, 2023

Are you tired of drinking coffee daily at coffee shops and want to start brewing that perfect cup of coffee yourself?

This article will compare many popular brewing methods and help you choose the best brewing method of them all. 

For someone who is new to coffee-brewing, it can frankly be quite overwhelming to choose from so many different brewing methods. There are multiple factors to be taken into consideration when it comes to making that perfect cup of coffee. Factors such as flavors, aromas, the freshness of the coffee, the time required to brew, how easy it is to clean the machine, budget and the overall taste of the coffee need to be looked over.

What does the perfect cup of coffee taste like

The best-tasting cup of coffee will have smooth, rich and complex flavors with a slight bitterness to it. It should balance sweetness, bitterness and acidity in every sip. 

It should never have a burnt or raw taste nor should it taste bland. In the end, every person has a different expectation of what the best coffee would taste like.

Some of the most popular brewing methods

Drip

Drip method to brew coffee consists of pouring hot water over ground coffee beans. The coffee is generally required to be immersed in the water for about 5 minutes. 

Steps to make coffee using the drip method:

  1. The beans need to be ground in uniform size and have consistency. They should look like table salt after they are ground. Now transfer the grounded beans into the filter basket and insert it into the machine.
  2. Now pour filtered water in the machine. There would be a separate compartment for the water and it shouldn’t go over the grounds.
  3. You will know when to stop the machine by looking for the bubbles to stop. The coffee could end up tasting burnt if you fail to stop the machine on time.

Cleaning the machine is also important every month to prevent the residues in the machine from affecting the taste of the coffee.

Pour Over

There is not much difference in the method used to brew using the pour-over coffee and the drip coffee. The main advantage of the pour-over coffee is that it allows complete control over the coffee brewing process. Coffee made using this method tends to be more flavorful because of the longer extraction time. It is also very budget-friendly. 

Steps to make the coffee using the pour-over method:

  1. Heat the cold water to boiling point and grind the coffee beans in a uniform size.
  2. Place a filter over the brewer and pour some hot water to rinse it. This step is important as it helps in warming the brewer and removing any residue over the paper. This water needs to be thrown after rinsing.
  3. Now transfer the grounds on the filter and level the surface of the grounds.
  4. It is important that the water is between 195 to 205 degrees Fahrenheit before pouring over the grounds. The pouring should be done in a spiral from center to outwards. You need to stop pouring once the grounds are saturated and the coffee starts to drip. 
  5. Now slowly pour the left water over the grounds until the dripper is filled up to a half and three-quarters full. After waiting for 4 minutes you can now remove the filter and the coffee should be ready.

French Press

If you want consistency in how your coffee tastes then the French Press method should be your go-to method. It is famous for extracting superior flavors in comparison to other methods.

Steps to make coffee using the French Press method:

  1. First, bring the water between 195 and 205 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. After grinding the whole coffee beans to a uniform size, transfer them into the French Press.
  3. Turn off the heat from the water and after one minute pour it over the coffee grounds. Now stir the water into the grounds and wait for about 4 minutes.
  4. Now press the plunger slowly. Your coffee should now be separated from the grounds.
  5. The coffee is ready to be served.

Siphon

If you are looking to impress someone then this vacuum coffee brewing method will come handy. 

Steps to make coffee using the Siphon method:

  1. Add the coffee beans in the upper vessel and the hot water in the bottom chamber.
  2. Now light the burner. The vapor pressure will lift the hot water in the upper vessel and immerse it with the coffee.
  3. After the coffee is brewed for 30-40 seconds turn off the burner. The gravity should now force the brewed coffee through the filter in the bottom chamber.
  4. Your coffee is now ready to be served.

Just choosing the best brewing method won’t be enough for that perfect cup of coffee. 

Below are a few tips that you will have to follow for the best-tasting cup

You have only 2-3 weeks before your roasted coffee beans start to lose their flavor. Most coffee beans you will find in grocery stores will likely be months old. To buy freshly roasted coffee you will need to find a roaster directly who roasts on the spot or does it in small batches.

While ground coffee might be easily available experts recommend whole beans as they result in the taste of coffee being more complex and fresh. Whereas ground coffee starts to lose its flavor and freshness in just 30 minutes after being ground.

  • Choosing the right brewing method –

The brewing method you use for coffee is very important. You will need to choose something that gives you complete control. Go with immersion brewing methods as they make more robust and flavorful coffee. 

Which method makes the best-tasting cup of coffee?

It really depends on how you want your coffee to taste. If you want your coffee to have the maximum flavors then you should go with the Pour Over method. If you want superior flavors, oils and a coffee with complex taste while don’t mind sediments at the bottom of your coffee then choose the French Press method. 

If you only care about the taste than the drip method is certainly not for you, this method is more about convenience then the taste. If you want your coffee to be clean and bright while also being rich in aroma and flavorful then go with the Siphon coffee.

Share This Article

Sources

https://www.thekitchn.com/best-coffee-brewing-method-22977756

http://www.eatingwell.com/article/41595/9-rules-for-how-to-make-a-perfect-cup-of-coffee/

https://www.homegrounds.co/the-complete-guide-to-coffee-brewing-methods/

Skip to content