How to Brew and Store Coffee

Author: Melissa Collins

Updated: April 2, 2023

Coffee has a different effect on each individual. Depending on how much caffeine they’ve consumed, coffee can do a lot of things. It can cause an increase in alertness, energy, and ability to concentrate, but it’s also just plain delicious. Coffee is a drink loved by many. (That includes us, too!)

If you’re a coffee lover looking to brew and store your own coffee at home, you’ve come to the right article.

The best ways to make delicious coffee at home

Stovetop Coffee

When you think of brewing coffee at home, the stovetop espresso maker is one of the first things that come to mind. Also known as the Moka pot, creating coffee with this gadget produces rich-flavored coffee. But be careful – it’s easy to make bitter coffee when using the stovetop espresso maker.

How to make it

Prepare the Moka Pot
Separate your Moka pot into its three parts: the upper chamber is for the finished coffee, the filter (middle) is for the coffee grounds and the lower chamber is for water.
Grind the coffee beans
When grinding the coffee beans, the best way is to coarsely grind them. Finer grinds are not a good choice for the Moka pot, as it causes issues and leaks. Level the coffee ground, but don’t tamp it.
Fill the bottom chamber with hot water
Add your water into the bottom chamber of your Moka pot and do not fill it past the safety valve.
Assemble Stovetop espresso maker
After you’ve ground the coffee beans and added water to the lower chamber, the next step is to assemble the Moka pot. Quick note: Use a towel when handling the lower chamber, for safety measures. Place the filter (middle chamber) back, then screw the top part on. Make sure it’s nicely sealed and no sounds come out from the gaps.
Add heat to Moka Pot
After assembly, you can put the Moka pot on the gas stove or whatever heat source is available. Bring to a moderate or low heat. Don’t leave, as the coffee starts flowing after 1 minute.
Serve the coffee and enjoy!
When you hear a gurgling sound, move the Moka pot away from the heat and cool it down. And that’s it – your coffee is prepared. Enjoy!

Equipment you need

A Stovetop coffee maker (Moka pot of your choice)
Freshly ground coffee
Water
Appropriate heat source

Pros and Cons

Pros

Stovetop brewing is easy to use, with no complicated settings to consider
You don’t have to buy stock paper filters because there’s already one built-in
You get the rich flavor of coffee
Moka pots are versatile and you can add different kinds of beans and spices
They take up a small space

Cons

Coffee from a Moka pot can be robust and bitter (if you don’t brew it well)
Although it’s easy to use, it’s also easy to burn. If you aren’t careful, it can sour the coffee
Moka pots can be messy and leak
It takes time to practice using a Moka pot

French Press

The French Press is a manual brewing method that is done by pressing down the machine and soaking the coffee grounds for a few minutes in hot water. It is one of the easiest (albeit physically taxing) and least expensive methods to enjoy coffee.

How to make it

Preheat the press
Warming up the press helps in maintaining the temperature while brewing.
Measure and grind the coffee beans
Measure your desired amount of whole coffee beans and use a burr grinder to grind the coffee beans into a medium-coarse grind.
Measure and check water and temperature
Measure the water and discard any hot water before you add the coffee grinds. The perfect temperature is 195 – 205 degrees F.
Add coffee grounds and hot water
Add the correct ratio of hot water (1:15 is one part coffee is to 15 parts water). Take your spoon and give your coffee a quick stir to make sure that all the coffee grounds are properly immersed in water.
Slowly press the plunger down
Let the coffee steep for 4 minutes (use your timer). After this, slowly press the plunger down. Make sure that you push it all the way down to avoid over-extraction.
Serve and enjoy
That’s it! You have your French press coffee.

Equipment you need

Whole Coffee Beans
Burr Coffee Grinder
Digital Food Scale
French Press
Boiling Water
Stirrer
Timer (your phone timer is okay)

Pros and Cons

Pros

Ease of brewing
It’s easy to master
It’s easy to clean
It doesn’t cost much
Portable

Cons

If you aren’t careful, you can over-extract
Flavor and taste can vary
Slightly more time-consuming than other methods

Drip Coffee Maker

Drip brewing relies on gravity to extract coffee from the coffee grounds. Many confuse pour-overs with drip coffee because they share the same processes. But unlike pour-overs, you don’t have to spend your time attending to your coffee brewing. Drip machines allow you to brew your coffee with a push of a button.

How to make it

Grind your coffee to a medium
Your coffee grounds should be ground to a medium-sized, not too fine, not too coarse.
Place a coffee filter
Drip machines have filter baskets that are often under the brew head.
Add the right amount of coffee to water ratio
The right ratio is one tablespoon of coffee to a paper for every 6oz cup of coffee.
Press Start
Add cold, filtered water – that’s 6 ounces of water for every cup of coffee. Then press the start button to begin the drip machine’s brewing.
Enjoy your coffee!
As simple as that, you have your coffee!

Equipment you need

Drip Coffee Machine
Whole coffee grounds
Water
Coffee filter

Pros and Cons

Pros

It’s very easy to use – read the setup instructions and after measuring water and coffee grounds, you’re good to go
There are affordable drip machines
Drip Machines are programmable
They can brew large quantities of coffee

Cons

Drip machines can be hard to clean
Limited options

Pour Over Coffee

The Manual Pour Over Method is a staple in the coffee industry. It requires minimal equipment to get a finished product. It can be something as simple as a paper coffee filter and a cup pour-over setup. One fancy type of pour-over device is the Chemex, which is a glass with a specially designed filter.

How to make it

Heat your water
Heat up your water to the perfect temperature, before all else. Pay attention to the quality of your water.
Grind your coffee
Using a burr grinder, grind your coffee. The coffee-to-water ratio depends on preferences, but the widely agreed upon is 1 ounce of beans for every 16 ounces of water.
Add coffee grounds and prepare to pour
During this step, you can also choose to get your paper filter wet by pouring water before adding the grounds. Then place it on a scale.
Pour and wait
Before you fully brew, add a small amount of water to the beans and let it sit for 45 seconds. After that, pour. There are many different techniques to pouring, so it might take a while before you nail it.
Enjoy your coffee!
That’s it! Drink and savor your coffee.

Equipment you need

Digital scale
Gooseneck Kettle
Burr Grinder
Timer
The pour-over device of your choice
Coffee grounds
Filtered water

Pros and Cons

Pros

The equipment is inexpensive
Creates coffee with an amazing taste
Pure coffee
You can brew for more than one cup at a time

Cons

You might get carried away and buy other accessories
It takes patience to do
It can be difficult to clean and you need a long-handled brush to effectively clean it
Folding papers can be a hassle

Cold Brew

Cold brew generally extracts over a long period of hours – ranging from 10 to 20 hours. Since it’s extracted at low temperatures, it takes significantly longer to extract the flavor of the coffee. It’s great to do at home.

How to make it

Grind the coffee beans
Add your favorite coffee beans and grind them until it’s coarse. Avoid fine grinds as it will clump when you add water.
Measure the ingredients
Measure the ground coffee and create a ratio of ¼ coffee to 1 cup of water.
Steep the coffee
Add your coffee grounds and water to a large pitcher and stir to combine. Cover it with a lid and let it steep for 12 hours or overnight.
Enjoy!
After this, you can filter the coffee before mixing it with syrups, creams, and milk-based on your preference!

Equipment you need

Whole coffee beans
Burr Grinder
Coffee filter
Pitcher or large
container
Water

Pros and Cons

Pros

Consistently amazing coffee
No special equipment needed
Cold coffee has many health benefits and no bitter flavor

Cons

High levels of caffeine can have an adverse effect on some

Espresso

Espresso can be done in various ways like with an espresso machine, a portable espresso maker, Aeropress, and more. Today, we’ll be talking about how we can make espresso at home using an espresso machine.

How to make it

Grind the coffee beans
Grind the coffee until it is very fine. Different beans will require different grinds for your machine, and it will take you some time to practice.
Tamp the coffee grounds
When you add the grounds to the portafilter, you need to tamp it. Learn more about how to here. Make it as even and straight as you can.
Pull the espresso shot
Place the portafilter into the machine and press the necessary button to pull the shot. This will last around 25 to 30 seconds before you get your espresso shot.
Serve the way you prefer and enjoy
That’s it! After getting your espresso shot, you can serve it in the way you prefer: with milk, syrup, or water! Make the most out of it and enjoy it.

Equipment you need

Whole coffee grounds
Espresso machine

Pros and Cons

Pros

Convenient to use
It’s delicious
Espresso requires fewer beans
It’s more versatile

Cons

Espresso machines are more expensive than others
It takes longer to make
You need a special grinder

How to store your coffee beans and brewed coffee

Refrigerator

The fridge is not the right place to store coffee in any form. It isn’t cold enough and your coffee will absorb all the aromas in your fridge because it’s a deodorizer.

Generally, it’s alright to keep brewed coffee in a sealed container in the fridge. It will be safe to consume for up to 3 to 4 days, but it doesn’t really taste that good. If you add milk or creamer, then don’t even think of storing it in the fridge, as it is best to consume it within 2 hours after creation.

Freezer

Store your coffee beans in the freezer if you plan on storing them for the long term. Store them in an airtight container – do not leave them in the bag they came in – and store them in smaller batches. When you take them out of the freezer, allow them to thaw first before opening them so that you don’t damage your coffee.

As for brewed coffee, you can store them in the freezer, but not in the way you think. The best way to store brewed coffee is by transferring them to an ice cube tray which can be later used to enjoy iced coffee cubes!

Room Temperature

Out of the three methods, this is the best way to store coffee beans. Keep them inside an airtight container at a room temperature of 20 to 25 C. Don’t let them be exposed to heat and light and you can keep them fresh for 1 to 3 weeks.

Keeping brewed coffee at room temperature is okay for a few hours, but the taste will decline. Brewed coffee tastes the greatest when you consume it shortly after it’s brewed.

FAQ

What are the golden rules of making coffee?

The golden rules of making coffee include knowing the right brew ratios, especially the golden ratio: the perfect balance of coffee and water. Generally, it is known as 1:18 coffee and water. Aside from knowing the right ratios, take note that the coffee you make should be fresh. Keep the ground coffee packaged in airtight containers, as it can easily go bad.

What is the healthiest way to drink coffee?

The healthiest way is to drink it black. Plain, with nothing added. It is recommended that you shouldn’t put sugar in your coffee. Apart from drinking it black, another healthy way to drink coffee is by filtering coffee, as opposed to drinking unfiltered coffee. A study done by the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology found that filtered coffee is healthier, especially for older people.

What is the best way to store coffee?

The best way to store ground coffee or whole beans is by putting them in your pantry shelf in an opaque, airtight container. Keep it away from light, heat, and moisture. This is the best way to store your coffee and preserve its flavor for a long time.

Does freezing ground coffee keep it fresh?

Yes. When you freeze ground coffee and keep it vacuum-sealed, it keeps its freshness for up to two years. On the other hand, if you don’t freeze it and keep it in your pantry vacuum-sealed, it keeps it fresh for five to six months only.

How do you prolong the shelf life of coffee?

If the coffee isn’t kept in an airtight container or vacuum-sealed, it can quickly deteriorate. Proper storage such as storing them away from light, heat, and moisture, and keeping them in sealed containers is an important part of prolonging their shelf life. The cold temperatures in the fridge or freezer are a big help and can preserve coffee for a long time – but remember to keep them in sealed containers.

Is it better to keep coffee in a bag or in a jar?

The best way to keep coffee is to keep them in an airtight container/jar. Do not keep them in retail packaging. It will not be enough to preserve its freshness and taste. Where you place your container is important – don’t keep them in cabinets near stove tops or ovens as they can get too warm.

Is it better to store coffee in glass or plastic?

The ideal choice would be to keep them in metal and ceramic containers, which are non-absorbent and will not absorb the aroma of your coffee. The next best thing is to keep them in a glass container. Plastic is a no-go for long-term storage, but if you plan on consuming the coffee within two weeks, then it’s alright to use.

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