Coffee Brewing Methods
Coffee is something that cultures around the world have in common, but the similarities stop there. There are countless ways of brewing up a pot of your favourite blend and countries across the globe have different methods that work for them, either for convenience or to ensure that the flavour is kept and enhanced during preparation.
While you may swear by your trusted French Press, unless you’ve tried all the of the brewing methods, how do you know what you’re missing? This guide will walk you through a few alternative brewing techniques, from new-age pod coffee machines to more traditional methods that have been used throughout history. Are you ready to get a little adventurous?
The Press
We’ll start with a traditional age-old method that’s commonly known throughout the world; the French Press. Often referred to as a coffee plunger or Bodum, a press hails from, you guessed it, France! While the French are the inventors, the nifty coffee maker is popular throughout Europe, America, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
How Does It Work?
You start by grinding your favourite blend of coffee beans, keeping them more coarse than fine. Then, add a tablespoon of grounds for each cup you intend to make (you can adjust this measurement according to your preferred taste). Pour boiled water over the grounds and wait for about 3 minutes, or until you see a layer of thick froth forming on the top. Push down the plunger slowly and watch as the coffee infused water seeps up while the coffee grounds are pushed to the bottom. Pour and serve.
The Taste:
Usually, a press produces a cleaner tasting coffee that holds the natural flavour of the coffee beans very well. This brewing method allows no room for overheating and because there’s no paper filtration system the blend is usually thicker in texture.
The Flat Drip
When visiting Vietnam, you’ll spot tiny cups sitting around, each with a miniature pot-like device plonked onto the rim. These small coffee brewers are called Phins and look like little stove top pots. In India, a similar type of flat drip is used, but they place larger brewers over carafes to make more than one cup of coffee at a time.
How Does It Work?
Start by spooning a few tablespoons of ground coffee onto the sieved of the top chamber (Phin), making sure the grounds sit evenly. Add a few tablespoons of boiled water into the brewer to let the coffee swell before adding the rest of the water. Close the lid and let the coffee percolate while it filters through the sieve and drips into a cup or larger serving pot.
The Taste:
A flat drip makes a strong-tasting coffee to the likes of an espresso. It lowers the acidity of the coffee too and is ideal for making a cold brew (which is a popular way to drink coffee in tropical climates).
The Ibrik Or Turkish Coffee
If you truly are the adventurous type then perhaps you’d like to try out a brewing method that’s been used for centuries and is still commonly used in countries like Turkey, Greece and the Middle East. Add a touch of history to your coffee by using a traditional ladle to brew your blend.
How Does It Work?
Firstly, you’ll need to make sure your beans are ground to their finest and close to the texture of baby powder. Mix your coffee grounds, sugar, and cold water together in the Ibrik (ladle). Add about 4 oz of water for every heaped teaspoon of coffee and about half a teaspoon of sugar. Heat the Ibrik and its contents over a medium heat and boil it until frothy. Remove the ladle from the heat and allow the brew to settle. Repeat the “heat and settle” steps twice more. Once the coffee is poured into the cups, there should be grinds that settle at the bottom and a frothy layer on top.
The Taste:
If you like your coffee strong then you’ll enjoy this brewing method – the coffee definitely comes with a kick! Sugar is brewed along with the coffee to not only sweeten it, but also to lower the acidic punch!
The Moka
We have the Italians to thank for the Moka, although the little espresso making gadget is a popular hit throughout the whole of Europe. This brewer consists of two chambers where one sits on top of the other. They are usually made from aluminium or stainless steel.
How Does It Work?
Fill the bottom chamber with cold water, up to the pressure valve. Add your finely ground coffee beans to the top chamber and secure the sieve filter over them. Tighten the lid on the upper chamber. Heat it on medium until it gurgles, at which point you’ll discover an authentically rich espresso, steam-brewed into the top chamber.
The Taste:
Like we said, the Moka is more of an espresso machine, so it will appeal to those who prefer a very strong brew. The end result is a cup of coffee that’s less acidic in and is flavoured with an almost chocolate-like taste.
The Sock
No old smelly socks used here! The sock technique is a popular brewing method found in Central and South America and a similar method is also used in Thailand and Malaysia. This simple filtration system is made of cotton or muslin and mimics a sock, which filters the coffee and encourages the brew to drip into a cup or chamber.
How Does It Work?
To prevent the coffee grounds from slipping through the holes in the fabric, make sure you keep them to a medium or coarse ground. This brewing method works by suspending a “sock” which looks like a butterfly net with a wire or wooden frame over a cup or pot. The coffee grinds are added to the sock and then boiled water is poured over the grinds. The coffee will steep while the infused water slowly drips into the catchment area.
The Taste:
New “socks” tend to add a cotton-like taste to the final brew, that’s until they have been well-used of course. Once worn in, the fabric filters make a blend of coffee with clear high notes, usually floral or fruity in nature.
Instant Coffee
While there’s not much appeal in instant coffee brands when it comes to quality and a distinct flavour, this coffee-making process is used world-wide, mostly because of its convenience and because it is a more affordable option when it comes to brewing a hot cuppa.
How Does It Work?
Coffee granules are made by dissolving the coffee beans in water to make a coffee solution. This solution is then dried through a process of either freeze-drying or spray-drying. The end result is a collection of coffee granules or crystals. Simply pour hot water over the granules to prepare a cup of coffee.
The Taste:
OK, so there are some good quality instant coffee brands out there, but for the most part, you are likely to end up with a flavourless brew that’s probably on the stale side. But who’s judging, when you need coffee, you need coffee!
Pod Coffee Machines
While most of the brewing methods we have mentioned thus far date back to ancient times, a more modern invention that is used globally are the currently trending pod coffee machines.
How Does It Work?
Pod coffee makers use small sealed cups that have been packed tight with coffee grinds for brewing purposes. You simply insert a pod/capsule into the machine, press a few buttons with brewing options and there you go! Depending on the functionality of the model you use, you can fine-tune a pod machine to perfect a brew to your most desirable tastes.
The Taste:
There are so many varieties of pod coffee makers on the market and each one has the functionality to cater to different tastes. The only downfall of these machines is that they can overheat the coffee if not used correctly, diminishing the natural taste completely.
One of the wonderful things about coffee is that it comes in all sorts of flavours, roasts and textures, so you can never ever tire of it! But drinking your coffee doesn’t have to be the only fun part, experimenting with brewing methods and exploring how different cultures drink their coffee is a wonderful way to learn about the world while enjoying a unique experience that comes with a kick of caffeine!
While we mentioned a few of the alternative ways to make a good old cuppa, there are plenty more brewing techniques that have been practiced in countries dating back to many centuries. Coffee is one of the world’s finest delicacies and for many of us, it’s a staple in our diets! It’s definitely worth exploring the magical beans, how they are roasted and more importantly, how the coffee is made!
Sources
- Different Ways to Brew Coffee – HomeGrounds
- Unique Ways of Drinking Coffee – MatadorNetwork
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