The best ways to brew coffee at home

Brewing coffee at home can be simple and genuinely rewarding

Making coffee at home is a daily ritual, and it is also the easiest way to find out what freshly roasted beans can really do. Here are the best coffee brewing methods for home, with the kit each one needs and the numbers that make them work.

1. Pour-over

Pour-over, or filter coffee, is the method to pick when you want a clean cup with balanced flavour and aroma. It works the same way in cafés and on a kitchen worktop, and it gives you full control over the brew.

How to brew pour-over coffee

• Kit: a dripper, a paper filter, freshly ground coffee.
• Ratio: 6 g of coffee per 100 ml of water.
• Method:
  1. Rinse the paper filter with hot water to wash out any papery taste.
  2. Add freshly ground coffee (medium-fine) to the dripper.
  3. Pour water at 92-96°C in slow circles so the bed extracts evenly.

2. French press

Coffee brewed in a French press is one of the best home brewing methods if you like depth and intensity. Full immersion pulls out the whole spectrum of flavour, oils included.

How to brew in a French press:

• Grind: coarse.
• Ratio: 7 g of coffee per 100 ml of water.
• Steps:
  1. Add the coffee to the jug.
  2. Pour water at about 94°C.
  3. After 4 minutes press the plunger down gently to separate the grounds.
  4. Decant into cups straight away so the coffee stops brewing.

3. AeroPress

The AeroPress is modern brewing kit that gives you a clean cup in under a minute. Pick it if you want speed and convenience at home.

How to brew in an AeroPress (inverted method):

• Grind: medium-coarse.
• Ratio: 7-9 g of coffee per 100 ml of water (we use 17 g to 220 g).
• Method:
  1. Put the filter in the cap and rinse it with water.
  2. Pour 80 ml of water at 94°C into the chamber.
  3. Add the coffee and stir three times.
  4. Top up with another 140 ml of water.
  5. 70 seconds after the coffee went in, press the brew through into your cup.

4. Moka pot

The moka pot makes a strong, aromatic coffee that sits close to espresso. It is a reliable everyday brewer.

How to brew in a moka pot:

• Grind: medium-fine.
• Steps:
  1. Fill the bottom chamber with water up to the safety valve.
  2. Fill the basket with ground coffee without tamping it.
  3. Put the pot on a medium heat and take it off once the coffee coming through turns straw-coloured.

There is a longer piece on brewing in a moka pot if you want the detail.

5. Cold brew

Cold brew is the best way to brew coffee cold and it keeps gaining ground. The result is mellow and low in acidity, which is exactly what you want on a hot day.

How to make cold brew:

• Grind: coarse.
• Ratio: 7-8 g per 100 ml of cold water.
• Method:
  1. Put the coffee in a jar and cover it with cold water.
  2. Leave it in the fridge for 12-24 hours.
  3. Filter before serving.

We have a more detailed guide to cold brew as well.

Small things that make home coffee better

• Fresh beans: buy freshly roasted coffee from a roastery you trust and grind it right before you brew.
• Water quality: use filtered water so nothing gets in the way of the coffee.
• Accurate ratios: weigh the coffee and the water. It is the single fastest way to get a better cup.