For many, part of the appeal of coffee lies in how simple the brewing process can be. You don’t necessarily have to go the extra mile to enjoy a cup of good quality coffee every now and then, even if you were relying on your own home barista skills.
With brewing methods that take you as little as 30 seconds, it is no wonder that there’s been a rise in home brewing in the last few years.
Considering that there are many options in the market, you might be wondering which is a good fit for you in terms of your habits and lifestyle. Keep reading to find the perfect match!
Busy Days
When your mornings are all “Go, go, go!” and the rest of the day slips out of your grasp with work or chores, getting even a few minutes to brew yourself a pot of coffee can feel like a luxury.
As such, you’ll probably prefer a brewing method that gets the job done quickly with little to no hassle.
The home espresso machine that automates the brewing process is by far one of the best options for you. You don’t have to worry about water to ground ratio or anything like that. That said, you will need to spend some time on prep if you prefer grinding coffee at home.
On the other hand, if you use a capsule or pod espresso machine, you can have a cup ready at a moment's notice.
Another great option for you is the cold brew method. It’s as simple as adding ground coffee or a coffee bag to a cold brew jar and leaving it in the fridge overnight. A large pot of coffee is ready for the next day! Plus, with this method, you don’t have to make multiple cups separately.
What you need to keep in mind is that, in both these methods, you have little control over the extraction process.
Slow Living
On the flip side, if you tend to take it slow each day and stay home a lot, you might find coffee brewing to be a mindful and relaxing routine. Regardless of how much time it takes you, you enjoy being present throughout the process and don’t mind that you need to pay attention to it.
The pour over method is ideal in this scenario. Getting a balanced extraction is as much about your efforts as it is about the quality of coffee beans.
Even the brew gear is pretty easy to clean and store. Based on the gear you choose, you might need to spend additionally on filter paper. But we have the Bodum Pour Over that includes a permanent filter.
Alternatively, consider the French press. In this method, it takes anywhere between 3-5 minutes to brew coffee. Once you’ve added the coffee grounds and hot water, you can go about your morning, preparing food, and then come back to it once it’s ready.
Space Constraint
Need a coffee brewing method that doesn’t take up too much space? Choose the French press. It doesn’t have too many moving parts to it and the entire setup takes very little space. You can even leave it in a corner of your kitchen counter, and it will add to the aesthetics of the room.
Much like the French press, the stovetop Moka Pot is also a considerably smaller brew gear. It looks like a kettle and can be tucked away easily after you have finished using the brewer. You don’t need to worry about storing cables or spare parts.
Minimal Maintenance
If the thought of spending quite a bit of time and effort maintaining and cleaning coffee machines dampens all the fun for you, you should opt for a fuss-free brewing option such as the AeroPress or cold brew.
These can be cleaned easily, with minimal time spent on the overall brewing process. The cold brew pot is also good to have in the long run as you’re unlikely to encounter any long-term wear and tear issues.
Living With Family or Friends
Depending on how much coffee you want to brew, the brew gear suitable to you would obviously vary.
It’s one thing to live by yourself and use a single-serve espresso machine, but if you need to brew several cups of coffee at once, you’ll need a brew gear that allows for more volume.
Consider the French press that is available in 4 and 8-cup variants. You’ll get a rich, flavourful batch of coffee each time as the coffee grounds are immersed in hot water to extract flavour compounds.
The stovetop Moka Pot is also a good choice! It uses the percolation technique to produce aromatic and delicious cups of coffee in one go. You can choose between the 3 or 6-cup variant.
Are there other lifestyle factors that we missed out on? Comment and let us know what you’re looking for; we’d be happy to recommend some brew gear options that suit you.