Want to boost your coffee experience? Now that many are brewing coffee at home, you may be ready to experiment with new manual ways to brew coffee. If you’d like to break out of automatic coffee makers, then you’ll want to try pour overs and French press coffee making.

Pour Over Overview

The pour over method is as you’d think—pouring hot water over coffee grounds. You place the grounds in a cone-shaped mechanism called a dripper with a filter. You then pour over the grounds with hot water. The pouring method is a spiral, starting from the outside edge to the center. Start with 50-60 grams of water, then wait 30 seconds before adding more. Then remove the dripper and filter and stir with a spoon.

Pour Over Pros and Cons

A clear advantage of pour over brewing is that you won’t encounter any grit. It delivers a smooth cup, just as drip brews do. Clean up is easy as well and is a good option for those making a few cups of coffee each day.

The negatives are that the coffee is less intense because there’s no immersion. If you prefer a lighter coffee, the pour over method is a good option.

French Press Overview

A French press has three components: an open-topped cylindrical glass (called a carafe), a signature plunger and a filter (usually stainless steel). Funny enough, the French press isn’t French. Its origins are Italian!

Using the French press is simple and doesn’t require much learning. You begin by filling the carafe with coffee grounds (not too fine). Then, you add hot water and allow the mixture to steep for a few minutes. After steeping, push down on the plunger, separating the grounds from the coffee. Then it’s ready to serve.

French Press Pros and Cons

You’ll love the French press if you favor robust, bold and rich coffee. The flavor is more intense because more of the ground coffee’s oils become part of the cup. You also have lots of options with the French press by changing grind size or steep time.

One con of the French press method is that some say grit can be present. The screen filter prevents most larger grounds from coming through. However, smaller ones can find their way into the finished product. French press does permit the coffee oils to pass into the finished brew. Paper filters will remove most of the oils. Another disadvantage is that cleanup can be timely, as you have to dismantle it and clean the pieces separately.

Ready to Try Something New?

If you haven’t tried pour overs or French press coffee making, then why not experiment? Both processes are fairly easy—no barista experience required. No matter how you brew your coffee, make sure it’s with Sky Mountain Coffee micro-roasted products. Find your new brew today.