How do you brew coffee? There are various ways that transform ground beans into a delicious cup of coffee. You may not be aware of the different ways to brew coffee at home. There is a wide acceptance that manual brewing methods allow for better quality and a superior coffee experience.

Ready to learn about home coffee brewing?

5 Ways to Brew Coffee

Here are five of the most common ways to brew coffee.

Pour Over

Pour over brewing is simple and fast. It’s also one of the oldest types of coffee brewing. Here are the steps for a 12-ounce cup of coffee.

• Boil 20 ounces of water.
• Weigh and grind 20-24 grams of coffee, so it has the coarseness of table salt.
• Put a filter in the dripper and rinse it with some of your hot water.
• Dump the rinse water.
• Pour the coffee into the filter and level.
• Place the dripper on a cup or carafe, then move it to a digital scale. Tare weight the scale to zero.
• Pre-wet by pouring 50-60 grams of water in a spiral from the outside edge to the center, making sure to dampen all. Wait 30 seconds.
• Continue with the bloom by pouring another 50-60 grams of water in the same spiral from the center outward. Wait 30 seconds.
• Use the remaining water to a total weight of 360 grams, slowly repeat the alternating spiral patterns, center outward, outer edge-to-center. Avoid pouring water directly at the outer edge where grounds meet the filter. This step should take about 1 1/2 minutes.
• Remove the dripper/filter and stir with a spoon.

Pour over drippers we recommend include the Hario V60 or Chemex.

French Press

The French Press method dates back to 1929. Most experts agree it’s the process that produces the best flavors. Here are the steps to the French Press.

• Boil water and remove from heat source for 1 minute.
• Grind your coffee but not too fine.
• Put coffee in the press.
• Add the heated water, which should be the proper temperature.
• Stir the grounds quickly to make sure they are all wet.
• Place the lid on the press with the plunger in the up position.
• Allow the brew to steep for 4-5 minutes.
• Press the plunger to the bottom of the press.
• Serve the brewed coffee.

French press coffee makers of note are KONA and Bodum.

Aeropress

The Aeropress is relatively new, launched in 2005. An Aeropress is plastic and has three parts. A filter sits in a coffee basket at the bottom of the brew chamber. Coffee grounds (fine-medium) go in the brew chamber where hot water meets the coffee. You’ll then press down the plunger to extract the coffee.

Percolate with a Stovetop Moka Pot

Alfonso Bialetti invented this stovetop coffee style maker in 1922. It uses stream pressure from boiled water in the lower section to pass through coffee grounds in the pot's middle chamber. The brewed coffee then ends up in the higher chamber. There are many brands of Stovetop Moka pots, including Bialetti, Pedrini and Kabato.

Note that this coffee method requires a gas stove. The end product is a single or double shot of coffee.

Siphon (Vacuum) Brewing

Want to get fancy with coffee brewing? Try out the siphon for fun or to impress your guests. Add coffee grounds to the upper vessel. Hot vapor pressure forces the hot water up, immersing the coffee grounds (medium coarseness). After removing the heat, gravity pushes the brewed coffee back through the filter into the bottom vessel. Common siphon brands include Bodum, Hario and Yama.

More Tips for Home Brewing

• Always rinse filters with hot water before use to remove any chemicals on the paper.
• A narrow-spouted pouring kettle works best for pour overs and pressed coffee making.
• Starting with cold, filtered water is best whenever possible.
• Fresh, specialty grade coffee beans make any home brew better.
• Trial and error are natural; experiment to find the best taste for your palate.

Home Brew Better with Sky Mountain Coffee

No matter how you home brew, do it with Sky Mountain Coffee, micro-roasted with adventure in every cup. Shop our coffee selection now.