For some people, the first cup of hot coffee in the morning is their main motivator for getting out of bed—and we can see why! When you find a coffee bean you love, you get to start your day on the right side of the bed, whether you hand-grind a dose for your coffee pot before breakfast or set up your auto drip to brew fresh on its own. While there are many coffee brewing methods to choose from, drip coffee is many households' preferred choice. If you have a drip coffee maker, it's about time you find the perfect roast for you and your taste buds. Doesn't matter if you prefer light, dark, or something in between—we have a coffee bean for your perfect cup of Joe. What is Drip Coffee? Drip coffee, also commonly referred to as filter coffee, is one of the most popular types of coffee to brew at home. This hands-off machine method drips hot water through a paper or basket filter filled with grounds, resulting in a fresh pot or carafe of coffee. Why Do People Drink Drip Coffee? Drip coffee is the best option for people who want to enjoy a consistently high-quality cup in a quick time frame with minimal effort. The machine itself is easy to use and designed to be manageable for those with busy mornings—especially the ones with programmable settings; in just a few short steps for brewing drip and the press of a button, a fresh pot of delicious coffee is ready to sip in just a few minutes. How to Find a Bean You Love for Drip Coffee The secret to enjoying your coffee morning after morning is finding the right coffee for your drip maker. Whether you're an experienced caffeine addict (no judgment here!) switching brew methods or starting your coffee journey for the first time, following these helpful steps will guide you as you choose your drip coffee beans: Step 1: Consider the Roast When it comes to browsing for bags of coffee for your drip maker, there are countless words and phrases printed on the labels that could throw you off. To narrow down your search, you should always start by choosing a roast. The way a batch is roasted determines how it will taste in your drip machine, from the acidity level to the flavor profile—even the caffeine percentage. If you don't know what you prefer, it's worth experimenting by trying a few roasts of coffee in your drip maker: Light: minimally roasted beans with a lighter brown color and no visible oil coating, light roasts typically produce a gentle body and a clean flavor. Medium: considered a very middle-of-the-road, crowd-pleasing roast, medium roast coffee can have slightly oily surfaces, low acidity, and mellow flavors. Medium beans can also lean lighter and darker, offering a wide variety to choose from. Dark: with a dark black-brown hue and a very oily look, dark roasts are roasted the longest, bringing out extra-strong aromas and erasing most of the original notes of the bean varietal. What's the Best Roast for Drip Coffee Makers? Everyone's tastes are unique, so technically, no, there isn't a "best roast" of coffee for drink makers. But, if you're trying beans out for the first time, it should be noted that medium roasts are an incredibly popular choice, as the slow hot water drip is known for extracting a flavorful and balanced pot of coffee every time. Try our Brooklyn Roast and see for yourself! Step 2: Sample Beans from Around the World Coffee is like a snowflake—no two farms produce the same bean! The country of origin affects everything in your drip coffee, from the complex flavor profile to the type of mouthfeel and more. As you search for a coffee for your drip maker, look for beans that pique your interest from these popular countries: Brazil Costa Rica Guatemala Peru Ethiopia Tanzania Colombia Panama Step 3: Assess Your Preferred Acidity Some people don't think they prefer drip coffee, but in reality, they likely chose a coffee that's too acidic for them! To avoid this common conundrum, pay attention to the acidity level in each bag of beans as you shop. Low acidity has its own slew of health benefits, but others prefer a high and forward acidity—it's up to you! Professional tip: thanks to the slow extraction method, the drip machine is sometimes known for resulting in a higher acidity brew. If you'd like to avoid acidity in your carafe, always opt for a low-acidity coffee for drip makers. What's the Right Grind Level for a Drip Coffee Bean? Though it can depend on your exact machine and preferred filter brand, most coffee for drip makers should be ground at a medium level. To achieve this grind for your drip coffee maker at home, think about the grind on a scale of 1 to 10, aiming for around a six so that your grounds resemble granulated sugar. Can You Use Flavored Beans in Drip Coffee Makers? Of course, you can use flavored coffee for a drip maker! With so many options to choose from, whether you're craving the festive flavors of a Ginger Bread coffee or the classic rich notes of a French Vanilla coffee, brewing a flavored bean is the best way to switch up your morning caffeination routine—without adding unnecessary sugary syrups. You can even grind it and brew it using the exact same steps as normal! How to Make Drip Coffee Taste Even Better When drip coffee tastes a little off, it's most likely due to human error and not the bean you chose. If the brew still isn't tasting the way you want, it's worth making a few switches. Try adjusting the grind size, as anything too fine will lead to an over-extracted flavor, and anything too large will result in a weak profile. You could also swap out your filter or clean your drip maker. When it comes to convenience, quality, and reliable cups day after day, autodrip machines are a great choice. Use our three easy steps to shop for coffee for your drip maker and enjoy premium caffeination from the comfort of your own home!
