There is something truly magical about that first sip of coffee in the morning. The aroma, taste, and comforting feel of the cup in your hands make your day something to look forward to. While visiting a local coffee shop is a treat, there is a certain joy in mastering and making your coffee at home. With home brewing, you can make the best coffee and perfect your morning routine like never before. The Benefits of Making Coffee at Home Brewing your cup of coffee at home rather than going out to a coffee shop and buying one is rewarding for many reasons. Even though supporting your local businesses and coffee shops is amazing, those cups can add up. Making your own coffee at home is an easy and fun way to save a couple of bucks and completely customize your creation. Brewing your own coffee allows you to experiment with and completely individualize your drinks so you can try out new flavors and beans from the comfort of your own home. Waking up and creating new routines in the morning is all the more exciting when you know that you will be able to make your own delicious creation, all while reducing your environmental footprint by avoiding the single-use plastics you would use at the coffee shop. Different Methods of Brewing Coffee at Home It may feel overwhelming to start making your own coffee at home, but once you understand the different coffee brewing methods, you can easily choose which is right for you and weigh the pros and cons of each brewing style. The most popular coffee brewing methods are: Drip coffee maker French press Pour-over AeroPress Espresso machine Moka pot Keurig or Nespresso Cold brew Brewing Coffee at Home with a Drip Machine By far, the most popular brewing style for at-home coffee is the automatic drip coffee maker. Drip coffee is easy to make, and some more advanced drip makers even allow you to set timers the night before so you can wake up to the smell of fresh-brewed coffee. Drip coffee makers pour hot water over medium-sized coffee grounds in a filter, using gravity to extract the coffee and pull it down into the pot. They do it quickly and automatically, with the press of a button. Drip makers are the best coffee making method if you want something easy and quick, especially for a larger group of people or multiple cups. Automatic drip makers range in price, but you can get one for around $20, making it one of the cheapest brewing methods. Your drip machine will provide you with consistent and delightful cups every time, but they may lack some of the depth of flavors that other brewing styles can bring out. Making Pour-Over Coffee at Home Perhaps the most revered method of home brewing for coffee connoisseurs is the pour-over method. A pour-over is a bit like a slower, manual version of a drip coffee maker, where you slowly pour hot water over coffee grounds in a small paper filter and cone. It is recommended that you pour your hot water slowly enough so that it can deliberately drip through all the grounds and pull the most flavor from them, usually two and a half to four minutes. You also have to make sure that your beans are ground right at the medium-fine mark so that your cup is perfectly balanced. While pour-over coffee may take a little longer to make and master, it brews a complex and beautiful cup of coffee. Pour-over allows you to experience all the beans’ notes and nuances and have complete control over your cup. We recommend using the pour-over coffee brewing method at home if you prefer a lighter-bodied and clean coffee for one to two people. Brewing Coffee at Home with a French Press If you are a fan of full-bodied coffee, you should consider using a French press to brew coffee at home. To make French press coffee, you completely submerge the coarse grounds in hot water for four to five minutes, then plunge them out and pour. Since the coffee that you drink sits and steeps the ground for a little while, it produces a richer and bolder cup that can be described as velvety or creamy. French presses can be large or small, so they can be a perfect brew method for just yourself or a couple more. French presses are great because they are easy to use and can make a lot of coffee at once, although you might have a little bit of grit at the bottom of your cup. We recommend making coffee at home with a French press if you want rich and flavorful coffee that doesn’t take long to brew. Using an AeroPress to Make Coffee at Home The AeroPress is a nifty little invention that allows you to make a quality cup of coffee on the go through a syringe-like extraction process. To use an AeroPress, you pour hot or cold water over the grounds, stirring before letting it sit for half a minute; you then slowly plunge it into a mug, and viola – a perfect cup of coffee! We like AeroPresses because the thick filter catches any grit, so the resulting coffee is extremely clean and smooth yet still full-bodied. Not only are they great when traveling, but also when making coffee at home, so you don’t need to add a lot of time to your morning routine to brew your own coffee Making Coffee Drinks at Home with an Electric Espresso Machine When you go to a coffee shop, there is a good chance that you get a latte, cappuccino, or another espresso-based drink, so you might be interested in making espresso at home. Espresso is made by forcing a small amount of water through fine grounds (usually from an espresso roast bean) to make a super concentrated coffee beverage, which is why it is often paired with milk or drunk on its own for a strong taste. Espresso is versatile and packs a punch but can be more difficult to make at home. Quality electric espresso machines and accessories can be pricey, and figuring out the right grind size can be finicky. Nevertheless, if you want to sip on a latte or love the taste of espresso on its own, it may be worth looking into and investing in an electric espresso machine. If you decide to get your own electric espresso machine, it can be extremely helpful to watch some how-to videos and read about pulling the perfect espresso shot so you can make the best coffee at home. Using a Moka Pot to Brew Coffee at Home If you like the taste of espresso but don’t want to invest in an electric espresso machine, you can make coffee at home using a Moka pot. Moka pots brew espresso-like coffee using steam pressure from the stove to extract coffee from the fine grounds and push it up into a pouring chamber. Moka pots may take a little bit of practice to get right, but they allow you to create espresso for much less than an electric machine. We recommend using a moka pot if you want to make a concentrated and strong coffee drink at home and don’t mind turning on the stove for a couple of minutes. Making Coffee at Home Using a Keurig or Nespresso Making coffee at home using a Keurig, Nespresso, or other automatic drink maker is becoming increasingly popular as a simple solution to make single cups. While they typically don’t use fresh coffee beans (unless you use a reusable coffee pod to mitigate environmental impact), we still wanted to include them since they are a consideration for many looking to brew coffee at home. There are a wide range of different models and machines to make coffee with these drink makers, and many can produce espresso shots or cups of coffee. Regardless, you can get capsules for your Nespresso or coffee pods from many different roasters and brands. Making Cold Brew Coffee at Home If you’re someone who likes iced coffee, look no further than the cold brew coffee-making method. Cold brew coffee is made by fully submerging coarse grounds in cold water overnight and then filtering out the grounds. It produces an extremely bold and strong, yet smooth, cup of coffee that is ready for ice. There are a lot of different ways that you can make cold brew coffee, whether by submerging it and straining it into a Mason jar, getting a cold brew pitcher with a filter built-in, or getting a toddy cold brew maker. Whatever you choose, cold-brewing your coffee is a sure way to get a caffeine boost and enjoy an ice-cold beverage without diluting it. Sourcing Your Coffee Beans To get the best quality cup when making your own coffee at home, make sure to source your beans from quality roasters and suppliers. Choosing good coffee beans is extremely important if you want to brew great coffee at home. Getting your coffee from suppliers who roast in small batches is a great way to guarantee quality and consistency when it comes to your beans. Find a coffee roaster with compelling flavors and blends that align with your preferences and that source their beans from high-quality farms and regions. What are the Coffee Bean Roast Levels? When choosing beans to make your own coffee, it is helpful to find what roast level you prefer. Coffee roast levels are on a sliding scale but are typically defined as: Light – typically light brown and color with no oils, light roast beans tend to have higher acidity and brighter flavors. They are roasted for the shortest amount of time to let the uniqueness of the bean stand out and can produce easily identifiable flavor notes and profiles. Medium – usually medium to dark brown with little to no oils, medium roast beans have a milder acidity yet lack overwhelming bitterness. They tend to be very well-balanced and well-rounded, containing distinct flavors with hints of richness. Dark – very dark in color and often oily, dark roast beans usually have a low acidity but contain a stronger bitterness. They are often robust and rich with a heavy body and have deeper flavors. Flavored vs. Unflavored Coffee Beans Whether you make coffee at home with unflavored or flavored coffee beans is completely up to you. Flavored coffee beans are roasted or coated in oils and extracts that add flavor, like chocolate, vanilla, and fruity tastes, without sweetness. Flavored beans can be used in any kind of coffee brewing method but tend not to work as well in an electric espresso machine. Grinding Your Coffee Beans at Home If you choose to grind your beans at home, you can pick between two types of coffee grinders: Blade grinders – they use a spinning blade to chop the coffee beans into small pieces and are the least expensive option but can vary in quality and consistency. Burr grinders – they use a burr to force the beans between two surfaces and grind the coffee down, while more expensive, they produce consistent-sized grounds. Make sure to pay attention to the size grounds of your chosen brewing method since it can make or break your cup. For brewing methods like espresso and pour-over that take very specific grind sizes, it may be worth investing in a burr grinder to guarantee consistency. Adding Extras to Your Coffee at Home There are so many extra touches you can add to your coffee to level up your cup and personalize it to your tastes: Milk or milk substitutes (frothed or plain) Creamer (flavored or unflavored) Sugar or simple syrup Stevia, Splenda, or other sugar alternatives Honey Maple syrup Syrups Sauces Whipped cream Flavor extract Cinnamon, cardamom, or Himalayan salt The choices are endless – have fun! Brewing your own coffee at home is more than a way to save money – it’s a comforting morning ritual that allows you to experiment and have fun. Whether you prefer the convenience of an auto-drip coffee maker or the richness of a French press, there are so many ways you can create and brew the best coffee. Walk along the path of coffee and enjoy where your journey takes you!