How to Make Coffee

How to Make Coffee

Making coffee isn’t a very complicated process. In fact, if you can read the instruction label on a coffee brewer, you can do it. Making a really good cup of coffee, however, requires a little more attention to detail. In order to make the best coffee you’ve ever had, you’ll need to pay attention to several different factors affecting quality. Some are obvious, and others are more subtle – but all are essential in brewing great coffee.

Choosing Your Coffee Maker

The most popular brewing tool, by far, is what’s called a drip brewer. They adorn the kitchen counter of nearly every household you’ll ever set foot in. And though they all look pretty similar, there is actually some difference in the way certain ones make coffee. The ones you’ll find on discount store shelves, for example, tend to make more watery-tasting coffee. The reason for this is that their temperature regulating mechanisms aren’t of the same quality as more well-made (and expensive) coffee makers. Whichever one you choose, don’t be afraid to splurge a bit – this is one appliance that will undoubtedly be a fixture in your home for years to come.

Alternative Brewing Methods

There are a few other ways to brew coffee aside from the drip brewing method. Before these automatic machines existed, people often used the percolating method or the steeping method to make their own coffee.

The percolator is a stovetop device with which you can make coffee manually. It consists of an aluminum pot, a stem, a filter, and a basket on top to hold the finished product. To brew coffee with one, pour the desired amount of water into the bottom aluminum pot, place the stem and basket assembly in the pot upright, and add the desired amount of coarse grounds to the basket. Then, place it over medium heat. The way it works is actually pretty cool, as the pressure from the heat forces water up the percolator’s stem and through the coffee grounds into the basket. At the top of the percolator is a small glass knob which you can use to judge when the coffee’s done. Simply take a peek through the knob at the liquid in the basket. When that liquid is a nice, coffee colored black, your coffee is finished and ready to serve.

An even more primitive method of coffee making is called steeping. To perform it, all you’ll need is a pot, some water, and loose coffee grounds. Start by adding the coffee grounds to the bottom of the pot (about one heaping tablespoon per desired cup). Then, add the water and place the pot over high heat. Pay close attention to the brew as the water heats. As soon as you see it start to bubble, remove the pot from the stove and give it a light stir. Now, let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes to allow the grounds to settle. When the waiting period is over, your coffee is ready to enjoy.