What is the best method to brew and drink Specialty Coffee?

Jan 31

Some of you may not be familiar with specialty coffee at all and are used to instant coffee, aka, nescafé-like texture or pods (Keurig). Well, congrats on possibly upgrading to a new level of drinking coffee! Read on to learn about different brewing methods that can elevate your coffee experience and introduce you to new taste notes—when brewing specialty coffee, for instance.

I also, have a YouTube video version of this post, if you prefer video format.

Here are the brewing methods I recommend for beginners:

Basic Drip Coffee Maker

These typically use a filter where ground (medium grind) coffee is placed. This is not my favorite brewing method; however, it gets the job done for a basic cup of coffee. Using freshly roasted coffee will bring out more flavor than using pre-ground coffee that is store-bought.

Here is a drip coffee maker that is often recommended in the coffee community. There are cheaper options as well on amazon that can range from $39 and up.

2. Moka Pot

This is by far one of my favorite brewing methods because it truly brings out the flavors of the coffee. However, this can also be very strong coffee for some and is usually consumed with milk/creamer or sugar. The Moka pot is an Italian brewing method that has been around for decades!

It only requires you to fill the bottom portion with water
add the middle cover and place the coffee ground (fine grind)
Then screw the cap/lid back on and place it on the stove on low heat.

Soon the aroma will make its way to your home and it will smell delicious. It takes about ten minutes on my stove to be ready to serve.

You can purchase one here on Amazon.

3. French Press

The French Press is another popular brewing method that is fast and effective. It only requires you to:

Drop 19-21 grams of ground coffee (coarse grind)
Add boiling water (300ml) and stir.
Wait 4 minutes with top lid covered.
Then push down the top lid.
Serve

4. Pour-over, such as the V60 by Hario

This pour-over method has easily become my favorite. Pour-over methods have been around for centuries and are the most natural way to drink coffee.

Typically the ground coffee is placed in a filter
Then boiled hot water is poured over the coffee in a circulation motion using a Gooseneck Kettle.

There are many types of pour-over machines, so the choices are endless. My favorite is the V60 by Hario (copper).

I usually place 21 grams of (ground coffee- coarse grind) and pour 360 grams of water.

I recommend using a reliable coffee scale—it is a must for this brewing method for consistency. I’ve purchased five of these coffee scales in the past because they are affordable and reliable.

5. Home Espresso machine

Last but not least, the famous espresso machine that produces espressos, lattes, cappuccinos, flat whites etc.

This is more for the “serious” coffee drinker/enthusiast, so I wouldn’t recommend this as your first machine. But it is an amazing way to consume coffee.

Making the perfect cup of latte and cappuccino takes time and practice. I recommend watching lots of YouTube tutorials to understand the basics of making espresso drinks. The home espresso machine I started with is the Breville Barista Pro, which also makes wonderful crema and steamed milk for latte art.

I hope this was helpful! Once you brew, taste, and drink coffee this way, it will be a lot more difficult to go back to instant coffee or pods.

Come back and visit us here at Kanfuela anytime for more resources on anything and everything coffee. We’re also on YouTube and Instagram! Also, visit our online store for Organic African Coffee!