There are three recommended coffee brewing types you could consider, namely, French presses, automatic drip coffeemakers, and cold-brew tools. The best and proven brewing methods require heating water until it reaches a temperature of about 195 degrees F to 200 degrees F. Do not worry because you do not have to dip in a thermometer to gauge water temperature. When using a French press pot, this ideal temperature is achieved when bubbles start to surface vigorously. When that happens, turn off the heat and simply wait for about 20 seconds to 30 seconds before you put coffee in for brewing.

As for automatic drip coffee makers, water would not boil to reach the same high temperature. But brewing is complemented by the use of the best filters available. You could choose from stainless steel, brown paper, white paper, and gold. Gold filters are the best, according to most experts because they last longer, they do not diminish flavor, and they do not produce chemical-tasting compounds that are often created when using white paper filters. Use about .46 ounces of coffee for every 8 ounces of hot water to please your taste.

When using the cold brew method, you do not have to follow the procedures in brewing coffee using French press pots and drip coffeemakers. Steep coffee grounds in cold water and leave overnight. Doing so could help create a very smooth-tasting coffee concentrate, which could last for many weeks.

In the end, whichever method or equipment you decide to use, remember to make sure the water you use does not contain any off flavor. Using bad tap water is not advisable as doing so could guarantee a badly brewed coffee since coffee brewing is comprised of about 95% to 98% water. Lastly, always clean your coffee brewing equipment after every use. Take note that coffee is leaving an oily residue, which could become rancid over time. Use soap and water or distilled vinegar in cleaning equipment to eliminate off flavors.

First of all, you have to conduct a special research about different coffee roasts and you must decide which you like best. Espresso coffee can be made from different roast levels. It depends upon the preferences of its region. Southern Italy prefers a darker roast while medium roast for Northern Italy. The Americans were influenced by cafes of Southern Italy so they prefer a darker roast such as Starbucks.

Secondly, you must consider the freshness of your coffee. Fresh coffee is absolutely essential. The nearest to the roast date is much better. A maximum of three weeks from the roast date is the ideal for your espresso coffee.

For a perfect espresso coffee, you have to grind your own coffee beans, but don’t buy cheap electric coffee blade grinders. It won’t make you a perfect and consistent grind and it can cause your coffee beans to burn rather than grind. You have to research a good espresso grinder or consider also buying fresh ground or fresh roast beans from your favorite espresso shop. You can ask your espresso shop owner how fresh their beans are and request them to grind your beans while you are waiting. Most of the espresso shops have a promo to grind your coffee beans for free if you buy from them per kilograms. An excellent espresso grind must be about the steadiness of sugar. Brewing it right should not be a bitter good espresso coffee.

Third, you have to use purified water (no minerals or any other pollutants) and should be heated to about 90 degrees centigrade or 200 degrees Fahrenheit. But take note that you don’t have to use boiling water. It will stop the process of creating a good coffee when you use boiling water.

We all know that espresso coffee is a one-shot coffee sip. You have to use ground coffee with the right amount. You have to check the grams per shot you have to sip (7 grams or + ounce dry volume) or 14 grams for a double-shot sip.

It is time to grind and put pressure with the tamper, and you can compensate to grind with more pressure. You have to pack your grounds into the portafilter of the espresso machine using a tamper. Too much brew will have a bitter taste.

Place your cup under the brew basket then turn on your espresso machine for about 20 to 25 seconds and you should see a hazel brown cream at the surface when it is done. After this, you have to serve your Espresso Coffee immediately.

This is the one area where most of the connoisseurs have tried to concentrate their efforts in trying to improve the process throughout the ages. Today, we have several forms of coffee brewing techniques, both for commercial and home use.

Flavor extraction length

As a general rule, the length of extraction time is directly related to the grind coarseness. The smaller the coffee particles, the shorter the extraction time.

French press coffee is the longest, with coffee and water contact lasting as long as four minutes. Espresso has the shortest contact time, about twenty-five seconds, and the coffee granules used are among the smallest.

If the coffee and water stay together for too long, other compounds start to leach and these will make the coffee bitter. On the other hand, if the granules are large, and the extraction time is short, the coffee will lack flavor because of under-extraction.

Drip brew

Most home brews nowadays are produced through the drip process. The technique is simple enough: hot water is poured over a medium-ground coffee within a filter and the water goes through the coffee grounds and drips into a holding container.

There are many variations on these drip brewers with different functions for home use, and also available in larger models for commercial use.

Auto-drip brewers

This machine makes brewing a very simple process. Water is heated in one place and piped over the grounds inside a filter. The extracted brew then drips into a holding vessel.

One complaint is that these machines do not make the water hot enough, so flavor extraction happens at lower temperatures than is recommended.

Another issue is that the machines have warming hot plates, ostensibly for keeping the coffee warm. However, continuous heat will make the coffee bitter.

Single-Serve Systems

These machines were once used exclusively in commercial places. Now, people buy them for their own use at home.

These are very convenient to use. Pre-packaged coffee is inserted into the machine and with one push of a button, the coffee starts to come out. There are variations to these, however.

Some pre-heats an entire reservoir or heats the water on demand. Some machines can brew with less water, making for stronger coffees. They are more like smaller versions of drip machines. Some involve pressure but they are not true espresso machines.

One complaint is that these machines use proprietary packaged coffee, so quality and freshness cannot be guaranteed.

French Press / Press Pot / Cafeteria / Plunger Pot

The French Press has two parts: the beaker (made of glass, metal or plastic) and a plunger which has a wire-mesh filter.

To use, heat the brewing water and pour it on the coffee grounds in the beaker. Let the coffee steep for about 3 to 5 minutes (to your taste) before putting the plunger in and push the dregs down with the filter mesh. You may stir the brew for a second or two before putting the plunger in. Pour the cleared coffee into an appropriate mug. It is now ready for drinking.

Note: Pour out the coffee into your drinking mugs or carafes right after brewing. Do not leave it steeped with the grounds all throughout. The continuous steeping will make the coffee bitter.

Espresso

Espresso is coffee created by forcing hot water steam through finely ground coffee at a certain pressure. The resulting brew is called espresso, as developed by the Italians. It is different from regular coffee in that it has a cream produced by the process unlike regular brews.

Espresso is the base for such bestselling Italian coffee concoctions as cappuccino, lattes, macchiato and more.

There are many more brewing techniques culled from all over the world. Since they are popular only in their parts, we have not included them in the list. Suffice it to say that whatever the number of brewing techniques that one knows, the quality changes accordingly.

Frankly, all of these coffee brewing techniques are just as good as any. And that says a lot on how versatile coffee is.

The best coffee, the one people swear is so good it is to die for is never good enough for everybody. Simply said, the idea of good or best is always relative and different from person to person. The nice part is you can discover it yourself.

A true lover of good coffee knows that the number of tips in making the best-tasting coffee is almost equal to the number of coffee varieties around the world. Thankfully, there are some universal guidelines that are generally accepted the world over.

The following is a sampler, and is by no means complete.

Roasting your own

If you have the equipment, it is best to roast your own coffee beans. Freshly-roasted beans are best. You can keep them for a week and they still stay relatively fresh.

After roasting to your desired quality, cool the beans in a colander, stirring it from time to time. After 8 to 12 hours when the beans have emitted the carbon dioxide away, store them in airtight jars and keep them inside cabinets away from light.

The kind of roast you do should match your coffee preference. Europeans like dark roasts for stronger, intense flavors. Americans prefer medium roasts. Others choose light roasts. They say the darker the roast the more flavor is lost.

Start with a medium roast and adjust your preferences from there.

Grinding

The ideal grinding practice is to grind your coffee just before you brew.

Grinding increases exposure of the grain’s surface to the water. This way, more of the flavor and oils can be extracted. Match your grinder to your brewing method.

Espresso needs a very even, fine grind. Drip types depend on your choice. French Press needs a coarser grind.

Use a good grinder fit for your preference. There are several good models and types on the market. Some whirly blade types are cheap, last longer, and are right for paper type filters.

Brewing

First, always start out with clean equipment. Second, spring-quality water is a must. No ifs or buts about this.

Experts say the ideal brewing temperature is 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Drip brewers have their own thermostats. For those using French Press, bring the water to a boil first and rest it for a couple of minutes before pouring it over the coffee grounds.

Don’t cook your coffee. If it’s too hot, or left on hot plates for too long, volatile oils will evaporate and ruin the taste.

Use the brewing method you discover that is best for you, and stick with it.

The Italians say that making a good espresso depends on the 4 “M”s: Macinazione (the correct grinding of coffee blend), Miscela (the right coffee blend), Macchina (the espresso machine used) and of course, Mano (the barista who prepares it).

Some coffee choices

Central American coffees are sharp and sweet and have more aromatics.

If it is more body and sweetness you want without the sharpness, try the Indonesian variety like a Sulawesi or a Sumatran.

If you want an earthy aggressive bite, try a dry-processed Ethiopian. Harar is aromatic and fruity. Sidamo is pungent.

Do you want spicy pungency? Try Yemeni coffee.

Do you want extreme bite? Try an Aged coffee, a Monsooned or a Robusta. Aged and Monsooned coffees have certain tastes that you will love or perhaps hate.

Last words

The Italians drink their espresso with sugar. Most Germans, Belgians, and Swiss people love to mix equal parts of chocolate into their coffee. Mexicans add theirs with cinnamon. Ethiopians uses a pinch of salt while Moroccans drink theirs with peppercorns. The Egyptians love them pure and strong, without anything on it.

We are not even talking yet of the many flavors one can put into one’s coffee.

Whatever way you want your coffee, the only guide is your taste. And when you find the coffee taste that you want, you’re in luck. It is one of the world’s most exquisite pleasures to savor.

In order to create a very delicious aromatic beverage, you must first grind and brew the roasted coffee beans. The grinding process of roasted coffee beans can be done in any of the following ways: (1) roaster machine; (2) grocery store; and (3) at home.  But almost all of the practiced processing will be done with the roaster machine, then  packaged immediately as designed by the roaster before selling it to the consumers.  But some people still prefer to grind their whole roasted coffee beans in their home.

There are several ways of grinding roasted coffee beans.  You can use a revolving machine to shear the bean just like a burr mill, or blunt blades moving at the high speed of an electric grinder to totally smashing the beans, or a mortar and pestle to powder the coffee beans.

There are different types of grinding machines to brew your coffee beans.  If you want the finest grind, try the Turkish grind but if you want a coarser grind, you can try a coffee percolator or the French press.

There are several methods for brewing your favorite coffee.  Either you can boil them, steep, or pressure them.  Most people still prefer to use the earliest method (the Turkish coffee way) by just boiling them at the proper heat temperature with water in a teapot.  If you prefer this method, you will create a strong coffee to feed your sleepy mind.  But if you prefer to brew your coffee by the steep method, you need a device called a French press or coffee press.  This method will combine ground coffee with hot water in a coffee press and you then leave them for 3-5 minutes.  After a few minutes, a nozzle is then injected to separate the ground coffee, which still remains at the bottom of the container.

Your coffee is stronger and leaves more sediment with this method because the coffee oils stay in your drink more than when made by an automatic coffee machine.  And the last method is the espresso way.  This method is hot coffee pressurized by water but not boiling water.  The WWII American soldiers believed that the espresso beverage is much more concentrated than any other coffee brewing method.

Through the years, coffee makers have become the top appliance found in most urban homes currently. There are enough varieties and brands available to please every type of coffee drinker and consumer. The coffee makers are all designed to help users brew the best coffee. No matter how meticulous your taste is, you will be able to find your machine. The most popular available today are the French press pots, automatic drip, vacuum, and stove-top coffee makers.

Just like most kitchen appliances, expect coffee makers to combine style and performance. Most of the best brands are manufactured using high-quality and durable steel that are molded strategically into modern, yet very functional designs. Because there are just too many good coffee makers, choosing the best one for you may be confusing and hard. To be able to pick and buy the best, first figure out your specific requirements, including the type, the size, and the functionality. If you are into cost saving, you could add to your list price tag and energy consumption. You should also consider the kind of coffee you like to brew as well as the brewing time. Some coffee makers are specifically engineered for ground coffee beans while others are only for powdered coffee.

Ask the salesman about recommended ways to clean your coffee maker. Some machines are harder and more tedious to clean than others. This is very important because coffee beans leave ground deposits at the bottom of coffee machines. Lastly, there are many venues to find and buy the right coffee makers for your home or office. The best deals are found at discount appliance stores, while there are also practical finds on  the Internet. It is also advisable to compare prices and features before finally buying.

Many suggest buying coffee from a local roaster. I agree. Beginning with your local roaster gives you a couple of advantages. First, one is the freshness. You are somewhat guaranteed that what you get is quite fresh since these local roasters roast the coffee in smaller batches which also results in a tastier and more aromatic product.

When you buy coffee, make sure that you buy just enough for two weeks at a time. Buying a large stock is not good. At the end of the two weeks, the coffee begins to lose its rich flavor. It doesn’t matter whether the beans were roasted locally. Storing them for weeks is never good. Also, on a related note, you should stay away from shops that display their coffee in bins. The air that enters the display bins helps quicken the phase of flavor loss. You will loose a lot of the coffee’s flavor when you exposed a freshly roasted batch of beans to the air.

Most of the aroma and flavor come from the oils that come out after roasting the beans. The oil will evaporate when exposed to air and along with that the flavors and aroma of the coffee. Aside from air, heat, light and humidity are added factors that can increase the drop of the quality of the coffee.

When storing coffee, use vacuum containers. Some advise storing your coffee beans inside the freezer. However, if you’re going to store it in a freezer don’t make a habit of taking them out. When the coffee beans warm up, the condensation can damage them causing loss in flavor and aroma.

Ideally, never store ground coffee. What you should do is grind only the amount that you will need and store the beans. If you will store ground coffee, place it inside airtight containers and at room temperature. If you’re going to store coffee beans, make sure that you store only for a week, two weeks maximum. Storing beans any longer than that can drastically affect the overall taste and smell of the coffee.