Coffee brewing seems to be a lot of work, but it’s well worth it. All you need are the right tools, which are easy to find and affordable if you know where to look.
Brewing coffee can seem like rocket science, but if you use these five pieces of equipment, you’ll get your brew just as you like without any hassle or special knowledge required!
Coffee Kettle
The pour-over method and French press needs boiling water. So, a good quality kettle is essential.
Pour-over or gooseneck kettles can be found easily, but if you want to make more complicated cocktails like iced coffee drinks or cold brews, it’s best to buy a multi-purpose kettle that has different heating modes so you can use it for hot water and also ice cubes.
You’ll also need a filter. Consider picking up some reusable metal coffee filters. This is so much better than the paper ones. If you decide you don’t enjoy it enough to do every day, you can reuse them on teas or oolongs in place of paper filters.
In a perfect world, all kettles would come with preset temperature buttons labeled 195 degrees, 205 degrees, etc., right? Unfortunately, not all machines have them—especially not small models designed for countertop use—but many do! It’s nice to have options since different coffees require slightly different temperatures to extract their flavors correctly.
Grinder
Brewing coffee is all about extraction, which means you need something to grind your beans up before brewing. Grinding beans releases oils that give your java its flavor and aroma.
The grinder helps ensure consistency in every pot of coffee so that every time, you get a delicious cup of Joe. If you have a steady hand, a grinder is one of your best bets. Grinders come in manual and electric varieties. Manual grinders use two flat pieces of stone to crush coffee beans; once you get used to using them, you can create a consistent grind that’s perfect for your pour-over method. Electric grinders are a breeze to set up, but they can’t give you that same consistency.
They also require more clean-up since their burrs can get gunky over time and need to be cleaned or replaced every couple of months. But if good ol’ fashioned elbow grease isn’t your thing, an electric grinder is worth considering. If nothing else, it’ll save you from having arm cramps! These units usually provide options for setting how coarse or fine you want your coffee grounds to be.
French Press
The French press is one of, if not the easiest and most versatile ways to brew great coffee. The process is foolproof:
- Just pour coarsely ground beans into a carafe.
- Pour hot water over them.
- Let them steep for about 4 minutes and then plunge away.
You’ll get more flavors out of your beans than other brewing methods because you’re getting rid of bitter oils that would otherwise remain trapped in filters and paper cups.
Remember to thoroughly clean it after each use (or buy a second carafe and set it aside for cleaning). And don’t forget: boiling water makes better coffee than tap or bottled H2O, and it also helps keep things cleaner!
So, try using some freshly boiled water. It’ll have less dissolved solids and will taste much cleaner when combined with good-quality beans.
With any filter-less brewers like a french press or AeroPress, your grounds are going right into your cup—no flavor trap!—so beware of the amount you’re using.
Coffee maker
A good quality kettle (for brewing coffee) is essential. You’ll need a way to heat water, which means your pour-over method and French press needs boiling water.
Pour-over kettles can be found inexpensively, but if you want to make more complicated cocktails like iced coffee drinks or cold brews, it’s best to buy a multi-purpose kettle that has different heating modes so you can use it for hot water and also ice cubes.
To get started with brewing coffee, you’ll also want an old mug and filter (or a new one—these aren’t very expensive). Consider picking up some reusable metal filters. They’re much better than paper ones. If you decide you don’t enjoy it enough to do every day, you can reuse them on teas or oolongs in place of paper filters.
In a perfect world, all kettles would come with preset temperature buttons labeled 195 degrees, 205 degrees, etc., right? Unfortunately, not all machines have them—especially not small models designed for countertop use—but many do! It’s nice to have options since different coffees require slightly different temperatures to extract their flavors correctly.
Kettle (for hot water)
While you can technically make a cup of brewed coffee using only a heat source, it is not the optimal way. A stovetop kettle is preferable since it maintains a much more stable temperature than electric kettles. Also, go with an all-metal design because plastic components may start to melt. It’s also a good idea to have one kettle dedicated to brewing and another for boiling water.
Water tends to leave deposits when re-boiled too often. If your brew ends up tasting off, it could be caused by residue from repeated use in a single kettle. If two kettles are too much, consider buying an inexpensive metal pour-over dripper so that you can boil water on one stovetop burner and brew coffee on another burner or in a pot on the same range. Both will ensure consistently hot brewing temperatures and no nasty flavor issues down the road.
Scales:
Digital kitchen scales are a must when making espresso-based drinks at home. Weighing out your exact dose of ground coffee will ensure that all those little parameters mentioned earlier—coarseness and uniformity—are met as closely as possible when preparing your daily cup. For example, if you were preparing an espresso shot with 6 grams (g) of ground coffee per 50 ml (ml), you would place 12 g on top of your scale.
Conclusion
Getting these supplies together is a great first step in learning how to brew your cup of Joe. The Internet can help you decide which ones are best; chances are, someone out there has weighed in on every option.
As always, enjoy yourself! 🙂
Add Your Comment