BREWING EQUIPMENT

MANUAL DRIP
Also called the Melitta method, this produces consistently superior coffee. The extraction method is quick and the true flavors are brought out.

A time honored tradition, manual drip coffee makers are still preferred by many over automatic drip coffee makers, because of the greater control you maintain over the extraction. Heat water separately and pour over grounds at the pace you desire.

If you like your coffee very strong, you can add lots of grounds (or use more finely ground coffee) without worrying about the spillover that would occur with automatic drip units. Remember, the finer the grounds, the longer it will take for the water to steep through.

Use paper filters (oxygen-bleached are the best) which call for a fine grind instead of reusable gold filter, which needs a slightly coarser grind.


Directions:
1. Before brewing, pre-heat pot or cup in hot tap water.
2. Add 1 tablespoon coffee into filter for each 6 oz. cup.
3. Moisten grounds with a little water (just off the boil - see above for definition). Make sure they are evenly damp. Wait five seconds. Add rest of hot water, allowing it to fill to the top. For the best flavor, let the grounds completely coat the sides of the filter, not settle into the middle).
4. Remove filter and stir coffee.

AUTO DRIP
There are two types of auto drip machines: the cone-shape filter and the flat-bottom filter design.
The cone-shape design is similar to the manual drip method except it's controlled electronically. Both methods are easy. The cone shape filter calls for a finer grind and delivers a slightly stronger flavor and better body than flat-bottom design.

Directions:
1. Fill coffee maker with cold water.
2. Place filter into basket, add 1 tablespoon grounds for each 6 ounces.
3. Place coffee and filter into holder, close lid and turn on.

FRENCH PRESS
This uses a cylindrical glass carafe and a stainless steel mesh filter to separate coffee grounds from water. The grounds stay at the bottom while strained coffee stays above the filter. This is good for highlighting darker roasts and blends.

Expect some sediment to pass through the filter and into your cup; giving the brew a slightly fuller texture and highlights the flavors of darker roast. The brew is rich and thick and more flavorful than drip coffee since paper filters remove subtle flavors and add a taste of their own.

Directions:
1. Preheat pot and plunger with hot water.
2. Add 1 tablespoon coffee per 6 oz. cup into glass cylinder.
3. Pour in water just off the boil and stir ground.
4. Set plunger on the top of cylinder, steep for 4 minutes.
5. Press plunger down slowly.
6. Allow sediment to settle for 30 seconds before pouring.

ESPRESSO
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Coffee Brewing Review sourced from Coffee Research.Org

Brewing coffee is as much of an art as it is a science. The history of coffee brewing equipment is rich, and methods of brewing are culturally dependent. Of the thousands of coffee machines and coffee brewing devices invented since the advent of coffee consumption, only a few have gained worldwide popularity. The coffee brewing methods discussed below are recommended since they have been found to maximize the extraction of the beneficial flavors of coffee, while minimizing the extraction of bitter coffee compounds and undesirable components.

Coffee Maker Reviews

French Press:
The best way to control the time and temperature is to use a French press coffee maker. The French press offers unparalleled flavor due to perfect extraction time and delivery of the volatile oils that are often trapped in paper filters. A French press is also the least expensive coffee brewer available. To make coffee in a French press: heat the water "just off the boil" (Note: You do not want to pour boiling water directly onto the coffee. The goal is to brew coffee at a temperature between 195-205°F), freshly grind the coffee beans using a coarse setting, remove the plunger, place the coffee grounds at the bottom of the glass, add the hot water, stir by shaking, and after 4 minutes press the plunger down to separate the grounds from the extracted coffee.

Unfortunately, French press coffee makers are not quite as convenient as a drip coffee makers due to preparation time and cleaning time. The French press also loses heat faster than some other methods, but extraction at slightly varying temperatures will promote a more dynamic and complex cup of coffee.

Vacuum Coffee Pot:
The vacuum coffee pot is a clever device invented by Robert Napier in 1840 that prepares an exceptional cup of coffee with a potent aroma. This is an appropriate alternative for those who have an aversion to the taste of the paper filters from drip brewers or for people who dislike the sediment in the bottom of the cup from the French press method.


To brew coffee in a vacuum pot, add the proper amount of filtered water to the bottom bulb, attach the filter to the upper bulb and fit the upper glass bulb tightly over the bottom glass bulb. Place the vacuum coffee pot on the stove, making sure that the bottom bulb is completely dry on the outside. Use a medium grind and add the grounds when the water begins to fill the upper chamber. Leave the pot on the stove for 3.5 minutes and then place on a hot pad. Within 30 seconds the lower pot will cool enough to form a vacuum to pull the brewing coffee into the lower chamber, thereby separating it from the grounds. Experiment with the heating and cooling cycles until the total extraction time is between 4-5 minutes. Click here for Bodum Santos Brewing Instructions.

Automatic Drip Coffee Maker:
The easiest way to brew coffee is by using an automatic drip coffee brewer. Unfortunately, few coffee machines brew at the right temperature for the correct amount of time.

To brew coffee in a drip brewer, place a thick paper filter in the brewing cone (basket) and thoroughly wet with water. This helps remove the paper taste from the filter. Then freshly grind the coffee using a medium grinder setting. As the water begins to boil, pour the coffee into the coffee filter. Now as the water pours over the coffee, shake the basket (removable in the Technivorm) to ensure an even extraction. Brew time and temperature are taken care of automatically. If your brewer has a hot plate under a glass carafe, remove the carafe after the coffee is fully brewed to prevent the coffee from burning.