I spent the whole day researching how they work and the taste that they offer. Additionally, I researched the common brew times and recommended grind sizes for each method.
Most coffee brewing method lists online do not include typical costs of each method. I aimed to resolve that.
Coffee can be enjoyed in different ways. Some enjoy it with milk or sugar or both. The following taste notes are explained when tasted plain black.
Always have fun and experiment when brewing your cup of coffee!
Keep reading to learn more about the different brewing methods.
Pour-Over/Drip Methods
# 1 – Kyoto Dripper
What is it and How it works:
- Pour/Drip Type
- Water drips from the top chamber into the coffee grounds at the bottom chamber, drop by drop. After 8-12 hours, the coffee is extracted.
Taste:
- Similar to cold brew, but less acidic. Refreshing and aromatic.
Time to Brew:
- 8-12 hours.
Grind Size:
- Coarse
Cost:
- $200-$500
It’s a flashy way to produce slowly dripped coffee. The residents of Kyoto swear by it!
# 2 – Chemex
What is it and How it works:
- Pour/Drip Type
- Pour hot water into the coffee grounds, where it sits inside a filter. After about 3-4 minutes, the coffee is extracted.
Taste:
- Balanced and clear with some sweet notes and lack of acidity.
Time to Brew:
- 4 minutes.
Grind Size:
- Medium to coarse
Cost:
- $45-80
An excellent way to brew more cups (up to 10) of pour-over coffee. They also look really cool!
# 3 – Hario V60
What is it and How it works:
- Pour/Drip Type
- Pour hot water into the coffee grounds, where it sits inside a filter. After about 3-4 minutes, the coffee is extracted.
Taste:
- Rich and smooth. Round body with no signs of bitterness.
Time to Brew:
- 3.5 minutes.
Grind Size:
- Medium to coarse
Cost:
- $20-50
If you like to experiment and change different variables in how you make your pour-over, this is perfect. The Hario V60 gives you full control in every aspect of the pour-over.
# 4 – Kalita Wave
What is it and How it works:
- Pour/Drip Type
- Similar to V60 and Chemex. Pour hot water into coffee grounds through a filter. After about 3-4 minutes, the coffee is extracted.
Taste:
- Full-bodied and smooth. Deep complexity allows you to taste all the flavors of the beans.
Time to Brew:
- 3.5 Minutes
Grind Size:
- Medium to Coarse
Cost:
- $20 – 50
If you don’t like to experiment and just want to enjoy a delicious cup of pour-over coffee, this is for you. The Kalita Wave has a flat bottom for the coffee to sit on and three holes for the water to exit, which keeps things uniform and eliminates variables.
# 5 – Vietnamese Phin
What is it and How it works:
- Pour/Drip Type
- Coffee grounds are inserted into the cup then a flat metal filter is put on top. Pour water over and let the coffee drip out from the bottom.
Taste:
- Similar to espresso but less strong. At the same time, more smooth and clean than french press.
Time to Brew:
- 4-5 minutes.
Grind Size:
- Coarse
Cost:
- $20-50
Great for Vietnamese iced coffee (duh).
Steeping Methods
# 6 – French Press
What is it and How it works:
- Steeping Type
- Coffee grounds are steeped with hot water inside the french press. After a few minutes, the coffee is then strained by pushing a metal filter through the french press.
Taste:
- Full bodied and aromatic. Texture is heavier and denser than a traditional pour-over.
Time to Brew:
- 4 minutes.
Grind Size:
- Coarse
Cost:
- $8-112
An awesome and quick way to make some solid coffee. Easier than pour over due to eliminating any type of pouring.
# 7 – Cold Brew
What is it and How it works:
- Steeping Type
- Coffee grounds are steeped with cold or room temperature water for 8-24 hours then strained.
Taste:
- Crisp and refreshing. Has a silky and light texture to it. Fruity, tarty, and chocolatey notes.
Time to Brew:
- 8-24 hours.
Grind Size:
- Coarse
Cost:
- $0-50
If you enjoy your coffee cold, this is the method for you. Especially perfect for the summer!
# 8 – Turkish Coffee
What is it and How it works:
- Steeping Type
- Coffee grounds and water are boiled together. Due to the high-temperature of the boiling water, the grounds are infused with it.
Taste:
- Sharp and aromatic. Has a thick consistency. Most full-bodied out of all the methods.
Time to Brew:
- 4-5 minutes.
Grind Size:
- Fine
Cost:
- $20-50
If you want coffee that’s bolder than pour-overs and french presses, this is excellent. Due to the infusing of the coffee grounds and water, the result is a more caffeinated, full-flavored coffee.
# 9 – Coffee Bag
What is it and How it works:
- Steeping Type
- Coffee grounds are put into a tea-bag and steeped in a cup similar to tea.
Taste:
- Not good, but better than instant coffee.
Time to Brew:
- 4 minutes.
Grind Size:
- Pre-made or medium-fine if making your own.
Cost:
- Varies.
If you want something quick without spending money on an automatic coffee machine or Keurig, go for this. However, this should be your last resort!
Pressure/Vacuum Methods
# 10 – Espresso Machine
What is it and How it works:
- Pressure/Vacuum Type
- Hot high-pressured water creates steam, which is pushed through the espresso grounds.
Taste:
- Strong, bold, and concentrated. A lot of body, aroma, and flavor.
Time to Brew:
- Approx. 30 minutes to warm up the machine. 20-30 seconds to brew.
Grind Size:
- Extremely fine, almost powdery.
Cost:
- As little as hundreds to thousands of dollars.
A staple of any house or coffee shop that makes americanos, lattes, etc. Not easy to learn or master. However, once you do, the reward is worth it!
# 11 – Siphon
What is it and How it works:
- Pressure/Vacuum Type
- Water is heated from a bottom chamber and creates a vapor that pushes the water upwards through a tube and into the upper globe, where the grounds are. The heat is then removed and the vapor in the lower chamber cools down and contracts. That creates a vacuum and the suction pulls the liquid back down.
Taste:
- Clean and concentrated. Has a delicate texture, almost tea-like. Full-flavored.
Time to Brew:
- 6 minutes.
Grind Size:
- Medium
Cost:
- $70-160
An attractive way to make a cup of coffee, since it looks like a science experiment. However, some people swear by this and consider this the best way to make coffee!
# 12 – Aeropress
What is it and How it works:
- Pressure/Vacuum Type
- Combines aspects from the french press (steep and plunge) and pour-over (paper filter).
Taste:
- Colorful and clean. Delicate and silky texture.
Time to Brew:
- 1 minute.
Grind Size:
- Fine like espresso.
Cost:
- $30
An inexpensive, no-frills way to make awesome coffee. If you’re a traveler or just an efficient person, this is the method for you.
# 13 – Moka Pot
What is it and How it works:
- Pressure/Vacuum Type
- Uses steam pressure from boiled water to pass through coffee grounds.
Taste:
- Close to espresso, but not as sharp and strong.
Time to Brew:
- 5 minutes after heating the water.
Grind Size:
- A little coarser than espresso.
Cost:
- $20-60
An inexpensive, easier way to make coffee similar to espresso.
Other
# 14 – Sous Vide
What is it and How it works:
- Steep/Immersion
- A jar filled with coffee grounds and water are put into a pot with more water. The pot of water is then raised to a constant temperature using a sous vide cooker. After approx. two hours, the coffee from the jars is strained.
Taste:
- Similar to cold brew.
Time to Brew:
- 2 hours.
Grind Size:
- Medium to coarse.
Cost:
- Varies.
A different, unique way to make coffee. If you have all the equipment and love cold brew, but don’t have the time, this is an excellent alternative!
# 15 – Clever
What is it and How it works:
- Steep/Pour-over
- Put coffee grounds, filter, and water into the clever and let it steep. When it’s ready, put the clever on top of a mug or carafe. This will cause the stopper at the bottom clever to release all of the coffee into the cup.
Taste:
- Balanced and full-flavored. Texture is in between pour-over and french press.
Time to Brew:
- 3-4 minutes.
Grind Size:
- Medium coarse.
Cost:
- $30
A great method that combines both the attributes of a pour-over and french press. In addition, it’s easier than a pour-over due to eliminating the pouring variable.
What’s next?
Don’t know how to make pour-over coffee? Check out our guide on how to make pour-over coffee!