Coffee is a delicious drink that helps to give energy to those in need every morning. While most people visualize coffee as a standard hot beverage made out of a simple pot, there are many more brewing methods that you need to know about. Not only that, but not all brewing methods are created equal. Therefore, certain methods will bring out different flavours, making sure that your coffee experience is unique every time you drink it. Don’t get stuck having the same old coffee brewed the same way every day. Here are some unique brewing methods and what you need to know about them:
Cold Brew Coffee
Cold brew coffee is becoming all the rage as it is beginning to pop up in more and more coffee shops. Viewed as the ideal summer drink for coffee lovers, cold brew provides a great coffee taste while not being too watered down. So how is cold brewing done? To cold brew coffee, simply grind up some coffee beans coarsely and then combine them with water. Let this steep overnight for around twelve hours and stick it in the fridge for it to be extra cold. Once the time has passed, grab the cup and strain out the beans so you are left with just the water that has been infused with the flavours of the beans. The benefits of cold brew is that it pulls out all the great flavours the coffee beans have to offer while leaving behind the compounds that can make a coffee taste sour or bitter. Not too many people want to have a bitter drink on a hot summer day. This coffee, as a result, will naturally taste much sweeter than other brewing methods. It is also strongly recommended that you add milk to this coffee afterwards as it will be quite concentrated with the coffee. Not only that, but this coffee can be mass-produced and prepared in large batches and will still stay fresh. You can make a large quantity of it over the weekend and store it in the fridge. Every morning you can come by for an instant cup of cold brew coffee that should last you for an entire week. Serve it over ice, or warm it up, you can never go wrong with this coffee brewing method.
French Press
French pressing is another popular method for brewing coffee. Most people complain that coffee done with filters loses its flavours and its oils that help to make it delicious. A French press works by manually pressing the beans against a mesh, disregarding the need for a filter. This allows for the oils of the beans to infuse with the water while also bringing out maximum flavour in your beans. No longer will your beans be losing flavour due to a cheap paper filter when you French press. French presses can be portable to make just one cup of coffee, or you can get a large French press that can make several. Regardless of how many coffees you are looking to make, a French press will do a great job of making the ultimate coffee for you.
Espresso Brewing
While most people think of espresso as its own type of coffee, it is also its own unique brewing method. In order to brew a nice espresso, you need to push hot water through a layer of compact coffee beans that you have ground up. These coffee beans will be stored in a port-filter which allows the water to pass through. Espresso coffee is one of the most concentrated forms and has a very distinct flavour aroma and body to it. One of the most recognizable things about espresso is the small foamy layer on top followed by a “liquidy” drink. This is the perfect brewing method for someone looking for a strong coffee taste while also getting that quick jolt of energy they need for their day. Bringing in all the oils of the bean, an espresso packs a lot of flavour for a small drink.
It is recommended that you experiment around and try many different coffees. While each coffee is different, the best brewing method is the one that tastes the best to you. Therefore, give a cold brew coffee a try on a hot summer day. Pick up a French press and manually push those beans through to get a filter-less coffee. Finally, if you want something quick to drink, make an espresso and get that sudden jolt of caffeine that it provides. What coffee brewing method will you try first?
