Follow my Coffee Brewing Guide to make the perfect cup of coffee at home
Choosing which method of coffee brewing to use is as individual as to which coffee flavours you enjoy. I often use a cafetiere, as it is quick and easy to use and I can just pop it in the dishwasher ready for the next cup. However, if I want really savour the delightful flavours in my coffee, I will use an espresso machine, which tends to extract a broader range of flavours from the same beans.
Here's my brief guide on some of the most popular brewing methods and how to get the most out of your chosen method.
COFFEE BREWING GUIDE
TOP TIPS
- For best results always use fresh coffee
- If you use Whole Bean, grind the coffee just before brewing
- As a general guide, use 18g (about 3 level tablespoonfuls) of ground coffee per 300ml water
CAFETIERE
Making coffee in a cafetiere is probably the easiest coffee brewing method. All you need is a French press and away you go!
- Boil the kettle and let the water cool down slightly. Add 22g of Little Birdie Medium Grind Coffee and 300ml boiled water (a ratio of 75g/litre).
- Leave the coffee to steep for 4 minutes.
- Give it a stir and leave for another 5 minutes.
- Push the plunger down slowly. Serve and enjoy!
POUR OVER OR FILTER BREWERS (V60/CHEMEX)
This basic method of coffee extraction is simply pouring hot water over ground coffee which is suspended in a paper filter (cloth and metal filters are also available).
Coffee brewed through a filter tends to have fewer oils than coffee brew through other methods. The fewer oils can make for a crisper cup, but you might miss the thicker mouthfeel that comes with coffee extracted by other brewing methods.
- Boil the kettle and let the water cool down slightly. Insert your filter paper and pour over a small amount of water to wet the paper. After soaking the paper, discard this extra water.
- Add 18g of Little Birdie Medium Grind Coffee in your V60 (a ratio of 60g/litre).
- Add 3 tablespoons of water and wait 30 seconds for coffee to bloom.
- After 30 seconds, continue adding the rest of the water and let the coffee extract through the filter. Sit back and enjoy!
AEROPRESS
An Areopress is a great bit of kit if you're out an about. It makes excellent coffee by combining two brewing methods - it steeps the coffee like in a cafetiere, then pushes the coffee through a filter using lot of pressure like an espresso machine.
There are the Traditional and Inverted Aeropress methods - I will describe the traditional method, which is more suited to beginners.
- Insert the filter paper and run a small amount of hot water through to wet the paper and heat the brewer.
- Place the main part of the Aeropress on your mug and add 22g of Little Birdie Fine Grind Coffee (a ratio of 75g/litre).
- Boil the kettle and let the water cool down slightly. Add 300ml of water and give it a quick stir.
- Attach the piston part of the Aeropress, making sure the seal is secure.
- Brew for a total time of 1 minute and press down the piston, pushing your delicious brew into the mug.
- Enjoy!
ESPRESSO
The principle of espresso brewing is to force hot water under pressure through finely ground coffee beans. This method of brewing produces a concentrated, aromatic and flavourful coffee.
- Use Little Birdie Fine Grind Coffee and follow the instructions of your Espresso Machine to make the perfect shot.
- Add frothy milk or hot water to make the coffee of your choice. Enjoy!
STOVE-TOP MOKA POT
A Moka Pot produces a very stong, bitter coffee, similar to espresso.
- Boil a kettle and fill the bottom of your Moka Pot with water up to the valve.
- Fill the filter basket with Little Birdie Fine Grind Coffee (do not compress the coffee) and place into the bottom compartment. - - Make sure the seals are clean and in place and carefully assemble the brewer.
- Heat over a low/medium heat. When the water in the bottom chamber boils, it slowly pushes a stream of coffee into the upper chamber of your Moka pot.
- When you hear a gurgling sound, it is time to turn off the heat and stop brewing.
- Run the base of the brewer under cold water
- Serve, topped up with hot water if preferred, and enjoy!