Do you have coffee kit knocking about that you don’t really use?
Most of us make coffee the same way every day.
Habit. And usually, easy.
The world makes coffee feel complicated.
It really doesn’t have to be.
Below, we break down three everyday ways of making coffee – and how they change what ends up in your cup.
Of all the ways to make coffee, the best way is simply the one you like best.
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The V60
What it is / what it does
A V60 is a cone-shaped brewer that uses a paper filter.
Hot water is poured over the coffee and passes through once.
The paper filter removes most of the oils.
With fewer oils in the cup, the coffee tastes lighter and brighter.
Best for
Lighter coffee.
Clear flavours.
One cup at a time.
How to use (simple)
Put a paper filter in the cone.
Add medium-fine ground coffee.
Pour hot water over the top.
Let it drip into your cup.
Takes around 2–3 minutes.
The Cafetière (French press)
What it is / what it does
A cafetière is a jug with a plunger and metal filter.
Coffee and hot water sit together and steep.
There’s no paper filter, so the oils stay in the coffee.
More oils in the cup give the coffee more body and weight.
Best for
Fuller-bodied coffee.
Bigger mugs.
Making coffee for more than one person —
or going back for a second cup.
How to use
Add coarse ground coffee to the jug.
Pour in hot water.
Leave it to sit.
Press the plunger and pour.
Takes around 4 minutes.
The Moka pot
What it is / what it does
A moka pot goes on the hob.
Water heats in the base and pressure pushes it up through the coffee.
That pressure makes a stronger, more concentrated cup
than you get using filters.
Best for
A short, strong coffee.
Something close to an espresso.
Coffee with milk.
How to use
Fill the base with water. Up to the valve only, never above. Hot water is best.
Add fine ground coffee to the middle section.
Do not pat it down (tempting as it is).
Screw together and put on the hob. Medium heat.
Remove when the top chamber fills and you hear it start to sputter.
Takes around 4 minutes.
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Wycliffe loves a French press. What’s the way you like best?
And if you’re feeling curious, what’s the way you fancy trying next?