The world of coffee is diverse, and so are the ways to prepare it. In this blog post, we at SIMON&BEARNS would like to give you a first glimpse into the different methods of coffee preparation. You may have seen some before, while others will be completely new to you. But they all have one thing in common: they offer unparalleled taste experiences. So feel free to experiment and learn about the 7 most common ways (and maybe even fall in love with one or two) to prepare the perfect cup of coffee.
The origin of coffee preparation
To understand the origins of coffee preparation, one must first know how coffee was "discovered" in the first place. Scientists believe that Ethiopian goat herders encountered wild Arabica coffee plants as early as the 9th century. Legend has it that they observed some goats eating from a plant that bore white blossoms and cherry-like fruits. These goats, unlike their counterparts who hadn't eaten the plant, remained alert and full of energy well into the night. Consequently, the goat herders chewed on the leaves, blossoms, and cherries, allowing them to also watch over the goats for hours at night without becoming tired. The myth further states that the herders spat the hard kernels (now beans) from the plant's cherries into the fire at their campsite, whereupon a pleasant aroma spread. The idea of the roaster was born.
Nevertheless, "coffee" initially spread as an infusion made from various parts of the coffee plant, and it wasn't until the 19th century that the now-familiar method of roasting and grinding coffee was used. However, there were no modern roasting ovens or methods of industrial roasting yet – traditionally, coffee beans were roasted in iron pans and crushed with a mortar and pestle.
Why are there different ways to prepare coffee?
And why are there different ways to prepare coffee? This is related to the different roast levels. Different roasts require different preparation methods. That's why it's really important for us at SIMON&BEARNS to know how you like your coffee . This allows us to give you the best recommendation for which coffee you'll enjoy most, and it's also the only way we can grind your coffee perfectly to your needs. Below, we'll give you an initial overview of the various coffee preparation methods . Spoiler alert: There's no right or wrong way to prepare coffee. It all comes down to your personal taste. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us via our contact form or in person at the café.
portafilter
Most of you will be familiar with portafilter espresso machines from cafés. Here, finely ground coffee is forced through a fine filter basket using high pressure and water. The goal is to obtain a velvety espresso with a rich crema in an extraction time of 25-30 seconds. The espresso can be enjoyed either straight or with various types of frothed milk. Portafilter machines are also available for home use; as a partner of ECM and Profitec, we would be happy to advise you.
French Press
The immersion method gives coffee brewed in a French press a particularly aromatic flavor. Freshly ground coffee is steeped in hot water for about 3 to 5 minutes and then pressed down with the plunger. The slightly coarser filtration method results in a full-bodied coffee taste. This type of coffee maker is also very easy to clean and doesn't require any extra filters.
Aeropress
The AeroPress offers a blend of espresso and filter coffee and is enjoying increasing popularity, especially among travelers. Inspired by the French press, this method avoids the coffee grounds ending up in the cup. Ground coffee is poured into a cylinder with water, allowed to steep for a few seconds, and then forced through the filter paper with high pressure using a plunger. This results in a particularly pure coffee flavor.
Hand filter
The pour-over coffee filter is making a comeback! It's especially popular among followers of the Third Wave Coffee movement (along with the Chemex) for brewing coffee. A filter basket, preferably made of glass or porcelain, is placed on top of a carafe, lined with a paper filter, and hot water is poured over the ground coffee. Important: Dampen the paper filter beforehand to remove any papery taste. This method celebrates a purist approach to coffee preparation, allowing you to focus entirely on the diverse aromas of coffee.
Chemex
Here too, gravity is used to transform coffee into a taste sensation. Light and medium roasts are particularly well-suited to getting the most out of this brewing method. The difference to a pour-over filter is that the Chemex carafe is already shaped like a filter basket at the top and widens at the bottom. This is advantageous because the top end functions simultaneously as a filter basket and spout.
Stovetop kettle
Also known as the Bialetti, it is traditionally used in Italy to brew fresh espresso. Water is heated and forced through a filter at the bottom, pressing it through the ground coffee, so that an aromatic "espresso fountain" flows into the pot. The entire pot sits on a hot stovetop, although electric stovetop espresso makers are also available today. Darker roasts are preferred, but medium roasts are also very well suited for this method.
Filter coffee machine
Filter coffee machines are found in the vast majority of German households and offices. These machines automatically heat water and pour it through a hose system over the ground coffee. The coffee brews slowly and then, using gravity, passes through a filter into a carafe. This allows for quick and large-scale brewing of coffee.
And how do I find the right preparation method for me?
That's naturally the question you'll be asking yourself at the end of this blog post. And we're happy to help you with that! The easiest way is to try out the different methods and decide which taste and preparation effort suit you best. Of course, not everyone has every pot and filter at home. But in our cafés, we're superbly equipped! By the way, you can recognize good cafés by the fact that you can try many different preparation methods and that you won't get a fully automatic coffee machine without latte art.
We at SIMON&BEARNS can also recommend the perfect specialty coffee for you. Take a look in our shop; there you'll find direct recommendations on how we prepare our coffees, adapted to the roast level, of course.
Methods of preparing coffee
The world of coffee is diverse, and so are the ways to prepare it. In this blog post, we at SIMON&BEARNS would like to give you a first glimpse into the different methods of coffee preparation. You may have seen some before, while others will be completely new to you. But they all have one thing in common: they offer unparalleled taste experiences. So feel free to experiment and learn about the 7 most common ways (and maybe even fall in love with one or two) to prepare the perfect cup of coffee.
The origin of coffee preparation
To understand the origins of coffee preparation, one must first know how coffee was "discovered" in the first place. Scientists believe that Ethiopian goat herders encountered wild Arabica coffee plants as early as the 9th century. Legend has it that they observed some goats eating from a plant that bore white blossoms and cherry-like fruits. These goats, unlike their counterparts who hadn't eaten the plant, remained alert and full of energy well into the night. Consequently, the goat herders chewed on the leaves, blossoms, and cherries, allowing them to also watch over the goats for hours at night without becoming tired. The myth further states that the herders spat the hard kernels (now beans) from the plant's cherries into the fire at their campsite, whereupon a pleasant aroma spread. The idea of the roaster was born.
Nevertheless, "coffee" initially spread as an infusion made from various parts of the coffee plant, and it wasn't until the 19th century that the now-familiar method of roasting and grinding coffee was used. However, there were no modern roasting ovens or methods of industrial roasting yet – traditionally, coffee beans were roasted in iron pans and crushed with a mortar and pestle.
Why are there different ways to prepare coffee?
And why are there different ways to prepare coffee? This is related to the different roast levels. Different roasts require different preparation methods. That's why it's really important for us at SIMON&BEARNS to know how you like your coffee . This allows us to give you the best recommendation for which coffee you'll enjoy most, and it's also the only way we can grind your coffee perfectly to your needs. Below, we'll give you an initial overview of the various coffee preparation methods . Spoiler alert: There's no right or wrong way to prepare coffee. It all comes down to your personal taste. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us via our contact form or in person at the café.
portafilter
Most of you will be familiar with portafilter espresso machines from cafés. Here, finely ground coffee is forced through a fine filter basket using high pressure and water. The goal is to obtain a velvety espresso with a rich crema in an extraction time of 25-30 seconds. The espresso can be enjoyed either straight or with various types of frothed milk. Portafilter machines are also available for home use; as a partner of ECM and Profitec, we would be happy to advise you.
French Press
The immersion method gives coffee brewed in a French press a particularly aromatic flavor. Freshly ground coffee is steeped in hot water for about 3 to 5 minutes and then pressed down with the plunger. The slightly coarser filtration method results in a full-bodied coffee taste. This type of coffee maker is also very easy to clean and doesn't require any extra filters.
Aeropress
The AeroPress offers a blend of espresso and filter coffee and is enjoying increasing popularity, especially among travelers. Inspired by the French press, this method avoids the coffee grounds ending up in the cup. Ground coffee is poured into a cylinder with water, allowed to steep for a few seconds, and then forced through the filter paper with high pressure using a plunger. This results in a particularly pure coffee flavor.
Hand filter
The pour-over coffee filter is making a comeback! It's especially popular among followers of the Third Wave Coffee movement (along with the Chemex) for brewing coffee. A filter basket, preferably made of glass or porcelain, is placed on top of a carafe, lined with a paper filter, and hot water is poured over the ground coffee. Important: Dampen the paper filter beforehand to remove any papery taste. This method celebrates a purist approach to coffee preparation, allowing you to focus entirely on the diverse aromas of coffee.
Chemex
Here too, gravity is used to transform coffee into a taste sensation. Light and medium roasts are particularly well-suited to getting the most out of this brewing method. The difference to a pour-over filter is that the Chemex carafe is already shaped like a filter basket at the top and widens at the bottom. This is advantageous because the top end functions simultaneously as a filter basket and spout.
Stovetop kettle
Also known as the Bialetti, it is traditionally used in Italy to brew fresh espresso. Water is heated and forced through a filter at the bottom, pressing it through the ground coffee, so that an aromatic "espresso fountain" flows into the pot. The entire pot sits on a hot stovetop, although electric stovetop espresso makers are also available today. Darker roasts are preferred, but medium roasts are also very well suited for this method.
Filter coffee machine
Filter coffee machines are found in the vast majority of German households and offices. These machines automatically heat water and pour it through a hose system over the ground coffee. The coffee brews slowly and then, using gravity, passes through a filter into a carafe. This allows for quick and large-scale brewing of coffee.
And how do I find the right preparation method for me?
That's naturally the question you'll be asking yourself at the end of this blog post. And we're happy to help you with that! The easiest way is to try out the different methods and decide which taste and preparation effort suit you best. Of course, not everyone has every pot and filter at home. But in our cafés, we're superbly equipped! By the way, you can recognize good cafés by the fact that you can try many different preparation methods and that you won't get a fully automatic coffee machine without latte art.
We at SIMON&BEARNS can also recommend the perfect specialty coffee for you. Take a look in our shop; there you'll find direct recommendations on how we prepare our coffees, adapted to the roast level, of course.