3 fun ways to brew coffee at home
We’re a few weeks into staying home to flatten the curve, so you’ve probably already started an herb garden, organized your garage, become a championship-level puzzler, and gotten pretty decent at the acoustic guitar. What else is there to do? Why not try some new coffee brewing methods with the equipment you probably already have in the house?
Try these outside-the-box home brewing methods to spice up your coffee experience!
Aeropresso
If you have an Aeropress you already know how versatile the handy brewer is. Looking at Aeropress recipes is like counting Tiger King memes: there are just too many good ones to keep track of.
One of our favorites is the Aeropresso. It mimics the taste, aroma, and mouthfeel of espresso (especially if you have a metal filter,) but without having to buy an expensive espresso machine. To make this you’ll need 20 grams of finely ground coffee, water warmed to 200 degrees, and your Aeropress placed in the standard position - meaning cap down, placed above a mug, with the plunger standing by.
Start by rinsing your filter and attaching it to the brewer before adding your coffee. Pour in 45 grams of water and stir vigorously for 30 seconds. At 30 seconds place the plunger at the top of the brewer and let it rest for 45 seconds. Press the plunger down quickly (it should take about 5 seconds) and enjoy your espresso!
If you’re interested in seeing what else your Aeropress can do, check out our livestream Aeropress class!
Coffee Pot Pour Over
Most people think you need to buy a lot of expensive equipment to make a great pour over. But the truth is if you have a kettle and a home brewer like a Mr. Coffee, you can already have everything you need. Begin with 30 grams of coffee ground slightly more coarse than what you would typically do for a pour over. We like a coarse kosher salt normally, so look for something a little bigger than that.
Heat your water to 205 degrees, or bring it to a boil and let it cool for about a minute if you don’t have a kettle with a thermometer. Add the ground coffee, and remove the glass carafe underneath. Bloom the coffee by pouring just enough to get everything wet - around 60 grams. Stir gently to remove any clumps or dry spots. Re-insert the carafe, allowing the brew basket to begin draining. Then pour on the remaining 450 grams of water in a circular motion. Let the coffee draw down from the basket and enjoy!
This unconventional method makes a delicious, clean cup of coffee.
French Press Cold Brew
Home cold brewing equipment is a dime a dozen, and most of it is unnecessary if you have a French Press at home. The metal plunger on your press makes it a perfect tool for a full-bodied, syrupy cold brew. Grind 100 grams coffee at its coarsest setting and add to your press. Pour 500 grams of room temperature water onto the grounds and swirl for 30 seconds to wet the grounds and begin off-gassing. Let it sit for 5 minutes before swirling again. Cover your press (you can use the lid of your French Press, but don’t press down on the plunger,) and let it sit at room temperature for 15 hours.
Once you’ve steeped your coffee, gently stir the grounds before pressing down on the plunger. Pour through a wetted coffee filter if you prefer a cold brew with slightly less body. Otherwise, skip the filter and pour your coffee into a clean container. This could take a few minutes but trust us, you’ll want every drop. The resulting liquid is a cold brew concentrate. Store it in the refrigerator in air-tight storage, and dilute with cold, filtered water to taste. We prefer a 1:1.5 ratio of concentrate to water for a bold, smooth, and chocolaty coffee.
Give these a try, and tell us your favorite way to make coffee in an unconventional way!