If you’re reading this article, it’s probably time to stop buying overpriced coffee from commercial cafes and start brewing coffee at home. Nothing feels more therapeutic than brewing coffee on your own and taking the time to bask in the bold aroma that permeates the atmosphere in your home.

So, it’s time to save your money from spending it on overpriced coffee and start making quality coffee you will surely enjoy from the comfort of your home. Whether you’re a beginner exploring new coffee brewing techniques or a professional barista in the making, here are 14 ways on how to brew coffee yourself.

But first, what's brewing, and what’s the story?

Generally, brewing refers to the process of making concentrated coffee by using ground coffee beans. Prior to brewing, the ground beans undergo roasting at various levels, which contributes to the flavour, acidity, and strength of the coffee. The subsequent step involves infusing water with the roasted coffee beans, using a specific method.

Around 600 years ago, the first person to ever discover the brewing process was Sufi Ali ibn Omar al-Shadhili. He was in the port of Mokha, Yemen, where he roasted coffee beans and prepared the very first cup of coffee via the brewing process. This significant event took place around 1400 AD. Learn everything you need to know about the history of coffee and Islamic civilisation [link to article], and you’ll be surprised by the origin and development that led to its popularity today.

With all the options for brewing out there, it can be overwhelming for a beginner or someone who’s looking to embark on a coffee brewing adventure. It's advisable to determine the best and easiest option based on your budget, the coffee apparatus you have or plan to purchase, and the type of coffee you enjoy. So, let’s get started!

10 Simple Ways to Brew Coffee at Home

Let’s start with the basics, and that means using at least one apparatus to brew your fresh cup of coffee. Surprise, surprise - one of the apparatuses is a household appliance!

Steeping method: French press

Almost every coffee lover has one of these at home, and if you don’t, it’s best to purchase one today! Regarded as the finest and most effortless way to brew exceptional and consistent coffee, the French Press technique, which originated in 1929, is widely acclaimed. 

It offers an unparalleled extraction of flavours, claiming to have surpassed other brewing methods. You could learn how to brew coffee using a French press on Youtube, but to simplify, you should immerse and soak the ground coffee in hot water in the French press, leave it steeped, and filter it in hot water within a press pot.

This allows for optimal diffusion and preservation of the coffee's aromatic oils, caffeine, and antioxidants, resulting in the purest and most flavorful cup of coffee. This method is particularly ideal for individuals who appreciate a rich, expressive, and intricate taste profile in their coffee.

Pour Over/Drip Method: Coffee Cone

The drip method, using a coffee cone and paper filter, stands as one of the oldest, simplest, most efficient, and economical approaches to coffee brewing. 

In this pour over coffee cone step-by-step method, hot water is evenly poured over coffee grounds contained within a paper filter. The brewed coffee will gradually drip directly into a cup or pot. This requires time and patience, but the outcome is definitely worth it. 

Coffee cones are available in various materials, such as plastic, glass, stainless steel, or ceramic, each imparting its own unique influence on the flavours.

Pour Over/Drip Method: Chemex

The Chemex is an exquisite pour-over glass flask that was created in 1941 by Dr. Peter Schlumbohm. This unique brewing method involves utilising a specially crafted Chemex paper filter, known for its 20–30% heavier composition compared to standard filters. 

Similar to the coffee cone technique, all you need to do is pour hot water over your preferred coffee grounds situated within the paper filter. The brewed coffee will drip slowly into the bottom of the flask, taking its time to infuse all the bold flavour and aroma into liquid gold. 

The Chemex technique is not only simple, but it also presents a visually pleasing aesthetic and exceptional coffee brewing experience.

Steeping method: AeroPress

If you’re a huge fan of the French press, this may be another alternative you can opt for to steep your coffee. Introduced in 2005 by Alan Adler, the AeroPress is a relatively new coffee maker that gained significant popularity in the early 2000s. 

This plastic device consists of three main components that make your coffee exquisite. The brew chamber contains a coffee basket with a filter at the bottom. Coffee grounds are placed in the brew chamber, where hot water is added, allowing the coffee to steep and infuse. To extract the brewed coffee, a plunger is pressed down, utilising air pressure to push the liquid through a filter and into a cup. 

The AeroPress offers a unique and efficient way to brew coffee, combining simplicity with optimal flavour extraction. Learn how to brew coffee using an AeroPress today!

Steam Pressure Method: Stovetop Moka Pot

If you want to opt for a more traditional, conservative, and ancient way of brewing your cup of coffee, try learning the moka pot method of making coffee!

Originally patented in 1933 by Alfonso Bialetti from the heart of Italy, stovetop style coffee makers use steam pressure from boiled water in the lower section to pass through coffee grounds in the middle chamber of the pot. Brewed coffee then sits in the higher chamber. This process takes roughly 4 to 5 minutes, so it’s definitely handy for those who need their dose on the go.

Steeping method: Cold Brew coffee

For iced coffee lovers, you’ll love how easy it is to brew your coffee this way (although it takes quite a bit of time)!

All you need to make coffee using this technique is to soak coffee grounds in water at room temperature in a sealed container. Let it steep for several hours or even overnight, depending on how strong you’d like your coffee. Due to the absence of heat during the brewing process, this kind of coffee possesses a low acidity level and a subtle sweetness. 

Although you may require a lot of patience to brew coffee this way, preparing cold brew coffee is remarkably straightforward. This coffee is best served with ice!

Steam Pressure Method: Rice Cooker Coffee

Yup, you guessed it! This is one of the unconventional ways to make coffee if you don’t have any proper equipment - and you REALLY need a cup to spruce up your day.

All you need to do is add two spoons of coffee to the rice cooker, fill it with water, turn it on, and just wait for it to brew until you see the water come to a boil.

But be warned! The outcome of this technique is definitely not the best. According to Gustavo from Sous Vide Everything, he described the flavour as ‘super bitter, diluted, and a terrible way to make coffee’. Brew coffee at your own risk!

Auto Drip Machines

Auto-drip machines are a widely preferred and budget-friendly choice, known for their user-friendly nature and suitability for brewing coffee in larger batches. This is best used when you’re with friends, colleagues, or large groups.

When using an auto-drip machine, the process is straightforward. Simply add medium coffee grounds and water to the machine. From there, the machine takes care of the rest of the brewing process, including heating the water and gradually dripping it through the grounds into a pot. 

This convenient method allows for a hassle-free coffee-making experience, so if easy is what you’re looking for, definitely try this method out.

Single-Serve Pod Machines

Single-serve pod machines offer a high level of convenience and simplicity. With these machines, there's no need to purchase or grind coffee beans. 

However, it's important to note that they may limit your control over the coffee-making process, and the cost of pods may be a bit excessive if you’re on a budget. Additionally, regular cleaning and descaling are necessary to ensure optimal performance.

To brew coffee using a single-serve pod machine, simply insert a pre-packaged coffee capsule, add water, and press the start button. These machines, designed for automation, will handle the rest of the brewing process within a minute or two. 

While they provide quick and effortless coffee preparation, do keep in mind that these types of methods come with a cost and regular maintenance is essential to keep the machines running smoothly.

Pour Over/Drip Method: Vietnamese Coffee

These affordable and compact metal brewers are commonly used in Vietnam for the preparation of cà phê sua dá, a delightful combination of strong coffee and sweetened condensed milk. Each of these brewers produces a single serving of rich, sweet and velvety coffee.

The question is how to brew Vietnamese coffee using the phin method? The phin brews the coffee directly into your cup. To start, place coarsely ground coffee into the phin and cover it with the perforated metal lid. Next, pour hot water over the coffee grounds, and patiently wait for the brewing process for over approximately 10 minutes. Gradually, the brewed coffee will drip out, resulting in a flavorful cup of coffee to enjoy.

Other Complex Coffee Brewing Methods You Should Know

Espresso Machine

Although this is a common way of brewing coffee that you commonly see in cafes, it is not exactly straightforward. What makes it so complex is the preparation of the coffee grounds and the machine itself.

Espresso machines operate by forcefully pushing hot water under high pressure through finely compacted coffee grounds contained within a portafilter. These machines come in different levels of automation, but regardless of the model, achieving an excellent shot of espresso typically requires some knowledge or learning about the process.

In order to pull off a superb shot, you will need to familiarise yourself with the essential steps involved. This includes understanding the proper grind size, tamping the grounds firmly into the portafilter, and controlling the extraction time and pressure. While espresso machines can vary in their complexity, acquiring a certain level of expertise and understanding the step-by-step process to brew coffee using an espresso machine is crucial for achieving the desired espresso quality. 

Nitrous Coffee

Imagine a coffee soda, but without the excessive sweetness and only the carbonated fizz. Nitrous coffee, popularly known as "nitro," refers to cold brew coffee infused with nitrogen, resulting in distinct changes to its flavour and texture. Nitro coffee exhibits a mild sweetness along with a subtle carbonation effect.

Preparing nitro coffee at home can be a challenging process, which is why many individuals prefer to purchase it from coffee shops or grocery stores. As a relatively recent innovation, the availability of nitro coffee machines for home use is limited and they can be quite costly. Additionally, operating these machines might pose a difficulty due to their specialized nature.

Turkish Coffee

Turkish coffee is well known for its robust and strong flavour, and characterised by its rich frothiness. Originating from all the way from the Middle East, it’s well-renowned for its unique brewing technique that involves using finely ground coffee.

To prepare Turkish coffee step-by-step, the process involves combining powdered coffee grounds and sugar in a distinctive long-handled pot called a "cezve." What makes this technique considered complex is the use of hot sand in the making of this coffee. Alternatively, you can just boil it over your gas stove as you would a Moka pot. 

The coffee mixture is then boiled over hot sand or fire until it reaches a frothy state before being removed from the heat. This boiling and frothing process is repeated several times until the coffee achieves an exceptionally frothy consistency, resulting in a delightful cup of Turkish coffee.

Siphon Coffee

The siphon method really does remind some people of some lab equipment, right? Siphon brewers are among the most intricate and remarkable coffee brewing devices on the market. While they can pose challenges in terms of the brewing process, when executed correctly, they have the ability to produce coffee that is exceptionally clean, smooth, and flavorful.

The mechanism of siphon brewers involves utilizing a heat-induced vacuum to draw water upward into the coffee grounds. After a thorough steeping process, the resulting brewed coffee is then pulled back down into the lower chamber of the siphon. This unique brewing method contributes to the distinctive qualities and characteristics found in coffee brewed with a siphon brewer.