The goodness of morning coffee 3 ways
Here is the goodness of morning coffee 3 ways that do not require second mortgages and fancy equipment to make!
As the weather cools and thoughts turn to warm satisfying beverages, there is nothing like your favorite coffee. So how do you like your coffee? Rich, dark and steamy? Light, crisp and black? Or flavored, frothed and spiced?
No matter your preference, all good coffee starts with a great base.
The options, just like the appliances are endless. Mastering the art of the basic brew will ensure awesome results no matter how you like to finish it! Pumpkin latte I’m talking about you!
Good morning! Today I woke up refreshed and ready to go. Lying in bed, I recalled the things I am most grateful for. I reflected on my appreciation for the brand new day and all the great things I am yet to experience. I sprang out of my cozy bed looking forward to the goodness of my morning coffee.
Morning routines can make or break our day. For my husband and I, nothing comes before coffee. Whom ever wakes first puts on the kettle (which I fill the night before). We freshly grind the coffee and greet the other with coffee in bed. We spend what time we can, chatting as we sip our coffee. A ritual we feel is important to connect before our day leads us in different directions. If the season allows we make our way to the front porch and enjoy the stirring of the new day.
I have not always been a big coffee drinker. In fact I was an ice-coffee kind of a girl. If it didn’t have cream and sugar I wasn’t interested. Hot coffee was not on my radar until my sister, whilst visiting from Australia, introduced me to hot coffee. I would join her mid afternoon for a pick-me-up and wonder why I had not discovered this sooner, (and couldn’t sleep that night).
Then along came my husband, he is all about the coffee! He was on a mission to introduced me to the finesse of making and drinking not just good, but great coffee. I did eventually stop my iced coffee habit, and I even drank coffee black for a while. Now I like the addition of a little frothed milk.
My true appreciation for coffee came after visiting a coffee plantation in Costa Rica. Such an education! Once you have seen the process from bush to bean to brew, you will never be the same. Coffee truly is fascinating. With each form of extraction contributing unique qualities to the final result.
Although over the years I have experimented many different ways to brew my coffee, I have narrowed it down to 3 go-to favorites.
My top three ways to make coffee depend on whether or not we have guests, its just the two of us or we are on the road traveling with work. These include 2 drip methods, (also known a pour over) and an immersion method.
My hope for sharing these, is that you too will experiment, and that you will be indulging in amazing coffee in no time. Coffee you can make at home, no drive through necessary.
Disclaimer: This post may contain some affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking a link I may earn a small commission. There is no additional cost to you.
Is Keurig King?
Before we get started lets talk Keurig. All those years ago, I thought Keurig coffee was the best thing ever! My Keurig coffee maker took pride of place on my kitchen counter, (space I am very protective of). It made my morning iced coffee and saved me a fortune. The Keurig is definitely convenient and awesome to grab and go when running out the door. I was no coffee coinsure and I was quite content.
I had no idea! There is a whole world of coffee out there. There is a reason it is such a big deal and a reason it gets so much attention. Once you enter the arena there is no turning back. As much as I loved my Keurig, and there is still a place for it, I have moved on.
The following will help to make your coffee perfect every time!
There is an art form to making exceptional coffee and a few important considerations to ensuring the perfect result. These include:
Water
- Water temperature: The ideal temperature recommended for coffee is between 195 – 205 degrees Fahrenheit. I love my Cosori goose neck pour over kettle, with pre-set temperature buttons. This takes out the guesswork!
- Water quality: Always use the best water source available. Filtered is highly recommended, and will help to reduce the need to de-scale your coffee makers. When travelling I recommend bottled water.
Roast Level
Ever wondered how the different levels of roast effect the final result? Each roast offers a different finish.
- Light Roast: A smooth coffee with pleasant taste. A light roast has a lighter body and the highest amount of caffeine.
- Medium Roast: A balanced rounded taste with medium body.
- Dark Roast: A full body with rich bold taste. Least amount of caffeine of the three. Higher level of acidity.
Grind
Once the whole bean has been roasted, it is ready to grind. Different grinds work better for different kinds of coffee making. My Capresso Conical Burr Grinder with adjustable settings has been a delight to use . Easy to adjust and clean, it has reliably catered to which ever grind I require.
As a guide:
- Finely ground coffee is best for Espresso
- Medium ground coffee is best for drip and pour over coffee
- Coarsely ground coffee is best for French Press
Measuring your coffee
Which ever method of coffee you prefer, keeping the volume of coffee you use consistent will help to make the goodness of your morning coffee perfect every time. I like the Taylor precision scale. Once you find just the right amount it will be easy to replicate.
Below is a guide to get you started. The stronger you like your morning brew the higher the amount you will use. Its worth experimenting a little until you find exactly how you like it.
- Vietnamese drip coffee: Approx. 5 grams -10 grams or 1 to 2 Tbsps.
- 34oz French Press: 56 grams or 1/2 a cup
- Coffee Brewer 0.8litre (4 cups) 33 grams -35 grams of coffee
Brewing time: (for French Press)
The amount of time you allow the coffee to brew prior to pressing the plunger will ultimately effect the final result. Using a timer the recommended time for the perfect French Press is 4 minutes. You can adjust this depending on your preference. More time for a stronger coffee, less time for a weaker coffee.
Pro tip: Use filtered water where possible
Here is the goodness of coffee 3 ways.
1. Vietnamese Drip
The Equipment:
If you are like me, I had never heard of a Vietnamese drip. Let alone know how to make one. This uses what is known as the ‘drip’ method for brewing coffee. Traditionally the coffee is dripped over sweetened condensed milk and made into iced coffee. However it can also be used as just a filtering dripper with surprisingly good results.
My favorite thing about the Vietnamese coffee dripper is that it travels well. It is small, compact and sturdy. It easily fits into your carry on luggage, for coffee on the go. All you need is your favorite ground coffee, a cup and a hot water source.
This small individual piece of equipment (4-6oz) has been life changing. It is inexpensive, readily available in a couple of sizes, and simple to use. The Vietnamese dripper is usually made of stainless steel, (although I have seen some beautiful ceramic versions). Comprised of three pieces, the body, the insert and a cover. It is designed to sit directly on top of your coffee cup. No paper filter required. It is used with medium freshly ground coffee. (you can buy this pre-ground if needed). Use the small handle or heat proof knobs on each side of the Vietnamese dripper to remove once finished filtering. (the body of the dripper will be hot).
The Process:
- Boil water
- Grind coffee. Medium grind works best
- Rinse Vietnamese dripper in hot water to warm
- Place the body of the Vietnamese dripper on top of coffee cup
- Add 1- 2 Tbsps. of ground coffee into bottom of dripper
- Lightly screw inner insert into body on top of coffee
- Poor enough water into the body of the dripper to cover top of inner cover with about 1/2″ of water
- Let sit for 30secs to allow to ‘bloom’
- Fill to top with boiling water
- Cover and allow a few minutes to filter through
- Fill with water one more time.
- Can be dripped over sweetened condense milk then added to a glass of ice. (This is the traditional way to use the Vietnamese dripper).
Voila..
The result:
The final result will depend on a couple of things. Namely the type of coffee used, the amount of coffee used and how many times you fill the dripper. The Vietnamese dripper will usually brew a nice bold and flavorful cup. It can also be light and crisp depending on choice of coffee chosen. If too strong add less coffee, or add more water. If not strong enough add slightly more coffee or add less water.
Fun Tip: Buy more then one and serve guests with their own individual dripper! (just have somewhere for them to place the dripper once done).
Pros:
- Quick and simple
- Uses very little coffee
- No paper filter required
- Great for smaller to regular sized coffee cups
- Easy to hand-wash and dishwasher safe.
- Affordably priced starting from $7.00
- Small and easily transportable for traveling.
- Fits easily into carry on luggage.
- Makes delicious iced coffee when dripped over ice
- Manual brewing system no electricity needed
Cons
- Makes a single cup
- Requires disposal of used coffee grounds.
- Not as effective for larger mugs
- The body of the dripper does get hot. Make sure to use the small heat proof nodules on each side of the dripper to remove from cup.
2. French Press
The Equipment:
Ahh.. The iconic French Press. A stand alone beauty that beckons one to indulge in what you know will be amazing coffee. What a classic and luxurious way to enjoy the goodness of your morning coffee.
The French press uses the ‘immersion’ method. This is where the grounds are immersed in the water and steeped for desired time allowing the favor and goodness of coffee to be extracted once the plunger is pressed.
The unit consist of 3 main parts. A glass carafe, nestled inside an outer frame. The frame is usually stainless steel, which helps conserve heat, or it can be plastic. Followed by the filtering plunger/lid. The plunger is where all the magic happens and is made up of discs (usually 3) that fit together to filter the coffee. These can be removed and separated for cleaning.
The French Press coffee maker comes in a variety of sizes. Standard is 34oz, which makes approx. 3-4 cups of coffee. There are single serve and larger sizes also available.
Fresh coffee beans ground at the time of making your French Press are best. Pre ground coffee most commonly sold in the store is not the best option for French Press.
You will also need: Electric kettle with temperature guide (or a thermometer to test). A coffee grinder, measuring scoop or scale. Long handled French Press wooden spoon. Links to my favorites are down below.
The process:
There is quite the art to making perfect French Press coffee. Its like following a recipe. That being said once you define your preferences its no more complicated then any other way of making coffee.
- Boil your water. It is recommended to boil your water to 205 degrees. (boiling water to the same temperature each time will keep your results consistent).
- Grind your choice of coffee beans. Coarse coffee grounds are recommended.
- Warm your French Press coffee maker by rinsing with some boiled water.
- Measure 1/2 cup (56grams) of ground coffee for the 34 oz French press.
- Add this to your French press coffee maker
- Pour enough freshly boiled water to just cover the coffee grounds. Let sit for 30 seconds
- Continue to fill the French press to your desired level. Mark this on your French Press if not already marked
- Stir gently with a long handled wooden French Press coffee spoon
- Place lid onto French Press. Do not Plunge just yet
- Let your brew steep for your desired time. 4 minutes is recommended
- Once your time is up slowly and gently compress the plunger to the bottom
- Your French Press is now ready to serve
Enjoy!
The result:
There is a reason French Press coffee is so iconic. It makes a bold, rich, consistent brew. Follow your recipe consistently for perfect French press coffee every time.
Pros
- The 34 0z French Press coffee maker brews just enough for two people.(approx. 4 cups) Perfect to share
- Nice to sit on the bedside, desk or breakfast table to enjoy
- Small footprint. Does not take up large amount of room on the kitchen counter
- A great way to present and serve coffee for guests and special occasions
- Affordable with top rated good quality French Press available around $20
- Manual brewing process no electricity needed
Cons
- Uses the most coffee of the 3 methods
- A little messy to clean. This is best done by hand.
- The body of the French press is usually glass, which can break if bumped.
- You will need the right equipment to get the right measurements and consistent results
I have listed links for equipment at the end of my post.
Pro tip: Be sure to purchase a French press made from good quality borosilicate glass
3. Standard Coffee Maker
The Equipment:
Thank goodness for the good old stand alone coffee maker. A house hold staple before the invention of the Keurig.
The standard coffee maker comprises of a water reservoir, coffee pot, coffee filtering cone, and wire mesh filter. Sometimes a coffee maker will include a built-in hot plate to keep the coffee pot warm after brewing. My favorite of all time has been the small 5 cup and extremely easy to use Bonavita coffee maker. No bells or whistles, but extremely reliable and easy to use. A standard coffee maker allows for more control over the quality and quantity of coffee used compared to a Keurig.
Some coffee makers have timers allowing you to fill and leave overnight. Waking to a fresh pot of coffee waiting for you. There are also coffee makers with built in coffee grinders for those of you who want total automation.
A standard coffee maker it is a simple and reliable method for brewing the goodness of your morning coffee.
You will also need a way to measure and grind your coffee.
Pro tip: Look for coffee makers with a wire mesh filter. Paper tends to absorb the oils in coffee along with the flavor.
The Process:
- Fill water reservoir to recommended level (usually marked on reservoir.
- Choose your preferred coffee. Freshly ground or pre ground both work. Medium grind is recommended
- Grind coffee if using whole beans
- Place wire mesh basket (filter) into the conical funnel
- Add ground coffee
- Turn on
- Select start
- Coffee is ready once water has finished filtering through. Most coffee makers will indicate when done
The Result:
Depending on your choice of coffee, this can make a nice light refreshing brew all the way to a rich bold and slightly more complex brew. I find if I make it too strong it can become bitter. Most coffee brewers use a glass coffee pot, and so they do cool pretty quickly, and those with the heating element can ‘over cook’ the brew. Especially if a small amount is left to sit for any length of time.
Pros
- Makes a larger volume of coffee with similar foot print to Keurig
- Allows for more control over quality of coffee being used
- Some coffee brewers have a timer function and can be set to brew at set time
- Available in a wide variety of sizes
- The unit will heat the water for you.
- Some have a heating element which keeps your brew hotter longer
- No contribution to the land fill with singe use k-cups (although I read recently that most are now recyclable)
- Wire mesh filter baskets are reusable
- Available in a wide variety of price ranges
Cons
- The machine will require regular cleaning and descaling to keep functioning properly
- Has a larger footprint and so takes up more counter space then the above methods
- Will require a filter. A wire mesh filter is recommended over a paper filter
- Not ideal for those only wanting a single cup of coffee.
- Can over cook the coffee if let to sit with the heating element left on.
- Requires electricity to operate
- Coffee can become bitter if brewed too strong, or left on heated element for pronged period.
So there you have it. The 3 ways I like to enjoy the goodness of my morning coffee.
No matter your preference, I hope this post helps begin a journey for your next favorite amazing brew.
How do you like your coffee? Let me know in the comments.
Donna xxx
Links to my favorite products I personally use to make coffee:
Taylor precision scale. A pocket sized scale with both grams and ounces.
Cosori goose neck kettle The goose neck is perfect for pour over coffee.
Capresso conical burr grinder I love mine.
Vietnamese coffee dripper (NB. This link is as close to mine that I could find. I have had mine for about 7 years now it is still going strong))
Veken French press coffee maker (this comes with bonus wood stirring spoon and spare mesh filter)
Bonita 5 cup coffee maker A small no fuss coffee maker (makes 3-4 cups). Available in larger size.
Long handled coffee spoon These are perfect for stirring your French press coffee prior to plunging.
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Great breakdown of the morning cuppa joe! It is a morning ritual I cherish.
Thanks Suzan!
I fell in love with coffee as a young girl when my grandfather first let me try his. Of course I didn’t start drinking it regularly until I became a college student, and the rest is history. I have a Keurig and it my go to, for sure but I have ALWAYS wanted to try coffee from a French Press. Thank you for sharing all of these beautiful ways to make coffee!
Thank you Loniesha,
I look forward to hearing what you think. Please let me know. I am sure you will love it as much a I do!
Dxx