Only true gourmets master the art and can tell you how to brew coffee beans. The quality of raw materials, production technology and methods of processing coffee seeds are of great importance in preparing the drink. The type of plant, proper roasting and grinding are important. To preserve the aroma and taste characteristics, special knowledge of brewing the drink is required. We understand the cooking methods, time frames and utensils suitable for the process.
Coffee machine
Brewing coffee using this method occurs very quickly and requires minimal human involvement. The process is almost completely automated; you just need to fill the device with ingredients and press a button. The coffee machine itself grinds the beans, doses them in accordance with the selected program and passes boiling water under pressure through the resulting powder. The main method of preparing most machines is espresso, although some modern models can prepare cappuccino, Americano, latte and others, depending on their functionality and set of programs. But still, the number of recipes is limited and there is not much room for experimentation. Also, the disadvantages of these devices include cost, size and the fact that they are not particularly easy to clean. The rest is nothing but positives. The closest relative of a coffee machine is a coffee maker, a coffee maker that only performs the brewing function, and the process itself needs to be controlled. Some manufacturers deliberately call their coffee makers coffee machines to increase their price, so be careful when choosing.
Coffee grinder
Having such a device at home, you can prepare freshly ground coffee at any time. For those who brew this drink exclusively in Turk, budget rotary coffee grinders that grind the beans with knives are suitable. You can control the degree of grinding in them only manually: the longer the device operates, the finer the powder will be. But even in this case, large fractions may be found in the finished product.
More expensive coffee grinders use burrs to grind the beans. This design allows you to adjust the degree of grinding and obtain a homogeneous finished product.
What to buy
- Rotary coffee grinder from Bosch with pulse mode, 1,148 rubles →
- Coffee grinder from DeLonghi with 16 grinding levels, 5,977 rubles →
- Burr coffee grinder from Rommelsbacher with protection against starting when the lid is open, 8,550 rubles →
Drip coffee maker
Quite a convenient way to make a large amount of coffee for the whole family or office. It is easy to use and prepare, and has a high consumption of ground coffee. Cold water is poured into a specially designated container, then it is heated and rises through the tube to the filter, seeping through a layer of ground coffee and dripping into a glass coffee pot, which, as a rule, is located on a heated platform, so the drink remains hot for a long time. The coffee turns out to be less strong than espresso, with a less pronounced aroma, but richer in caffeine, which will help you cheer up in the morning. Over time, drip coffee makers have more and more additional functions for ease of preparation, including even a built-in coffee grinder, but the main task remains the preparation of filter coffee.
Cappuccino maker
This device will help you prepare cappuccino or latte without a coffee machine. A manual cappuccino maker looks like an immersion blender with a spring ring at the end. With its help, milk is whipped in a separate container.
A more advanced option is stationary electric cappuccino makers, capable of both preparing cold milk froth and heating it to a certain temperature.
What to buy
- Manual cappuccino maker from AliExpress with battery power, 190 rubles →
- Stationary cappuccino maker from Ariete, 6,551 rubles →
- Cappuccino maker from Kitfort with three operating modes, 2,118 rubles →
Chemex
It is a vessel similar to a laboratory flask tightly connected to a glass funnel. This design not only looks quite stylish, but also provides a sweet taste and perfectly reveals the aroma. Brewing coffee in a Chemex is quite simple. To do this, the flask is heated by wetting it with hot water. A special paper filter for Chemex is placed in the funnel, which is also wetted so that the edges can stick to the glass, thereby creating a barrier to air. Next, add medium or coarse coffee and add hot water (88-94 °C). First, a little to allow the grains to open themselves, after the water has drained, the rest of the volume is added. This is done slowly from the edges to the center of the funnel. This way the coffee is extracted best and brews evenly. To get the perfect Chemex coffee, you will need to experiment with grinding, water temperature, bean to water ratio, brewing time, and choose the type of coffee to suit your taste. But once you get the hang of it, you can repeat the characteristics of the cup you like over and over again.
5.5. Aeropress
The AeroPress is a modified and improved version of the French Press. The main difference between an AeroPress is that it has a paper filter that traps small coffee particles and makes the coffee taste cleaner. I started drinking coffee from a coffee press, but have now completely switched to an Aeropress.
Photo by Stumptown Coffee Roasters, stumptowncoffee.com/brew-guides/aeropress
Recipe:
- , grind finer than sugar, midway between French press and espresso.
- , heated to 95°.
- How to cook
: Insert a paper filter into the lid of the AeroPress and pour boiling water over the filter. This is necessary to remove the paper taste. - Place the AeroPress upside down and pour coffee into it.
- Pour in water and stir once, screw on the lid with the filter.
- After 1 minute, turn the AeroPress over, place it on the mug and use the plunger to pour the coffee into the mug.
- The piston should move with noticeable force, significantly more than that of a French press. The coffee grind is correct if the piston is squeezed out in 20-25 seconds.
French Press Coffee Guides: stumptowncoffee.com/brew-guides/aeropress torrefacto.ru/blog/brew-guide/aeropress/
Siphon (gabet)
Making coffee in a vacuum coffee maker is probably the most spectacular way. As with the Chemex, it's more like a chemical experience than a regular brew. It is more suitable for true coffee connoisseurs, since this method requires a lot of experience and effort. Making coffee this way every day is not an easy task, but to please guests or friends at a party with an excellent drink, it will do just fine, and even serve as a full-fledged show. The device consists of two flasks, a stand and an alcohol burner. When heated, water from the lower flask enters the upper flask, gradually wetting the filter with coffee. Then, under the influence of a vacuum, which is formed as the vessel with water is emptied, the finished drink begins to be drawn from the upper flask to the lower one. With this method, the coffee turns out rich and pure, as if it came from a chemical laboratory. According to many experts, this is one of the brightest, most delicious cooking options, if, of course, everything is done correctly, which, again, is quite difficult.
Features of preparing the drink
Revealing the taste
To make coffee at home have an unforgettable aroma and excellent taste, follow a number of simple recommendations.
Interesting! How much coffee in one cup
Firstly, you should grind coffee beans no earlier than ten minutes before preparation. Otherwise, taste and nutrients are lost. Secondly, the prepared drink must be poured into a preheated and dry container. Thirdly, to obtain good taste, it is better to buy a single variety.
Do not use boiled water or directly from the tap (chlorinated). Give preference to filtered or bottled. Before cooking, add a couple of crystals of salt, this will allow you to fully reveal the flavor palette of the drink.
To reveal the taste, it is important to maintain the proportions of water and coffee; those starting to use electronic scales better.
We look at the clock
The grinding option of the beans affects the brewing time of the drink. For thin, cook for no more than 3 minutes, for medium for up to 6 minutes, and for large for up to 8 minutes. Beginner coffee lovers need to use a watch to maintain the exact brewing time.
Do not bring the drink to a boil and remove it from the heat immediately after the foam rises, otherwise the taste will deteriorate. Additives are added to the finished drink to give it a more refined taste and aroma. Gourmets add: cream, milk, honey, chocolate, cinnamon, cardamom, nuts.
Read more about additives in the article “What else is added to coffee for taste and aroma”
Coffee in a cup
If you don’t have any special equipment for brewing coffee at hand, you can do it directly in the cup. Ground bean coffee is definitely better than instant coffee, which contains only 15% coffee itself, and the rest is chemicals. There are many interpretations of this method, but most of them boil down to pouring freshly ground coffee into a cup, adding water and letting it brew. The water can be either hot or cold, it all depends on the recipe. It is better to take a cup with thick walls. You can place the coffee in a cotton bag, as is done in South American countries. There are a lot of options and they all work! But this, of course, is not a great method; it is still better to use more advanced methods to please yourself with a cup of delicious, aromatic, balanced coffee every day.
YouTube tutorial videos and our coffee patrols.
Turk
For those who don’t want to bother with servicing equipment, the traditional method of brewing coffee is suitable. In addition, connoisseurs claim that a drink prepared in a Turk is more aromatic and its taste more intense.
The main thing you should pay attention to when choosing a Turk is the material from which it is made. It should be copper, brass or stainless steel. A ceramic pot would also be a good option. It is important to consider the capacity of the dishes. It is generally accepted that the smaller its volume, the tastier the coffee.
What to buy
- Ceramic Turk from Ceraflame, 240 ml with removable handle, 2,519 rubles →
- Copper Turk 130 ml from TimA, 787 rubles →
- Brass Turk from Just Beauty with lid, 5,134 rubles →
Stencils
In order to create beautiful images with a pitcher or a needle, you will have to practice a lot. With a stencil, you can apply an image to a drink in just a couple of seconds.
To do this, you need to attach the plate to the cup and sprinkle cocoa, cinnamon or ground coffee on top through a fine strainer. The images on the stencils come in a variety of forms: from funny drawings to cute or inspiring inscriptions.
What to buy
- Set of 16 stencils from AliExpress with battery-operated strainer, 360 rubles →
- Paper stencil with the inscription “Good morning”, 386 rubles →
- Stainless steel stencil from AliExpress, 133 rubles →
Latte art tools
Fine metal needles are used to draw finely detailed images onto the foam. For example, a cat with pointed ears and long whiskers. It may be possible to do this with a regular toothpick, but only with special tools can you feel like a real barista.
What to buy
- Stainless steel latte art needle from AliExpress, 270 rubles →
- Latte art needle with wooden handle from AliExpress, 756 rubles →
- Aluminum pen for latte art, 1,390 rubles →
How are coffee beans roasted in production?
Green coffee beans are roasted, ground and only then a coffee drink is prepared. On an industrial scale, grain production is roasted in:
- thermal ovens;
- convection cabinets;
- Microwave ovens.
For each type of coffee bean, its own optimal roasting method is selected with the selection of individual temperature, processing time, cooling intensity and volume of one batch.
The larger the production, the more the entire process takes place “on-line”, which does not always have a good effect on the quality of the final product. It is not for nothing that products from small private factories and enterprises are valued higher, because there is manual labor and the grains are processed in small batches.
Purover, Hario, v60
Cost of equipment: from 500 rubles for a funnel and the same for filters; Cooking time: 4-5 minutes; You can prepare several servings.
Pour over recipe
Unlike a Turk, a pour-over is not so demanding of your attention - after pouring the last portion of water, you can go wash your face, persuade your husband or wife to go to work, or beg your child to go to school.
The drink from pour over is pure, without coffee particles, and its taste can be changed by varying the grind, temperature and amount of water. For such experiments you will need accurate scales and a stopwatch. For a complete and impressive coffee show, you will need a Hario kettle, the cost of which brings the price of the entire set closer to home coffee machines.
An undoubted advantage of the pourover is its resistance to vandalism (if it is plastic and not ceramic, of course). But searching for filters in Russia can make life a little more difficult, so we recommend ordering filters online and doing it in advance.
