There a lot of ways to brew coffee out there, but where to begin? If you're new to making coffee at home or are looking for a new technique, then we have you covered. We have basic instructions to help you brew a standard pot of coffee with a coffee maker, french press, and more.
The latest craze is single-brew coffee makers (which use coffee pods) like Nespresso, Verismo, and Keurig. Simply fill the machine with filtered water, insert the pod of coffee, click your desired brew strength, and presto: your perfect cup of coffee magically appears.
Place a coffee filter inside the filter basket. Finely grind the coffee beans and measure two tablespoons of ground coffee per six-ounce cup of coffee. For an eight-cup pot, you will need one cup of ground coffee. Using the coffee pot, measure the amount of filtered water you will need and pour it into the coffee maker's compartment for water (usually located behind the filter basket). Turn the machine on, and let the coffee brew.
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Pour-Over Method
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While boiling several cups of filtered water, place a paper filter inside a pour-over coffee filter (can be made out of glass, plastic, or ceramic). Pour a little hot water over the paper filter to dampen it, and then dump out the extra water from the cup or pot below.
Next, add medium-ground coffee (two tablespoons per six-ounce cup) in the paper filter. Fill the filter up with the boiling water, and allow the coffee to slowly steep and drip down into the cup or pot below. Once all the water has drained through, repeat the process. Fill the filter up with boiling water, and allow the coffee to steep and drip. Continue the process until the cup or pot is full of coffee.
Boil several cups of filtered water. Add the medium-ground coffee (one tablespoon per six-ounce cup) to the bottom of the french press. Fill the press with the boiling water, stir it a few times with a chopstick or wooden spoon, and cover it with the filter top (but don't press the filter down). Let the coffee steep for about four minutes, and then carefully and evenly press the filter down, pushing the coffee grounds to the bottom of the press. Pour the pressed coffee into the mug.
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Cold-Brewed Coffee
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Anna Monette Roberts
Add a half-cup of filtered water to one-and-a-half cups of coffee grounds, stirring gently. Add two more cups of water, agitating the grounds as little as possible. Cover and let steep at room temperature for 12 hours.
Slowly strain the coffee-ground mixture with a paper filter, which will take five to 10 minutes or until all liquid has seeped through. If the coffee looks cloudy, then strain again using a new filter. Store, refrigerated, for up to a week. This is a concentrated brew, so upon serving, dilute it with more filtered water or milk to your liking.
