Brewing coffee is not a precise science. Your private desire for power or taste profile could lead you to at least one system over one other.  In the event you ask espresso professionals, as I did, there are sure strategies that encourage exact brewing and extra balanced espresso. 

Spoiler alert: It is not a Keurig. 

We have spent hours testing coffee makers, espresso machines, grinders and coffee subscriptions to search out the very best machines and the very best beans to brew them in, all whereas gathering tips for making higher espresso at residence. Stepping again a bit, I wished to search out out what espresso specialists contemplate absolutely the “greatest” methodology for brewing espresso. 

In search of a solution, I grilled 10 espresso specialists, together with roasters, cafe homeowners, educators, barista champions and one former president of the Specialty Espresso Affiliation. I requested them to rank seven of the preferred strategies for brewing black espresso.

The contenders (listed alphabetically): AeroPress, automated drip machine, espresso, French press, Ok-Cup, moka pot and pour-over.

One methodology to rule all of them: pour-over

Whereas it wasn’t utterly unanimous, pour-over was the clear winner for the general common rating. The excellent news is, pour-over is among the many least costly espresso brewing strategies obtainable, requiring little greater than a handheld kettle or different gadget for pouring espresso and a funnel dripper outfitted with a conical filter that sits on prime of the cup or carafe to catch the espresso. (You may definitely spend more cash for a severe pour-over equipment.) Alternatively, well-executed pour-over espresso will be fussy and is not a set-it-and-forget-it form of methodology.

Naturally, pour-over is the form of factor that true espresso aficionados will fortunately subscribe to, involving exact parts of timing and temperature, to not point out the persistence required to supervise the brew in progress. This may be difficult, nonetheless, for individuals who should be caffeinated first with a view to care about such particulars.

Learn extra: Want Pour-Over Coffee Without the Fuss? This $65 Machine Does the Hard Work for You

One other constant methodology extremely ranked by espresso execs: AeroPress

Whereas pour-over had the general highest rating, it wasn’t the one methodology to have been ranked No. 1 by a professional. AeroPress — an analog methodology that mixes the agitation of pour-over, the immersion of French press and the stress of espresso — had a few acolytes and got here safely in second place within the total rating.

Marwyn Garcia, proprietor of Headcount Coffee, ranked it as primary among the many obtainable choices (although famous that different, much less frequent strategies, comparable to an immersion brewer or espresso siphon, are additionally worthy adversaries). The steep time of AeroPress is an adjustable variable that permits for private desire within the brew, and he additionally emphasised the standard of the beans by way of the significance of any given methodology. 

“General taste is extra depending on how contemporary your espresso is,” he says. “In addition to the roast degree, as it will probably require an extended brew time or steep to get the specified consequence.”

Amongst those that positioned it second after pour-over, Howard additionally notes that AeroPress has particular upside: “It has nice readability and flexibility,” he says, “particularly for journey or a fast cup.”

Espresso and French press strategies even have deserves

Espresso and French press additionally obtained first-place rankings from sure espresso professionals, and successfully tied for third by way of confidence amongst c.

Heather Perry, the CEO of Klatch Coffee, a two-time US barista champion and former president of the Specialty Espresso Affiliation, notes that it is espresso that’s used to measure barista efficiency. 

“It is true that you simply want some specialised tools and time to get the very best outcomes with espresso, however as soon as you’ve got received your machine dialed in, the traits of nice espresso actually shine by way of,” she says. “Great, intense taste, stunning crema, and an excellent aroma too. Sweetness, acidity, and bitterness are all balanced in concord.”

Those that favored the French press cited its ritualistic nature, in addition to the power to simply make a couple of cup. 

“I am a fan of the French press methodology as a result of it actually captures the relaxed, hands-on ritual of constructing espresso that I like,” says Bernadette Gerrity, vice chairman at Café Aroma. “I’ve at all times most popular old-school brewing strategies to new devices as a result of you’ll be able to management the whole lot, from the proportions to the flavour, with none waste,” she says. “It is very easy to dial in your good cup with a French press. Plus, it is fast, easy and satisfying — simply espresso and water, no buttons or particular pods wanted.”

“French press hits the entire marks, and it permits for a number of cups of espresso at a time, which permits the pot to be loved by others,” says former skilled espresso roaster Dave Linari of NewSylum Brewing. “I discover the coarse grind of the bean and the coarse filter enable the entire flavors and aromas to return by way of because the bean meant,” he says. “The filter permits the espresso’s pure oils and superb particles to stay within the cup, which creates a richer texture and style, and the entire system is a quite simple and inexpensive piece of kit, which you should use to froth milk as nicely.”

Why espresso execs love the pour-over methodology

Consistency

“With pour-over, a sluggish, deliberate pour permits management of exact variables together with temperature, circulation price and agitation,” says Theo Chan, espresso reviewer and managing editor of Coffee Roast, “making certain even extraction and revealing a espresso’s nuanced sweetness, acidity and aromatics.” (Agitation refers back to the water’s potential to flow into among the many espresso grounds through the brew.)

“Most management over variables equals consistency,” says James McCarthy, espresso roaster and head of training at Colombian espresso model Devoción, who particularly recommends an origami pour-over dripper. “Because you’re utilizing your personal kettle, you’ll be able to select the water temperature and range the circulation price in keeping with desire.”

“For a cup of black espresso, I might say pour-over is my go-to,” says Joe Howard, co-founder of YAWN Brew. “With a pour-over, you’ll be able to actually spotlight the espresso’s distinctive traits of the origins. It is a clear brew methodology that offers you good precision of the espresso.”

Suitability for roast desire

Michael Cramer, founding father of Lardera Coffee, notes that the extent of roast can also be an essential think about figuring out which methodology is favored. “I want light-roasted beans, and pouring water by hand produces a extra uniform extraction, teasing out their intricate flavors and delicate aromas,” he says. “This requires extra time and a spotlight than different strategies, however when you care about espresso, it is a worthwhile funding. You are giving up ease for the sake of consistency and taste, which appears a trade-off price making.”

Filter issues

The kind of filter that numerous strategies depend upon was additionally a consideration within the rating. “Pour-overs use paper filters that take away oils, leading to a cleaner and extra delicate taste profile highlighting the intricacies in a espresso whereas with the ability to signify any roast degree nicely,” says Megan Biolsi, supervisor of espresso training and Coaching at Sightglass Coffee. “They usually require somewhat fine-tuning to realize an excellent cup, however enable for intricate changes for individuals who need to experiment and ideal their morning brew.”

Lesser-favored strategies: moka pot, drip machine and Ok-Cup

Whereas the Moka pot — a stovetop espresso brewing methodology — and the automated drip machine each obtained some middle-of-the-pack votes, the K-Cup was unanimously voted the least favored methodology by espresso professionals. Whereas Howard generously famous that it was “fast and tidy,” the consensus was that it “sacrifices taste and texture,” permitting for no adjustment, and producing pointless waste with each cup. 

Last rating scores: 

1 = Finest methodology, and seven = Worst

• Pour-over: 1.625
• AeroPress: 2.375
• Espresso: 3.5
• French press: 3.75
• Moka pot: 4.625
• Drip: 4.75
• Ok-Cup: 6.625