Amid lists of best coffee makers, best espresso machines and best Keurig coffee makers, plus a machine to make pour-over without the fuss and tips on coffee’s golden ratio and advice for brewing espresso like a pro, we have not (but) stopped to ask the all-important query: What’s really one of the best ways to make espresso, in line with those that obsess over it?

So, I requested 10 espresso consultants — roasters, cafe homeowners, educators, barista champions and a former president of the Specialty Coffee Association — to rank seven of the commonest brewing strategies, presuming a black espresso. 

Naturally, if you would like a milky or plant-based-milk espresso drink, comparable to a cappuccino or latte, that is its personal class, and the strategies you should utilize to realize it turn out to be extra restricted. However, for the purest and most satisfying expression of the standard, roasted espresso bean, listed here are the brewing strategies consultants have been requested to rank: (introduced right here alphabetically) AeroPress, computerized drip machine, espresso, French press, Ok-Cup, moka pot and pour-over.

The outcomes? On one hand, there was a not-so-surprising front-runner, however that does not imply there aren’t deserves to think about from a number of strategies.

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 system 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. (In fact, you possibly can definitely spend extra money for a critical pour-over equipment.) On the flip facet, well-executed pour-over espresso will be fussy, and is not a set-it-and-forget-it sort of methodology.

Naturally, pour-over is the sort of factor that true espresso aficionados will fortunately subscribe to, involving exact components of timing and temperature, to not point out the persistence to preside over the brew in progress. This may be difficult, nonetheless, for many who should be caffeinated first in an effort to care about such particulars.

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

Why espresso execs love the pour-over methodology

Consistency

“With pour-over, a gradual, deliberate pour permits management of exact variables together with temperature, circulate 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 throughout 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 individual kettle, you possibly can select the water temperature and differ the circulate price in line with desire.”

“For a cup of black espresso, I would say pour-over is my go-to,” says Joe Howard, co-founder of YAWN Brew. “With a pour-over, you possibly can 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 if you happen to 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 on 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 stage nicely,” says Megan Biolsi, supervisor of espresso training and Coaching at Sightglass Coffee. “They sometimes require slightly fine-tuning to realize an important cup, however permit for intricate changes for many who need to experiment and ideal their morning brew.”

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 strain 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 recent your espresso is,” he says. “In addition to the roast stage, as it may possibly require an extended brew time or steep to get the specified outcome.”

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 espresso aficionado confidence.

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 most effective outcomes with espresso, however as soon as you’ve got received your machine dialed in, the traits of nice espresso actually shine by,” she says. “Great, intense taste, lovely crema, and an important 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 creating espresso that I like,” says Bernadette Gerrity, vp at Café Aroma. “I’ve all the time most well-liked old-school brewing strategies to new devices as a result of you possibly can management all the things, 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 permit the entire flavors and aromas to return by because the bean supposed,” he says. “The filter permits the espresso’s pure oils and positive particles to stay within the cup, which creates a richer texture and style, and the entire system is a quite simple and reasonably priced piece of kit, which you should utilize to froth milk as nicely.”

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. 

Ultimate rating scores: 

1 = Greatest 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