So, you want to learn more about different ways to brew the old cup of joe? This is the perfect place to start! Most people new to brewing coffee the Bougie way might know one, maybe two, different techniques. 

Well, we’re going to break down the basics of each method, a couple of reasons why we like the method (and why we don’t), and our recommendation for the product(s) that you need to get started! 

TIP: Interested about learning more about each method? We’ll include links to our in-depth guides on how to brew in each section below.

Drip

There is a very, very good chance that this is the first (maybe only) brewing method that you learned about. It’s the way that almost every diner, gas station, and household gets their caffeine fix. Why? Because, it’s simple, cheap, and fast!

Why we like drip coffee

  • It is so easy to get started. If you wanted to, you could go down to your local thrift shop and pick up a used drip coffee maker for a couple bucks!
  • Drip coffee requires very few other materials — water, beans, and filters.
  • It’s quick! If you’re in a rush in the morning (I mean, who isn’t) and you just need that morning cup of coffee, drip is the way to go. We recommend setting up everything the night before if you are particularly not a morning person!

Why we might not go with drip coffee

  • Most cheaper drip coffee makers tend to heat water to too high of a temperature. Why is this an issue? Overheating water (as weird as it sounds) is a lot of the reason that cheap coffee tastes so bitter.
  • The drip coffee makers with all the bells and whistles can get pricey. Really, really pricey!

Pour Over

If you’ve seen the pour over method, it might have been in one of those millennial coffee shops with all of the natural wood furniture and barista with a man bun. Behind the counter, there might have been a couple of Chemex 8-cups that looked like a big flower vase.

Why we like pour over coffee

  • Because you have more control over the temperature of the water, pour overs tend to bring out more delicate tasting notes of beans. The bitterness is replaced with floral, chocolate, or earthy tones — if you haven’t tried a pour over, you really need to!
  • The setups are generally pretty inexpensive given how much better your coffee will taste!

Why we might not go with pour over coffee

  • It can be a bit more time consuming and, honestly, a little complicated at first. You need to control when you pour, how much you pour, the grind of your bean, and the temperature of your water. It might look intimidating at first, but we break it down in our awesome guide!

French Press

If you have a friend with a french press on their counter, you might have thought it looked like some weird kitchen contraption at first. Some of the designs mimic the french presses of the mid 1800s, and they do look pretty wild!

Why we like french press coffee

  • Brewing the coffee doesn’t actually take that much more time and effort than drip coffee, and we honestly like the taste better!
  • You’ll typically be using reusable filters (including metal filters), which will save you quite a bit of money of time.
  • It might sound vain, but we think it looks pretty cool to casually make a couple cups of french press in front of your friends. Who knows, it may impress them (we know, it’s bad)!

Why we might not go with french press

  • The tasting notes are not quite as delicate as the pour over, although they do get close!

Siphon

Ever wanted to look like you are coming straight out of a Hogwarts potions class? Well now you can! Every. Single. Day. This method, with a bit of gravity and a hint of magic, is a favorite at Bougie Bean!

Why we like siphon coffee

  • Once mastered, this brewing method can bring out the most delicate of tasting notes in the most expensive beans!
  • You honestly do kind of look like a wizard making this coffee.

Why we might not go with siphon coffee

  • This brewing method can be tricky to master. It takes precise timing to get it just right, and does take some practice
  • The costs of some of these setups can be prohibitive, especially if you’re looking to spend less than a hundred bucks!

Pods

Most of us are familiar with the single-use K-Cup pods in the lobby of a bank. Pods are meant to deliver exactly one cup of coffee, and then get tossed out.

Why we like pods

  • These are pretty convenient, especially if you don’t want to have an old pot of coffee hanging around all day

Why we might not go with pods

  • They are also pretty wasteful. Of all the methods we cover in this article, it produces the most waste per cup by far!
  • The cost does add up over time. Maybe not at first, but Keurig in particular is good about locking you in to a few options. If you look at how much you are paying over the life of the pod coffee maker, you’ll see it’s far more expensive than other methods!

Before you go!

If you are interested in any (or all) of these brewing methods, go ahead and check out our in-depth articles on them! We encourage every aspiring Bougie barista to get to know each method, the pros and cons, and learn a thing or two about how others brew!