Previously we have discussed the six main ways to brew coffee. Here is a Coffee Brew Info review of the three most popular ways to brew. How do you Brew coffee?

Drip, Vacuum Pot And French Press: Three Methods Of Brewing Coffee

gourmet coffee beansDrip: Probably the most popular method in the United States, this semi-automatic brewing style produces a smooth flavor that is clear of sediment. Some people use a gold mesh filter to allow more of the aromatic oils to pass through. Many people notice an improvement in aroma and taste when they use fresh, filtered or spring water (not distilled) rather than tap water. Two tablespoons of coarsely ground coffee per six ounces of water is a frequently recommended ratio. Drip machines are manufactured with options ranging from manual operation to an on-board automatic grinder and timer that lets you literally "wake up and smell the coffee". All drip machines operate by distributing nearly boiling water over the grounds, to drip down into a carafe or thermos below. Placing the coffee in a thermos can preserve most of the aromatics for up to a few hours. Some machines don’t distribute the water at the recommended range of 195 to 205 F; this can affect the aroma and flavor dramatically.

Vacuum Pot: This elegant brewing technique appears to have originated in France or Germany in the 1830’s. The basic design is two glass chambers connected via a "sealed" siphon tube. Heating the water in the bottom chamber, filled to full, forces the water into the top chamber, where it infuses the grounds for 4-5 minutes (use 2 tablespoons of a medium-fine grind per cup of water-too fine will clog the filter). When enough water in the bottom chamber has been pushed up into the upper chamber that the bottom of the siphon tube is exposed, the heated vapor then "gurgles" up through the tube and agitates the coffee brew. Allowing the gurgling to continue more than 1-2 minutes produces a stronger brew in the upper chamber, and creates a stronger vacuum in the bottom chamber. Removing the heat then reverses the vapor pressure and pulls the coffee liquid through a filter and back down the siphon tube into the lower chamber again, leaving the extracted coffee grounds nearly dry. Advocates of this style say it provides great observations of basic physics as well as smooth, aromatic and flavorful coffee.

Pot Press, French Press This style produces a bold tasting coffee, as the oils, and some of the sediment, is poured into the cup. Because some sediment is in the poured coffee, don’t go for the last drop! Use about 2 tablespoons of coarsely ground coffee per cup of water. Too fine a grind can clog the filter and allow too much sediment to seep into the cup. Pour water, just off the boil, over the grounds inside the press and stir gently. Cover with the filter and let steep for 4-5 minutes, then slowly press the filter down to the bottom. The coffee should be either served or poured into a thermos immediately, as the grounds will otherwise continue to steep, so that it doesn’t become over-extracted and bitter.

Eight Steps to Fantastic Coffee
French Press. Now, it’s finally time to look at actual brewing methods.

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Brew Your Own: Eliminate your need for disposable cups and save money in the process by making your own coffee at home- hot or iced.

Coffee Brewed With A Coffee Press Is Thicker …
Rich Coffee Flavor Because the press is designed to mix the coffee grounds with the boiling hot water, your coffee made with the press will be more intense [...]

By: GSheffield

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GSheffield is co-partner of the online gourmet coffee site http;//www.naturalcoffeeshop.com, which provides exceptional fresh-roasted gourmet and specialty coffees, including Fair-trade, organics, swiss-decafs, flavored coffees, Kona, Jamaica Blue Mountain, Costa Rican, and many others.

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