Spice up your morning coffee routine with these five different brewing methods
Tatler Asia

1. Pour Over

The pour-over, as the name suggests, is a brewing method that involves pouring freshly boiled water over coffee grounds to extract its flavours. For this, you will need a serving vessel (a relatively large cup/mug), coffee filters, and of course, the V-shaped coffee ripped. Personally, I find pour-overs therapeutic and calming. It's a fairly simple and easy process to follow: start boiling water by using a gooseneck kettle; the narrow mouth of the kettle allows precision in pouring. Next, moisten your paper to lessen any intrusive taste that may come with it. Then, measure your coffee grounds. The ideal coffee to water ratio for pour-overs is usually around 1:15 to 1:17.

The first pour is called blooming. Add in about 10 to 15 per cent of your hot water and let it rest for around 30 seconds. Then add in the rest of your water. Be sure to add it in slowly and in a circular motion, covering all coffee grounds. Pour-over coffee is less strong in comparison to espresso, but it is very aromatic. 

(Related: The Best Coffee Delivery Options in Singapore)

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2. French Press

A French press is one of the most popular coffee makers in the market. It is easy to use and is one of the quickest methods too. When using a French press, better opt for medium size coffee grounds that are uniform in shape. If the grind is too coarse, you may find it hard to press the filter down. On the other hand, if your grind is too fine, it may pass through the filter. Both scenarios are undesirable for a coffee-lover. Similar to pour-overs, you can bloom your coffee grounds by adding a splash of water and letting it sit for about 30 seconds. You then pour in the rest of your hot water and stir it gently. Let it rest for three to four minutes (make sure to not leave it steeping longer than that or you will end up with a very bitter drink) and slowly press the plunger down until most of the coffee grounds are packed at the bottom. 

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3. Aeropress

If you are feeling a bit fancy, give Aeropress coffee a go. It shares the same concept as French Press, but instead of pushing the filter down to separate the grounds from the liquid, Aeropress pushes the liquid out of the brewing chamber with the use of air pressure (much like how an espresso machine works). It is quick and very easy to use, if not the easiest. It comes in a kit that contains a brewing chamber, plunger, paper filters, and a filter cap. Because of its size, it's a great choice for travelling.  

(Related: Here Are The Cafés With The Best Coffee In Singapore)

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4. Stovetop

Are you a fan of dark, rich, and strong espresso? Then using stovetop coffeemakers is the way to go. They are very user friendly and are ideal for storage because of their relatively small size. There are three parts to a stovetop coffee maker: first is the lower chamber which holds the water, second is the funnel for the coffee grounds, and the third is the upper chamber where the coffee is stored. When the water boils in the lower chamber, it creates steam pressure that pushes the hot water upwards to brew the grounds. The result? A strong, concentrated coffee that can have a bit of espresso-like foam on top. 

(Related: What’s The Best Way To Create Barista-Level Coffee At Home?)

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5. Siphon Coffee

If you have a lot of time on your hands, why not make yourself some siphon coffee? This brewing method involves both immersion brewing and—as its name suggests—siphoning. The process starts by filling the bottom bulb with water and then attaching the rest of the components — filter and upper chamber—to it. A burner is then placed under the lower bulb to boil the water. As it boils, the water moves upwards, to the upper chamber. Once it reaches 85 to 90.5°C, add the coffee grounds directly to the hot water and stir it gently. Let it rest for about a minute or so and then remove the burner. As the temperature lowers, the coffee will move downwards to the bottom bulb. Voila! Now you have your siphon coffee. Because there is no filter paper or cloth involved, siphon coffee is more or less pure. 

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