There are lots of ways to make coffee but they all have a couple things in common.
You need roasted coffee beans that are ground up by some means and water.
Funny thing is that you don’t really even need ground beans; crushed beans or cut beans will work in a bind as will water that is not exactly hot – cold brew anyone?
There are obviously a handful of good ways to make really great tasting cold brew coffee and still yet others will go so far as to make suz-vide coffee!
Is There a “Best Way” To Make Coffee?
Whether you prefer making coffee over an open flame or would rather go the fully automated route, there are tons of different ways to get the job done and each method still has lots of variable that can change the process and final product enough to warrant a full article on this site.
On this page it’s my intention to simply introduce you to the many various styles and methods for making coffee. I’ll then explain some of the variations that can alter each method in meaningful ways.
We’ll then compare some of the top methods briefly and point you to other articles on this site that have fully explored the comparison of one coffee making style to another.
Lets start off by looking at one of the most common variants to drip coffee these days, one that is super cheap to make, a bit manual, and arguably one of the best ways to make coffee of them all: the french press method.
The Most Common Ways to Make Coffee
In the US the most common ways to make coffee include:
- drip,
- pour over,
- french press,
- percolator,
- instant,
- espresso,
- and Moka
There are other ways to like Aeropress, Turkish, cowboy just to name a few but those are the one’s we focus on most on this site.
Further down this page we will summarize each of these methods and then eventually provide links to other pages on this site that have fully compared each method to the others.
A Comparison Chart of Coffee Brewing Methods
Below you’ll see a chart of all the main ways to make coffee. Follow the links in the chart to see fully explored comparisons of each major technique for making coffee.
*Note: This table is horizontally scrollable.
Drip Coffee | French Press | Espresso | Moka Pot | Pour Over | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Drip CoffeeN/AClick to CompareClick to CompareClick to CompareClick to Compare | |||||
French PressN/AN/AClick to CompareClick to CompareClick to Compare | |||||
EspressoN/AN/AN/AClick to CompareClick to Compare | |||||
Moka PotN/AN/AN/AN/AClick to Compare | |||||
Pour OverN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A |
Here are our brew method comparison articles:
Alternative Ways to Brew Coffee Without Electricity
► Ways To Make Coffee While Camping
► Cold Brew Vs Iced Coffee: Whats the Difference Anyway?
Stovetop Espresso Comparison Articles
► Why Stovetop Espresso Is Not The Same As True Espresso
► Moka Pot vs. Regular Drip Coffee: The Differences Explained
► Moka Pot VS Pour Over: A Brewing Method Comparison
► The Differences Between Stovetop Espresso & French Press Coffee
► How A Percolator Is Different Than A Moka Pot
► Moka Pot Vs Chemex Coffee
► Is There a Difference Between Aeropress and Stovetop Espresso Makers?
French Press Comparison Articles
► The French Press vs Pour Over: Coffee Brewing Methods Compared
► French Press vs Espresso: What’s Different? Whats Better?
► The Differences Between Stovetop Espresso & French Press Coffee
► French Press Vs Drip Coffee: What’s The Difference?
► Nespresso vs French Press Coffee
► The French Press vs. Coffee Percolator – The Differences Explained
► French Press and Chemex Coffee Compared
► What’s The Difference Between A Keurig And A French Press? How to Make A Morning Cup in Style:
► What’s The Difference Between Aeropress and French Press Coffee?
Espresso Comparison Articles
► Why Stovetop Espresso Is Not The Same As True Espresso
► French Press vs Espresso: What’s Different? Whats Better?
► The Keurig vs The Espresso Machine: A Tale of Two Brews
► What’s The Difference Between Coffee And Espresso
► Espresso VS Pour Over Coffee: Which is Better & What’s Different?
► The Percolator Vs The Espresso Maker
► Espresso Vs Chemex Coffee: A Comparison in Brewing Methodology
► Aeropress vs Espresso – A Brewing Method Comparison for Coffee Snobs
Pour Over Comparison Articles
► Moka Pot VS Pour Over: A Brewing Method Comparison
► The French Press vs Pour Over: Coffee Brewing Methods Compared
► Pour Over vs Drip Coffee: What’s Different & Which is Better
► Keurig vs Pour Over Coffee – Single Serve Brewing Methods Compared
► Espresso VS Pour Over Coffee: Which is Better & What’s Different?
► Pour Over Vs Percolator Coffee: Two Great Ways To Perk Up Your Day
► Why is Chemex Different Than Other Pour Over Coffee Drippers?
► Aeropress vs Pour Over Coffee: Which is Best?
Drip Coffee Comparison Articles
► Moka Pot vs. Regular Drip Coffee: The Differences Explained
► Pour Over vs Drip Coffee: What’s Different & Which is Better
► Keurig vs Regular Drip Coffee – Brewing Method Comparison
► French Press Vs Drip Coffee: What’s The Difference?
► What’s The Difference Between Coffee And Espresso
► Nespresso Vs Drip Coffee: Which Home Coffee Maker is Right For You?
► Differences Between Auto Drip Coffee Makers & Percolators
► Chemex Vs Drip Coffee: What’s The Best Brew For Your Home?
► Aeropress Vs Drip Coffee: What’s the Difference Anyway?
Keurig-Style Coffee Comparison Articles
► Keurig vs Regular Drip Coffee – Brewing Method Comparison
► The Keurig vs The Espresso Machine: A Tale of Two Brews
► Keurig vs Pour Over Coffee – Single Serve Brewing Methods Compared
► Nespresso Vs Keurig Coffee: What’s Different & Which is Better?
► What’s The Difference Between A Keurig And A French Press? How to Make A Morning Cup in Style:
Nespresso-Style Comparison Articles
► Nespresso Vs Drip Coffee: Which Home Coffee Maker is Right For You?
► Nespresso vs French Press Coffee
► Nespresso Vs Keurig Coffee: What’s Different & Which is Better?
► Aeropress vs Nespresso: Which is Better? What is Different?
Percolator Comparison Articles
► Pour Over Vs Percolator Coffee: Two Great Ways To Perk Up Your Day
► The Percolator Vs The Espresso Maker
► Differences Between Auto Drip Coffee Makers & Percolators
► The French Press vs. Coffee Percolator – The Differences Explained
► How A Percolator Is Different Than A Moka Pot
► Aeropress Vs Percolator Coffee
Chemex Coffee Comparison Articles
► French Press and Chemex Coffee Compared
► Moka Pot Vs Chemex Coffee
► Espresso Vs Chemex Coffee: A Comparison in Brewing Methodology
► Chemex Vs Drip Coffee: What’s The Best Brew For Your Home?
► Why is Chemex Different Than Other Pour Over Coffee Drippers?
► Chemex Vs Aeropress: Which Makes Better Coffee [Updated]
Aeropress Comparison Articles
► Aeropress vs Nespresso: Which is Better? What is Different?
► Is There a Difference Between Aeropress and Stovetop Espresso Makers?
► Aeropress vs Espresso – A Brewing Method Comparison for Coffee Snobs
► Aeropress vs Pour Over Coffee: Which is Best?
► Chemex Vs Aeropress: Which Makes Better Coffee [Updated]
► Aeropress Vs Drip Coffee: What’s the Difference Anyway?
► Aeropress Vs Percolator Coffee
► What’s The Difference Between Aeropress and French Press Coffee?