Every way the world makes coffee.
A reference library of brewing methods: from a Japanese pour-over to an Ethiopian coffee ceremony, each explained clearly enough to try at home.
Vol. I · 168 methods · 41 drinks · 47 countries · revised weekly
What is a coffee brewing method?
A coffee brewing method is the way water is brought into contact with ground coffee to extract its flavour. Daily Extraction documents 168 of them from 47 countries, grouped into the 11 chapters below, along with 41 classic and regional coffee drinks. Each guide gives a recipe, its history and the sources we checked.
| Principle | What happens | For example |
|---|---|---|
| Percolation | Water flows through a bed of coffee | V60, Chemex |
| Immersion | Coffee steeps in water, then is separated | French press |
| Pressure | Water is forced through packed coffee | Espresso, moka pot |
| Boiling | Coffee is heated together with water | Turkish coffee |
Recently written
All entries- No. 052AeroPressTo make AeroPress coffee, put a paper filter in the cap and the AeroPress on a mug, add 11 g of medium-fine coffee and pour in 200 g of freshly boiled water.
- No. 054AeroPress GoThe AeroPress Go is the travel version of the AeroPress, released in 2019.
- No. 059Goat Story GinaThe GINA is a coffee brewer from Goat Story that works three ways: pour-over with its valve open, immersion with it closed, and cold drip with ice water dripping slowly onto coffee in the carafe.
- No. 094Hong Kong Silk-stocking CoffeeHong Kong-style coffee is brewed in a cloth bag, the "silk stocking", with near-boiling water, then "pulled": poured through the bag from one kettle into another, from a height.
- No. 045Moka PotTo make moka pot coffee, fill the base with hot water to just below the safety valve, then fill the basket level with about 13 g of fine coffee without tamping.
- No. 067Turkish CoffeeTo make Turkish coffee, mix 7 g of powder-fine coffee with 70 ml of cold water (and sugar, if wanted) in a cezve.
Questions readers ask
How many ways are there to make coffee?
There are well over a hundred distinct ways to brew coffee. Daily Extraction currently documents 168 methods from 47 countries, grouped into 11 families: pour-over, immersion, pressure, hybrid, vacuum, boiled, cloth filter, metal gravity drip, cold, machine and instant.
What is the difference between a brewing method and a coffee drink?
A brewing method is how the coffee is extracted, such as espresso, French press or pour-over. A coffee drink is what is made from it: a cappuccino, for example, is a single espresso topped with milk steamed into a dense, fine foam.
What is the easiest coffee brewing method for beginners?
The French press and the AeroPress are the easiest to get right: both are forgiving, need little equipment and give consistent results. For a cleaner cup, a Clever Dripper or Hario Switch combines easy steeping with a paper filter.
What are the main types of coffee brewing?
All coffee brewing uses one or more of four principles: percolation (water flows through coffee, as in pour-over), immersion (coffee steeps in water, as in a French press), pressure (water is forced through coffee, as in espresso) and boiling (coffee is heated with water, as in Turkish coffee).
Which coffee method makes the strongest coffee?
By concentration, espresso and Turkish coffee are the strongest at roughly 1:2 and 1:10 coffee-to-water ratios respectively. Strength per cup also depends on serving size, so a large mug of filter coffee can contain more caffeine than a single espresso.
Which coffee brewing method should I choose?
Start with the cup you like. For a rich, full-bodied cup, try a French press; for a clean, bright cup, a V60 or Chemex; for a short, concentrated coffee, espresso or a moka pot. The method finder asks a few quick questions and suggests a match from every method in the library.
What is the difference between iced coffee and cold brew?
Heat. Iced coffee is usually brewed hot, stronger than normal, then chilled and poured over ice. Cold brew never meets hot water: the grounds steep in water for many hours and are then strained.
Where does the information come from?
Every guide lists its sources at the end: makers’ instructions, books such as William Ukers’ All About Coffee (1922), coffee organisations and trade publications. The editorial policy explains how Daily Extraction checks them.