How to make coffee? (11 brewing methods)

Making coffee means bringing hot water into contact with ground coffee. You can do this in at least eleven different ways. From a simple filter machine to a stylish Chemex or espresso machine. The method you choose determines the flavour, texture and even the aroma of your coffee.

Here you’ll read exactly how those differences arise and we’ll help you find the brewing method that best suits your taste, rhythm and coffee moment.

What is the best way to make coffee?

The best way to make coffee? There isn’t one. At least, not one that works for everyone. Your ideal cup of coffee depends on your taste, your morning routine and how much time you want to spend on it.

Do you like a full, powerful flavour? Then an espresso machine or moka pot is probably your thing. Prefer something clear and refined? Then slow coffee methods like the Chemex or V60 are for you. And if it has to be quick and easy, a fully automatic machine or pod machine is your best friend.

By trying different methods, you’ll naturally find what suits you. One thing’s for sure: with good coffee beans and a bit of attention, you can make something delicious from almost any method.

Making coffee with a machine

Do you like making coffee with the push of a button or prefer a bit more technique? Then a coffee machine is your faithful morning mate. There are all kinds of machines, each with its own character: fast, powerful, mild or full of aroma. From fully automatic to filter machines, there’s a machine for every type of coffee drinker.

We’ll take you through the most popular coffee machines and what to expect from them. That way you’ll discover which one suits you (and your morning mood).

1. Espresso machine

An espresso machine is the favourite of lovers of intense coffee with a full flavour. The principle is simple but brilliant: hot water is forced through finely ground coffee at high pressure. The result? A small, intense shot with a thick crema layer, the well-known espresso.

You can get espresso machines in various types and sizes:

• Fully automatic: makes coffee at the push of a button. Ideal for convenience seekers.
• Semi-automatic: a bit more work, but also more control over flavour and technique.
• Professional: fully manual, for the barista at heart.

A good espresso machine requires a bit of love (and maintenance), but rewards you with great flavour. And yes, it sometimes takes practice, but that’s what makes it fun for the true coffee fan.

Café du Jour tip: Use freshly ground Café du Jour Espresso Madrugador, a lightly fruity espresso with a strong spicy, zesty kick.

1.1 Piston machine

A piston machine, also called a semi-automatic espresso machine, is for the coffee lover who wants to feel the craft. Here you do everything yourself: grinding beans, tamping, letting through the right amount of water and frothing milk if you make a cappuccino. No buttons doing it all for you, you’re in control.

The result? A high-quality espresso or cappuccino, provided you master the technique a bit. The flavour often comes closer to that of a professional café than a fully automatic machine.

What you need:

• A separate or built-in grinder
• Some patience and practice
• A love for ritual

It takes more time than a fully automatic, and some models have only one heating unit. That means: coffee first, then milk, wait a moment… But you get a beautiful cup in return.

Café du Jour tip: Start with a robust espresso bean if you’re experimenting. Our Café du Jour Espresso Madrugador is ideal for this, a lightly fruity espresso with a strong spicy, zesty kick.

1.2. Fully automatic coffee machine

The fully automatic machine is your best friend if you want to make coffee quickly, easily and with as little fuss as possible. You fill the bean hopper, press a button and voilà: there’s your espresso, lungo or cappuccino. Everything happens automatically, from grinding beans to frothing milk (on some models).

The big advantage of a fully automatic is convenience. Especially on busy mornings, it’s great to have your cup in hand within half a minute. The flavour is good, consistent and depending on your machine’s quality, even surprisingly rich.

Keep in mind that most fully automatics:

• are less powerful than piston machines
• give a bit less of a 'barista vibe'
• require regular maintenance (think descaling and cleaning the milk reservoir)

Café du Jour tip: Use medium roasted beans for the best result. Our Café du Jour 100% arabica Mocca works great in fully automatics and gives a soft, rounded flavour.

2. Filter coffee machine

A classic among coffee machines: the filter coffee machine. You might remember it from the past, but this brewing method is far from outdated. In fact, many coffee lovers are returning to this simple way of brewing. Why? Because it produces a large amount of coffee with a soft flavour.

With filter coffee, hot water is slowly poured over ground coffee in a paper filter. The water drips through the grounds, taking the flavours with it. The result is a clear, mild coffee with aromas that come into their own.

Ideal for:

• Cosy coffee moments with visitors
• Those who prefer a lighter coffee flavour
• People who want to brew a full pot in the morning

Café du Jour tip: Use a medium roast coffee, like our Café du Jour 100% arabica South America, and a fresh grind for the tastiest result.

3. Coffee pod machines

Coffee pod machines, like Nespresso or Dolce Gusto, are hugely popular, and for good reason. They’re compact, fast and make a reasonably good cup of coffee at the push of a button. No fuss with grinding, quantity or timing. You pop a pod in, press start and within 30 seconds you have coffee.

For many, this is the ultimate convenience method. But to be honest: you sacrifice some freshness and complexity of flavour. The coffee in pods is pre-ground and packaged, often less fresh than loose beans. Pods are also expensive and less eco-friendly, unless you use reusable capsules.

Advantages:

• Super fast and handy
• Wide choice of flavours
• Compact size

Disadvantages:

• More waste and higher cost per cup
• Less intense and fresh flavour

Café du Jour tip: Try refillable capsules that you fill with your own ground coffee. That way you combine convenience with the flavour of truly fresh beans.

Making coffee by hand (slow coffee)

If you love calm, ritual and craftsmanship, slow coffee is the way to go. No buttons or machines, just you setting the pace. These manual methods require a bit more attention but reward you with control over flavour, extraction and aromas.

Choose a Chemex, AeroPress or French press. Manual brewing means slowing down. You pause for your cup and enjoy the process as much as the result.

4. Chemex

The Chemex is an elegant glass carafe with a wooden collar, as stylish as it is functional. This method is all about precision: you slowly pour hot water over freshly ground coffee in a thick paper filter. The result? A clear, soft coffee with a light body and refined aromas.

What makes this method special is the thick filter paper. It holds back oils and fine coffee particles, so your coffee tastes clean and fresh. Ideal for those who enjoy subtle, floral notes or a light roast.

Typical Chemex:

• Time: ± 4 minutes
• Grind size: medium to coarse
• Difficulty: medium (you need a pouring spout and some practice)

Café du Jour tip: Use a kettle with temperature control and choose a light or medium roast. Try our Café du Jour 100% arabica Costa Rica. It’s fruity, soft and perfect for the Chemex.

5. V60 & Kalita Wave

The V60 and Kalita Wave are two popular pour-over methods, meaning manual pouring. Both use a filter holder and paper filters, but differ in shape and flow rate. The V60 has a single large hole at the tip, while the Kalita uses several small holes for a more stable flow.

With these methods you have a lot of control over flavour. By slowly pouring water in circular motions, you determine how much extraction takes place. The coffee tastes clear, balanced and often has a fruity, fresh undertone.

Typical pour-over:

• Time: ± 3–4 minutes
• Grind size: medium
• Difficulty: medium (pouring technique requires some practice)

Café du Jour tip: Use a coffee with a pronounced aroma, like our Café du Jour Speciality 100% arabica Yirgacheffe. Pour it slowly in a spiral. Patience is your secret ingredient here.

6. AeroPress

The AeroPress looks like a cross between a large syringe and a lab instrument, but appearances deceive: this compact gadget makes surprisingly delicious coffee. You mix hot water with ground coffee, let it steep briefly, then push it through a filter with light pressure.

The result is a clear, rich cup of coffee with little bitterness and lots of flavour. And all within two minutes. Ideal for home, office or on the go, the AeroPress is light, sturdy and easy to clean.

Why you want to try it:

• Time: ± 2 minutes
  Grind size: medium to fine
• Difficulty: low to medium
• Result: smooth, full coffee

Café du Jour tip: Vary the steeping time and pressure. A short extraction gives a lighter cup, a longer one more body. Try our Café du Jour 100% arabica Cerrado, nicely nutty and creamy in the AeroPress.

7. Siphon

The siphon, also called vacuum pot, is a coffee method where science and theatre come together. The device consists of two glass globes, a filter and a heat lamp or gas burner. It looks like you’ve stepped into a chemistry lab, but the result is pure coffee enjoyment.

By heating, water rises to the upper chamber where it mixes with the coffee. When the heat source is removed, the mixture flows back down through the filter. This process creates a full, layered flavour you can’t get so precisely with any other method.

What you need to know:

• Time: ± 6–8 minutes
• Grind size: medium
• Difficulty: high (precision required)
• Result: full, clear and complex coffee

Café du Jour tip: Use a coffee with many flavour layers, like our Café du Jour 100% arabica Nicaragua. Don’t be put off by the looks, this method is a true experience for the enthusiast.

8. French press (Cafetière)

The French press is perhaps the most relaxed way to make coffee. No filters, no complicated fuss, just coarsely ground coffee, hot water and a few minutes’ patience. After about four minutes, you slowly press the metal filter down and voilà: a full, oily cup of coffee with character.

This method leaves the natural oils and micro-particles in your coffee, resulting in a rich texture and powerful flavour. Ideal for those who like a robust brew without bitterness.

Why the French press is so nice:

• Time: ± 4 minutes
• Grind size: coarse
• Difficulty: low
• Result: full, rounded coffee

Read more about making coffee with a French Press.

Café du Jour tip: Use a coffee with a sturdy body, like our Café du Jour 100% arabica South America. And stir your coffee after pouring, it makes it even tastier.

9. Cold Brew

Cold brew is the ideal brewing method for warm days or coffee drinkers who like a smooth, caffeine-rich kick. Instead of hot water, you use cold water and let it steep for 12 to 24 hours with coarsely ground coffee. The result is a mild, smooth brew without bitterness – perfect to serve over ice.

Because the coffee extracts slowly and cold, you get a totally different flavour than with hot methods: low acidity, lots of sweetness and an extra concentrated body.

How cold brew works:

• Time: 12–24 hours
• Grind size: coarse
• Difficulty: low
• Result: smooth, fresh and powerful

Café du Jour tip: Use a bean rich in chocolate notes like our Café du Jour 100% arabica Colombia. Serve your cold brew with a slice of orange or a splash of oat milk for a refreshing twist.

Making coffee on the stove

No power? No problem. Even with just a stove, gas burner or campfire, you can make a delicious strong cup of coffee. Brewing methods on the stove are often compact, affordable and loved for their characteristic full flavour. Think of the classic moka pot or the traditional Turkish Ibrik.

10. Moka pot (Percolator)

The moka pot, also called a percolator, is an Italian classic used on the stove. Water boils in the bottom chamber, and the pressure pushes it up through the ground coffee in the middle chamber. Finally, the coffee ends up in the top compartment, ready to pour.

The flavour resembles espresso: powerful, intense and with a slight bitterness. Ideal for those who like a strong brew but don’t have (or want) an espresso machine. Bonus: you can make several cups at once.

What to expect:

• Time: ± 5 minutes
• Grind size: fine (but not too fine)
• Difficulty: medium (some practice with timing)
• Result: strong, aromatic, slightly syrupy

Read more about which coffee to use in a percolator.

Café du Jour tip: Our Café du Jour Espresso Intenso works excellently in moka pots: full, rich and with that typical Italian punch.

11. Ibrik (Turkish coffee)

Turkish coffee, made in an ibrik or cezve, is perhaps the most traditional and ceremonial way to prepare coffee. You use very finely ground coffee (powder-like), cold water and optionally sugar. Everything goes into a small copper or brass pot, then you heat it slowly over low heat.

The coffee must not boil. As soon as the foam rises, you take the ibrik off the heat, let the foam settle and heat it again if needed. The result is an intense, thick and aromatic cup of coffee served with grounds – so you drink it slowly.

Typical of the ibrik method:

• Time: ± 5–6 minutes
• Grind size: ultra fine
• Difficulty: medium (heat control is key)
• Result: full, spicy and creamy

Café du Jour tip: Add a pinch of cardamom for the authentic Turkish flavour. Our Café du Jour 100% arabica Brazil is perfect for this – deep, rich and traditional.

What is the cheapest way to make coffee?

Want to drink good coffee without spending much on equipment? There are plenty of wallet-friendly options. The cheapest method is cold brew, you only need coffee, water and time. But if you prefer hot coffee, there are affordable choices too.

Here are our budget-friendly favourites:

• French press: affordable, easy to use and no filters needed.
• Moka pot: sturdy and durable, makes espresso-like coffee on the stove.
• Pour over (V60 or Kalita): cheap to start, but needs paper filters.
• AeroPress: compact, affordable and ideal for one person.

Note: with almost all manual methods, a good coffee grinder is a smart investment. Freshly ground coffee really makes the difference. And you don’t have to buy an expensive electric grinder right away, as manual grinders are also available.

A table with the different ways to make coffee

There are quite a few ways to make coffee – each with its own flavour, pace and character. To make it easy for you, we’ve listed the main brewing methods. This way you can see at a glance what suits you (and your coffee moment).