The French press method has been around forever, and its process is tried and true:  use a coarser-grind coffee so that it won’t pass through the mesh filter, pour about 5 ounces of 200-205 degree Fahrenheit water, let sit for about 30 seconds, pour another 10 or so ounces of water over the grounds (which should be floating by now) and steep for another 3 ½ minutes.  Press the plunger down to push the grounds to the bottom of the beaker.  French coffee is dense and heavy coffee, drinkable and full of flavor.  But it is susceptible to over-extraction so should be served very soon after steeping to avoid bitterness.  There are a couple of drawbacks to the French press method.  First, there is no way to avoid sediment in the bottom of your cup.  And secondly, the coffee needs to be consumed immediately for best results (although I’m not convinced this is a drawback.)  The advantages outweigh those negative aspects:  there are no paper filters to purchase or dispose of, the unit is easy to clean using just warm, soapy water, and brewing is simple and quick.  Best of all, the French press can also be used in place of a diffuser to brew loose leaf tea (same rules apply—don’t let your tea sit too long or it will become bitter.)  With many options available in size, construction, and quality, a French press coffee maker will cost anywhere from about $15 to upwards of $50.

Use the Aeropress to make espresso-like coffee in about 30 seconds. Photo Credit: Courtney Stroup

Designed in 2005 by Alan Adler, president of Aerobie, the Aeropress makes a cup of coffee with about the same strength as espresso, yet less acidic than drip coffee.  The contraption uses pressure to brew coffee, resulting in a strong and yet rounded beverage.  The grind should be slightly finer than that used with a paper filter, and the optimal water temperature is between 176-198 Fahrenheit.  First, steep coffee for 10-60 seconds depending on the grind you use and the strength you prefer, then force the coffee through the filter by pressing the plunger through the tube (the process is similar to using a syringe.)  The unit can also be used “inverted,” a process similar to that of the French press.  If you prefer the inverted method, feel free to use a coarser grind.  The drawbacks to this brewing method are that it only makes one small cup of coffee at a time, and it takes some time to become adept at using the unit to make the perfect cup of coffee.  The advantage is that the portable unit can travel with you, it is easy to clean, and an espresso-like coffee can be made without all the espresso equipment.  Depending on the amount of filters and the accessories you opt to purchase, an Aeropress Coffee and Espresso Maker will price out under $35.

The design of the Chemex has hardly changed since its 1941 inception. Photo Credit: Simon Wright

In 1941 Peter Shlumbohm created a manual, pour-over style glass container coffee maker that, in 1958, was included in the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.  Wikipedia states that it has been lauded for being “one of the best-designed products of modern times” by designers at the Illinois Institute of Technology.  The Chemex design has barely changed since its inception in 1941, and is still making a cup of coffee with a nice aroma and a taste that isn’t overwhelmingly strong or bitter.  This coffee contraption has you brew your cup by placing the paper filter and the ground coffee into the flask.  Moisten the grinds, the pour the desired amount of water over the top.  This brewing method leaves you with a cup of coffee that tastes like no other because the proprietary paper filter removes nearly all the coffee oils; the result is a smooth, sediment-free cup of coffee.  The drawback to the Chemex is that you need to heat your water separately and if you brew a whole pot you will need to figure out how to keep the coffee warm.  It also takes a while for the hot water to pass through the filter, making it take a little longer to brew a cup.  Other than that, the portable unit can be taken anywhere hot water is available, even camping if you are so inclined.  And best of all, the Chemex retails for under $40!

Invented by Milanese design pioneer George Snowden, the Softbrew™ offers a simple infusion brewing system in which a stainless steel filter is placed in the center of a porcelain cup.  The filter is its masterpiece, with up to 160,000 holes, fine enough to block most grounds (except those “fines” that are supposed to pass through), leaving you with a thick, full-bodied cup of coffee that allows the drinker to taste subtle differences in different kinds of coffee.  The beauty of the Softbrew™ is that there are no directions for use.  Everything is decided by the user, including which variety to brew, how much coffee to use, how coarse or fine the grind, and the desired water temperature.  Experiment.  Learn what you like.  No squeezing is necessary.  No forcing, no pressing.  No over-filtering.  There is no wrong way to brew using this method.  Cleanup is easy, simply run the filter under the tap in your kitchen sink, or toss it in your dishwasher.  At approximately $60, the price is quite reasonable too.

The Technivorm coffeemaker is a graceful addition to your counter top. Photo Credit: Yara Tucek

The Technivorm, handmade in The Netherlands, outputs 10 cups of excellent coffee at a time.  Yes, this is an electric appliance, different from the others on the list.  But this is an exceptional unit, boasting an energy-efficient yet powerful copper heating element which allows for a consistent brewing temperature of approximately 200 degrees Fahrenheit, unlike most home brewers which brew at about 185 degrees.  The filter is cone-shaped, improving the extracted flavor, and a pulse-action water feature allows for “the perfect coffee bloom, [and] precise coffee-water saturation time (4-6 minutes),” according to Technivorm.   The number one advantage to the this brewer is the outstanding coffee it consistently produces.  The consumer also has the option to purchase the unit with a glass or thermal carafe, whichever is their preference.  And the overall design of the Technivorm is a graceful addition to your countertop.  The drawback is the cost—the appliance will set you back about $300 for the 10-cup version, slightly less for the 8-cup.

There are many other brewing methods available to consumers, and if you are a coffee nut I would expect you either already know about them, already have a favorite, or these and others are on your list to research and investigate.  As the third wave of coffee continues to grow, though, I think it is worth finding the method that works best for you.  Do you already have a favorite?  Or will you check out some of these or others?  Let us know in the comments.

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