Ah, there’s nothing like a freshly brewed cuppa in the morning to wake up the foggy mind. Wrap your fingers around the delicate handle of your porcelain coffee cup and bring the life-saving dark concoction to your lips and…WHOOSH! Your housemate whizzes by, gulps his or her coffee down, sloshing some over to the side and is out the door before you swallowed your first sip. Coffee is made for everyone to enjoy in their own time – be it  slow appreciation, instant hit or in between. Few will debate over what makes a good coffee bean (free of discoloration, breakage and infestation), but many will swear by their own brewing routine and what constitutes a perfect cup of coffee for them.

Been on instant coffee all this while? That’s really okay as well. Even if you don’t intend to switch soon, reading about how different brewing methods extract flavors and aromas from these mighty little beans might tempt you to try out something new in the future. After all, none of them break the bank and some of them might bring you greater joy in the mornings.

1. Moka Pot

Italian Style Aluminum Moka Espresso Coffee Maker. Photo: Seller's own/Lazada

Prep & Brewing Time: 5 minutes

Pros: Fuss-free brewing and cleaning

Cons: Slightly silty coffee, not suitable for large households

Perfect for: Busy caffeine addicts who need multiple cups a day

Unmistakable in its design, which has remained the same throughout the last century, the classic Moka Pot is a common go-to coffee maker in Europe and Latin America. Finely ground coffee is placed in the bottom half of the pot, and water is brought to a boil below it. The steam created in the pot pushes the hot water through the valve and past the coffee granules, creating brewed coffee on the top. It’s really small and handy, with multiple size options to suit different household needs.

2. Aeropress

Aeropress. Photo: Seller's own/Lazada

Prep & Brewing Time: 3-5 minutes

Pros: Straightforward in use, smooth coffee

Cons: More parts to assemble (and lose), filters needed

Perfect for: Constantly on-the-move drinkers who might not always have access to a stovetop

Mastering the Aeropress might take a few more tries than the Moka Pot (a common mistake is to have it upside down), but once you’ve got the hang of it, it’s as easy as pie. Medium-fine coffee grounds are completely immersed in water that’s slightly cooler than boiling hot (80–85°C), before being strained through a coffee filter through pushing the plunger through the chamber. Cleaning up is a breeze as everything is round or cylindrical in shape, with no sharp corners or hard to reach areas. This light-weight contraption is ideal for those who want a little bit of hands on experience with their coffee without it taking too much time or effort.

3. Vietnamese Drip Coffee

Stainless Steel Vietnamese Portable Drip Coffee Maker. Photo: Onetwone

Prep & Brewing Time: 6-8 minutes

Pros: Aesthetically-pleasing, portable

Cons: Single-cup brewing, filters needed

Perfect for: Creators who need headspace to unwind over long afternoons

Sit in a cozy, colorful café in the heart of Hanoi and it’s inevitable that you will have a Vietnamese Drip Coffee served to you within minutes. Finely ground coffee is placed in the filter, and a little hot water is poured over to allow the coffee to “bloom”.  The coffee grounds expand and release carbon dioxide in this process. The rest of the hot water is then added and coffee is allowed to drip at a leisurely pace. This coffee is usually enjoyed with a generous dollop of condensed milk, so if you don’t have a sweet tooth (or time), skip this method.

4. Japanese Siphon Coffee Maker

Japanese Style Siphon Coffee Maker. Photo: Seller's own/Lazada

Prep & Brewing Time: 8-10 minutes

Pros: Fun process for hands-on drinkers, more flavorful coffee

Cons: Generally less caffeine, bulky equipment

Perfect for: Coffee geeks

If you lean towards the clumsy side of things, this setup may not be for you. Glass, stainless steel and more glass make up this Japanese Siphon Coffee Maker, which some coffee connoisseurs claim to be the best method of brewing coffee. There is some truth in that as this method allows for greater temperature and steeping time control, allowing for maximum coffee flavors to be extracted. Bring it out when you have guests over and blow them away with your next level brewing skills.

5. Pour Over Kettle

Stainless steel goose-neck curved coffee and tea kettle. Photo: Seller's own/Lazada

Enjoying a crunchy kaya toast and steaming cup of Kopi? Chances are, your coffee was made with a pour over kettle (and a sock). Western-style pour over coffee also works a similar way with a paper filter. Both methods require a little bit more patience and skill than other brewing methods, but the stretched-out pouring process brings out the nutty, fruity or even caramel-like aromas of coffee, which adds to the pleasantness of the brewing experience. We have to admit, the psychedelic colors of this pour over kettle is also really to peel our eyes away from.

6. French Press

Soulhand French Press Coffee Maker. Photo: Soulhand

Prep & Brewing Time: 7-9 minutes

Pros: Pretty addition to the home, simple to use

Cons: More active work required, oilier coffee

Perfect for: Home-cooks who want a touch of elegance in their kitchen and easy-to-make coffees

Wait, doesn’t this look like the Aeropress? Even though the method feels similar, especially the pushing down part, the coffee made from French press and Aeropress differ slightly in terms of mouthfeel and heaviness. French press calls for coarser grinds to be steeped in water, stirred and allowed to stand for a 3-4 minutes before being plunged. As the metal mesh strainer is not as fine as a paper filter, this results in more sediments and oil being created in the final cip as compared to the Aeropress, which may or may not be what you are after. We have to admit it looks much better than the clunky Aeropress, though!

7. Espresso Machine

Espresso machine. Photo: Seller's own/Lazada

Prep & Brewing Time: 3-5 minutes

Pros: Rewarding hands on experience, more intense flavors

Cons: Steeper learning curve, multiple parts to clean

Perfect for: Serious baristas-to-be who want to recreate the café experience at home

There’s a steady rhythm to the baristas working around the clock at your local café’s, from the precise tampering of the coffee grounds, to the manual pulling of the espresso shot. If you are ready to take on the challenges and rewards of creating your own cappuccino, espresso or latte at home, perhaps an Espresso Machine is the right upgrade for you. Remember to make space in your kitchen as this is the biggest setup of the list!

8. Electric Drip Coffee Maker

Two cup electric drip coffee maker. Photo: Seller's own/Lazada

Prep & Brewing Time: 5-7 minutes

Pros: Does not require constant attention, easy to use

Cons: Limited to two cups at a go, no manual adjustments allowed

Perfect for: Rushed workers who just need a caffeine fix to kick-start their day or a boost before meetings

Love caffeine but just want a plug and play option to enjoy your daily dose? This Electric Drip Coffee Maker will then be right up your alley. With a one-key operation, built-in filter and automatic drip extraction, making your morning brew is as effortless as pressing a button.                                                                                            

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