Ways to Make Coffee

Jar: This is the most basic method, although some people consider it also the best. The jar must be heated and then placed over a hot plate or in a casserole of boiling water that is already off the heat. Place the ground coffee in the jar and add enough boiling water (water that, once it has boiled, has been sitting for around two minutes so that it slightly lowers its temperature) to as to soak it completely.

Let it sit in the hot water for a minute and then pour in the rest of the water. Stir well, cover and let it sit for about eight minutes. With a spoon, take off the excess ground bits from the top and then allow it to sit for another minute so that all the particles sit on the bottom before serving it.

Coffee Maker: This method is based on the same principle of the jar and consists on having a heat resistant crystal jar and a big fine net that pushes the ground coffee towards the bottom of the recipient. Make sure to not use coffee that has a powdery consistency, the best is one that has a medium grind. 

Filter: This is probably the simplest method, and adequate without a doubt, for amateurs. You can acquire filters that have different sizes, anywhere from the size of a cup to bigger ones that adapt to a jar or saucepan and which are covered in a conic paper bag. The jar or mug must first heat up and if it is a big jar it is important to keep it moderately hot. Put the coffee in the bottom of the paper cone and pour enough water over it so as to cover and soak the ground coffee well. Let it sit for a minute and then, gradually add in more water as the water goes dripping through the ground coffee. 

Electric Filter: This is an automatic version of the filter and has been gaining popularity throughout the years. Cold water is poured into a recipient, and an electric element heats a small quantity of it to the right temperature and falls onto the grinded coffee, and it then drips onto a jar that is place on top of a hot plate.

French Filter: When it is ready to be served it almost looks exactly like a kettle. To prepare the coffee a tube of the same size of the “kettle” is placed on top of it and the water is poured into it. The ground coffee is placed in between both parts. It works the same way a filter does.

Neapolitan: Next to the espresso, this is the most common way of making coffee in Italy. The biggest problem with it is that many models are made out of aluminum, and this has a tendency to contaminate the coffee. It works with a filtering system and consists of two recipients placed one over the other. Cold water is placed in the recipient on the bottom; over which another recipient is placed inside of it that contains the ground coffee. The other recipient that has a spout and out of which the coffee will be poured, is placed on top. The water boils and is then taken off of the heat and is allowed to sit for a few minutes; then the two recipients are turned downwards to allow the water to drip the coffee through onto the other recipient which then turns into the serving jar.

Empty Method: This is a method that was extremely popular but went losing its popularity because of the electric filters and in big part because of its cost. This consists of two types of crystal bowls, one of which is placed on top of the other, and a filter situated in between both. Cold water is placed in the bowl underneath and ascends towards the superior and when it is taken off of the heat, the coffee filters again and ends up in the inferior recipient again.

Espresso: For many coffee fans, this is the definite way of making coffee. Instead of having the coffee drip through the coffee, vapor and water pressure rapidly pass through the grind powder extracting the most amount of flavor. Although there are domestic versions on the market of the type that we see in cafes and restaurants, they are pretty expensive and if you like your coffee prepared this way, you can buy a small coffee machine that works based on the same idea.

Espresso coffee is always served black in small cups that can be decorated with a touch of lemon or can be crowned with a little bit of foamy milk to turn it into “cappuccino” which generally has a little bit of coconut or chocolate powder sprinkled on the top.

Microwaves and Coffee: These work exactly the same way as the empty method does but all of the components are made out of heat resistant plastic, so there is a concern that the coffee might overheat.

Turkish Coffee: This coffee definitely has a taste that has to be acquired since it has a very thick, strong and almost syrupy taste to it. This actually should be prepared in an ibrik, which is a tall and long recipient that has a handle, normally made out of copper. But if you do not have one of these, you can use a small cup of water, a teaspoon full of pulverized coffee and another teaspoon full of sugar. Put the sugar and the water in a pot and let it come to a boil. Then take it off of the heat and add in the coffee, stir around well and let it come to a boil once again. As soon as the coffee starts to boil, take it off of the heat and slightly bump the bottom of the base until the foam dissipates. Do this two more times. Then boil it once more and take if off the heat, then use a spoon to pour some creamy foam in each cup before slowly pouring the coffee from the pot into the cups. If you like you can add in a cardamom seed in each cup or you can serve it with a cinnamon stick.