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If you're still using an automatic coffee-maker, you're doing it wrong.
Manually brewing your coffee lets you control every step of the process, from the grind, to water temperature, to steeping time. By experimenting with different equipment and fine-tuning your method, you can get a cup that's personalized to your tastes each and every time.
I tested five different manual coffee-brewing systems over the course of several months, assessing each for consistency, efficiency and ease-of-use. With each system, I brewed a few batches of coffee according to the manufacturer's instructions, and then I varied my method by adding my own spin. I also used a Bonavita electric kettle to heat water to exact temperatures, when necessary. For beans, I used a few pounds of The Blend from our friends at Weaver's Coffee and Tea, a local roaster here in the Bay Area.
I didn't test popular pour-over products like the Kalita Wave or Hario V60 drippers. While they make excellent cups, we decided to limit this test to single devices that both brew and hold the coffee so we could test several products that each use different brewing methods. The Chemex, being a pour-over gadget, represents that particular method in the round-up, and the fact that the brew cone and the carafe are a single, self-contained unit led us to include it here.
So come in, saddle up, have a cup.
All Photos: Alex Washburn/Wired
