Filter Coffee for Home

Making espresso at home isn’t for everyone; It can take up a bunch of bench space, create a lot of mess, and require a bit of practice to get right (not to mention the investment $$).

Filter coffee however can be a cheaper, space conscious and easy way to make coffee at home. Generally enjoyed black, it will help you familiarise origins with flavour profile and educate your pallet on selecting your favourite singles and process. Always select “Filter roast” when buying coffee if you like it black. For a darker/heavier coffee or with milk, you can go for one of the blends.

Where to start?

There's a lot of different options for manual brewing at home, and it can be hard to know what's good and where to start. Let’s run through the different options, and the pros and cons of each.

Scales

Kettle

Timer

Coffee

You can get scales with a built in timer designed for brewing coffee for a pretty affordable price.

Things you should get:

Grinder

Kettle

Fortunately for filter coffee brewing, you can get a trusty hand grinder that will work just fine if you’re on a budget. Or a really expensive hand grinder if you like.

Bonus things:

Temperature variable kettle
Gooseneck kettle

A good way to customise your filter coffee is to adjust your temperature, however it isn’t a requirement unless you’re changing between darker and lighter roasts.

Gooseneck kettles have a particular kind of spout that slows the flow of water and lets the user control where the water contacts the coffee.

Some brewing devices only need a normal kettle, however some will definitely need a gooseneck to work to their full potential. You can also buy gooseneck kettles that boil on the stove or that you can fill with hot water from a normal kettle which are a lot cheaper than buying powered, gooseneck kettles.

Brewing devices:

AEROPRESS Personally I think this is the best brewing device for beginners and is still a favourite among professionals. You don't need a goose-neck kettle to use it, if you like to travel it is extremely portable, whether camping or in a hotel. The best part is that cleaning it is a dream. Pros: Easy to use, Portable, Cheap, Sturdy Cons: Small (not great for multiple people)

CLEVER COFFEE BREWER The clever brewer combines gravity brewing (where water is pulled through coffee via gravity) and immersion brewing (Coffee that brews in unmoving water e.g. french press). You can use a goose-neck kettle or basic kettle, and it fits different filter papers or a metal filter if you have a preference. Pros: Beginner friendly, Affordable, Flexible Cons: Fragile (I’ve broken two)

KALITA WAVE Our personal favourite at Gabriel Coffee. The Kalita wave is a flat bottom, gravity dripper with only three small holes for the coffee to escape. The slow flow rate and flat bottom allow for a coarse grind which can make it easier to get nice flavours out of grinders that aren’t the best. Pros: Unbreakable (stainless steel), Consistent brews Cons: Specific filter papers aren't sold everywhere

V60 The V60 is named after its shape and the angle of the sides. It's a favourite of professional baristas due to the skill level involved for brewing and the clean, high quality coffee it makes when you get it right. The V60 definitely requires the use of a gooseneck kettle. Pros: Delicious, Challenging Cons: Less consistent, Takes practice

Hopefully this gives you a good a better idea of a few brewers you might want to get your hands on.

Happy Brewing