The Rise of Home Coffee Brewing: Essential Tools for Making Great Coffee

In recent years, the world has seen a significant rise in home coffee brewing. More and more coffee lovers are taking their passion for a good cup of joe into their own hands, literally. There are some essential tools for making great coffee at home.  With the right tools and a bit of knowledge, anyone can create a coffee experience at home that rivals their favorite cafe. At Fratello Coffee, we offer a range of brewing gear that can help you on this journey.

Hario V60 pour over

The Art of Coffee Making at Home

Home brewing is not just about making coffee. It's about the joy of learning, experimenting, and mastering a craft. It's about the satisfaction of knowing that you've created something delicious with your own hands. And most importantly, it's about the love of coffee.

Remember, the key to a great cup of coffee is not just the beans, but also the love and care you put into brewing it.  So why not join the home brewing revolution? Explore our range of brewing gear today and start your journey towards coffee perfection.

Coffee at home

Essential Tools for Home Brewing

  1. Aeropress

The Aeropress is a popular coffee brewing method known for its versatility and ease of use. It's a favorite among both beginners and professional baristas due to its forgiving nature and consistency in making great coffee. It's also perfect for camping and travel. The Aeropress uses a rapid, total immersion brewing process to make smooth, full-flavored coffee without bitterness and with very low acidity.

  1. Chemex

One of our most popular items is the Chemex® Three Cup Classic. This elegant coffee maker, designed in 1941, has stood the test of time. Its non-porous, heat-resistant glass construction, combined with scientifically designed filters, produces coffee with clarity and complexity. The Chemex® is not just a coffee maker, but a piece of art that adds a touch of sophistication to any kitchen.

Chemex coffee maker

  1. Hario V60 Pour Over

The Hario V60 is a cone-shaped pour-over coffee maker that allows you to brew clean, flavorful, and complex coffee. The name V60 comes from the dripper's design: the cone is angled at 60 degrees which allows water to flow towards the center, extending the amount of time the water is in contact with the coffee grounds.

  1. Hario Kettle

The Hario Kettle is known for its functionality and beautiful design. Its slim spout allows for precise pour-over brewing. The flat bottom allows for gas or electric heating and its stainless steel body provides durability.

Hario Kettle

  1. Syphon Brewer

The Syphon Brewer, also known as a vacuum pot, provides a brewing experience like no other. It uses a heat source to create pressure and generate a vacuum to brew coffee. This method is known for producing a clean, delicious cup of coffee.

  1. Brew Tea Infuser

A Brew Tea Infuser is a simple and effective way to brew loose leaf tea. It allows the tea leaves to expand and release their full flavor. It's reusable, easy to clean, and perfect for brewing a single cup or a whole pot.

  1. Porlex Grinder

The Porlex Grinder is a compact, portable hand grinder known for its durability and consistency. It's perfect for those who want freshly ground coffee on the go. Its ceramic burrs provide a precise grind, and its stainless steel body makes it a sturdy travel companion.

  1. Hario Ceramic Octo Coffee Mill

The Hario Ceramic Octo Coffee Mill is a hand grinder that combines style, functionality, and precision. Its ceramic burrs provide a consistent grind, and its wooden body gives it a classic look. It's perfect for those who appreciate theart of hand-grinding their coffee beans.

Syphon coffee maker

The Science Behind Brewing the Best Coffee at Home

Understanding the science behind brewing can enhance your coffee experience. Let's delve into the fascinating world of coffee brewing science.  We go much deeper into the details about dialing in your coffee recipes in an older post HERE.

The Role of Water

Water plays a crucial role in the brewing process. It's the solvent that extracts the flavors from the coffee grounds. The temperature of the water can significantly affect the taste of your coffee. Too hot, and you risk over-extraction, leading to a bitter taste. Too cold, and you may under-extract, resulting in a weak, underwhelming brew. The optimal temperature range is between 195 to 205 degrees Fahrenheit. 

The Importance of Grind Size

The size of your coffee grind also plays a significant role in the taste of your coffee. A finer grind will result in a stronger, more robust flavor, while a coarser grind will produce a lighter, more delicate taste. The grind size also affects the brewing time. A finer grind requires less brewing time than a coarser grind.

The Art of Extraction

Extraction is the process of dissolving the desirable flavors from the coffee grounds into the water. The goal is to achieve a balanced extraction, where the right amount of flavors are extracted to create a well-rounded and flavorful cup of coffee. Over-extraction can result in a bitter taste, while under-extraction can lead to a sour, acidic taste.

Aeropress Coffee Maker

The Joy of Experimentation

One of the joys of home brewing is the ability to experiment with different brewing methods, grind sizes, and brewing times to find your perfect cup of coffee. Don't be afraid to try different techniques and tweak the variables to suit your taste. Remember, the best cup of coffee is the one that tastes best to you.

The Community of Home Brewers

Joining the home brewing revolution means becoming part of a vibrant and passionate community of coffee lovers. There are numerous online forums, social media groups, and local meetups where you can share your experiences, learn from others, and even participate in home brewing competitions. It's a great way to connect with like-minded individuals and deepen your appreciation for the art of coffee brewing.

Conclusion

Home brewing is a rewarding and fulfilling hobby that can transform your daily coffee routine into a meaningful ritual. With the right tools and a bit of knowledge, you can create a coffee experience at home that rivals your favorite cafe. So why wait? Start your home brewing journey today and discover the joy of making your own perfect cup of coffee. Happy brewing!

How to Make AeroPress Coffee

When you’re craving a short, strong and delicious pick-me-up, look no further than the AeroPress. The AeroPress method is a favourite for coffee lovers because it does justice to specialty coffee with perfect, even extraction. If you’re finding your morning coffee routine is taking too long or isn’t tasting to your liking, consider adding this to your arsenal. Read the rest of this article to find out how you can make AeroPress coffee yourself.

AeroPress Coffee Maker

AeroPress style coffee is so established and beloved that there are even barista world championships for the best AeroPress. But don’t let that make you think it’s too complicated for you to master. On the contrary, making a delicious AeroPress is easy! Follow our complete guide to making a perfect AeroPress for a delicious single cup.

What does an AeroPress coffee taste like?

The AeroPress makes a small, bold cup of coffee with lots of clarity (ie. no sludge or coffee grind particles). While it does have the element of immersion just like a French press, it doesn’t have the same grittiness. In a way, it combines the best of a French press (immersion) and a pour over (clarity). The fine filter stops a lot of particles from passing through.

The brew ratio for an AeroPress is different from a standard pour over or drip coffee. While the ratio of a standard pour over is 1:16, the aeropress ratio is 1:13 (1 part coffee, 13 parts water). This makes for a strong tasting coffee. 

AeroPress Coffee process

What are the benefits of an AeroPress?

The AeroPress is a favourite for many reasons. It’s a great travel accessory for the stubborn coffee connoisseur. It works well if you’re staying in a hotel in another city where good coffee is scarce. It’s also perfect as a low-tech method of making coffee while camping or day-hiking.

The AeroPress is known for being easy to transport. Because it’s made of plastic, it’s shatterproof, virtually indestructible, and lightweight. And because it’s relatively small, it doesn’t take up too much room in your bag. 

It’s made of BPA-free plastic, so you don’t have to worry about plastic leaching from pouring hot water into the chamber. Generally, pouring hot (or even warm) water into plastic is not recommended as it can release harmful toxins.

After brewing, the AeroPress is easy to clean. Just hover over the organics bin and push the plunger until the spent coffee puck pops out. Then, rinse the outer part of the plunger to remove leftover grinds. 

The biggest benefit of the AeropPress is that it makes a truly delicious cup of coffee, and fast. It’s perfect if you’re craving a small, strong, delicious cup.

Is the AeroPress for me?

If you were hoping to make a large amount of coffee for a group, the AeroPress might not be for you. While you can make multiple cups, it’ll take some time, and everyone will have to wait their turn. For multi-serve options, check out the Chemex Classic 6 cup or the Hario Craft Coffee Maker.

If strong coffee isn’t your jam, you might not enjoy the AeroPress method. The 1:13 brew ratio makes for a strong cup. You might want to choose a brew method with a weaker ratio, like the pour over method, which has a ratio of 1:16.

Hario Kettle

How to make the perfect AeroPress:

Brew ratio: 

1:13 (1 part coffee, 13 parts water)

What you’ll need:

Pour over Kettle

  1. Begin by boiling your water. By the time you’re ready to brew, it should be about 60 seconds off the boil. For best results, use a gooseneck kettle, or pour your hot water into a heat-proof pitcher with a spout.
  2. Grab a paper AeroPress filter, and place it in the screw-on filter. Place the filter over the sink, and gently pour a bit of boiling water over the filter. This rinses the paper filter, preventing a papery taste. Once the filter is rinsed, screw the filter cap onto the chamber, and place on top of your favourite mug.
  3. Next, measure 17 grams of Fratello coffee. Grind your beans on the burr grinder on a medium-fine setting. The grind should be slightly finer than pour over. Place the grinds into the chamber, and give the chamber a firm tap to level out the coffee bed. Place the chamber on top of a mug, and place the mug on a weight scale. Set it to zero.

Coffee on scale

  1. Pour 220 mL of hot water very quickly over the grinds. Using the stir stick provided, gently stir the slurry to make sure all the grinds are submerged. Place the plunger on top of the slurry, but don’t plunge just yet. Placing the plunger just on top creates a vacuum so the water doesn’t draw down all at once. Set a timer for 2 minutes.
  2. After 2 minutes, begin your plunge. Slowly and gently plunge until you hear a hissing sound. Your AeroPress is ready. Enjoy.

AeroPress troubleshooting

If your AeroPress is tasting less than fantastic, here are some basic troubleshooting tips. You can’t fix a cup that’s already been brewed; just grind some new coffee, and start over. You only need 17 grams of coffee, after all!

Problems and solutions:

 

 

 

 

 

Looking for more tips for brewing that perfect cup of coffee? Check out our article on why you really need a burr grinder!



Holiday gift ideas for the coffee lover!

Happy Holidays from Fratello Coffee Roasters! We love enjoying great coffee all year round here at Fratello, and hope you do to.  At Christmas time why not pay special attention to the coffee lover on your list (that is usually most people on the list) and treat them to some great gift ideas from Fratello.

Here is our list for you. Lots of great coffee, some popular and really neat by-the-cup brew methods and tools for the home or professional Barista are all great options! Any questions call or email us and we would love to help.

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Chemex, Hario V60, French Press and Aeropress oh my!

Please join us November 3rd 1-3pm at Fratello Coffee Roasters to explore 1 coffee brewed 4 ways!

chemex single serve coffee single serve coffee aeropress

single serve coffee french press single serve coffee hario v60

We are going to take our award winning Costa Rican Rio Jorco Direct Trade coffee and show you how to prepare it 4 different ways. This class is all about discovering some simple, easy but really great alternative ways of brewing coffee in your café or restaurant or at home. There will be a chance to taste the coffee, try the brew methods yourself and a contest thrown in as well to win an Aeropress brewer!

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Want to brew great coffee at home?

Fratello has just begun selling two new coffee brewing devices which are now available on our on-line store.    The Chemex & Aeropress aren't new to the industry; however, are new to us.

Both of these devices brew coffee extremely well.  At the moment I'm really enjoying the Chemex.

I find that the extraction of this method brings out a syrup body and sweetness in the cup that is hard to match with other brewing methods.

This Aeropress is also very interesting.

This will certainly be my brew method of choice for when I'm traveling & camping.  It is fast, easy to use and requires very little clean up.  I get a very clean cup with this method of brewing and find it great with coffee that has a pronounced acidity.  (more…)