The Best Ways to Make Coffee, According to Baristas (2024)

When it comes to the best ways to make coffee, plenty of people have Strong Opinions on how it should be done, what gadgets are necessary or not, and what exactly constitutes a good cup. We’re here to say—let’s all take a breath. “The perfect cup of coffee is the one you enjoy,” says Areli Barrera de Grodski, co-owner of Little Waves Coffee Roasters and Cocoa Cinnamon coffee shop in Durham, North Carolina. We could pit the French press against the pour-over and debate which method is better all day, but the truth is, most baristas agree that you can brew great coffee with any method and any tools you have on hand. Whether you love the ritual of making your cup manually or you adore your automatic coffee maker, there’s no wrong method—but each has its pluses and minuses. We spoke to Barrera de Grodski and other coffee experts about their favorite ways to make coffee at home and how to improve your morning cup of joe, regardless of how you like to brew it.

Drip Coffee Maker

If your household drinks a lot of coffee or you just want something that’s convenient and essentially foolproof, Barrera de Grodski believes that a solid batch brewer (a.k.a. drip machine) is the way to go. “I love the idea of pressing a button and making good coffee that’s well-balanced, slightly sweet, and so good that it doesn’t need milk or sugar,” she says. “I can easily achieve that with my batch coffee maker.” The flavor of your cup, she explains, will depend on the water you’re using, the ratio of grounds to water, and, of course, the type of coffee itself. For better coffee, start with freshly roasted beans and filtered water and use a scale to measure a coffee-to-water ratio of 1-to-16, or 16 grams of water for every gram of coffee. Note: This is a great starting ratio, but you can (and should!) adjust according to your preference.

When it comes to making coffee at home, Sarah Elisabeth Huggins, co-owner of Daughter in Brooklyn, New York, is also on team automatic coffee machine: “I love my Moccamaster, and have no shame in filling it with Café Bustelo.” Baristas also recommend the Bonavita 8-cup Coffee Maker, which Barrera de Grodski likes specifically for its showerhead dripper, which evenly disperses the water onto a flat bed of coffee and allows for an even extraction.

The French Press

If you’re into rich, full-bodied coffee, then the French press is for you. This method brews by soaking ground coffee directly in hot water—sans filter—rather than letting water pass through the grounds. Aki Yaguchi, head barista at Migrant Coffee in Melbourne, Australia, likes this method for its robust flavor: “Since the water sits in contact with the coffee for longer without a filter, the results are more well-rounded with bolder, richer flavor,” she says, “It’s creamier and less watery.”

Here’s how it works: Pour the grounds into the carafe, fill it with hot water, and stir it to make sure all of the coffee is properly saturated. Wait four minutes, put the lid on, and slowly depress the plunger to isolate all of the grounds at the bottom of the carafe.