6 Different Ways to Make Coffee: Pros/Cons of Each

Hey there! If you are new to this site, so nice to meet you! My name is Allison and I love to write about all different topics including homeschooling, living a Christ-centered life, spiritual disciplines and self-care, etc. etc…. but some days I just have to write about lighter topics like COFFEE!

I absolutely love coffee! Maybe a little excessively… I love sweet coffee in the quiet mornings or an afternoon visit with a friend. I even don’t mind a black cup of joe on a late night out with the hubby. I’m always up for a cup of coffee; as a matter of fact, I am drinking one currently as I write this at 4:30 in the afternoon!

Being the coffee connoisseur that I am, I have tried to make coffee using MANY different processes. It seems over the last couple of years, there has a been a wave that led people into using fancy coffee makers that are now scaling back to simpler methods. Well, I’ve tried them all, and here is my honest review of each one PLUS what I am currently using now. Read on to find out which of the six it is!

#1 Standard Drip Coffee Pot

This is your standard coffee maker found in most households. This is the coffee maker I have used most often and also that which I revert back to when I tire of other methods.

Pros: A standard drip coffee pot is easy to use and can accommodate crowds usually able to produce 12 cups at a time. Relatively inexpensive and easy to find in stores. Some models have a built-in filter basket and don’t require purchasing filters, which can save on cost. Many models have a timer which you can program so your coffee is ready when you wake! (A great help in getting me out of bed early!)

Cons: The number one reason to avoid this type of coffeemaker is plastic tubing. Studies have shown that running super hot water through plastic tubes can be toxic to our bodies.

I have used this type of coffee maker for years, but have always kept my eye out for other options so I could avoid the plastic construction.

#2 Coffee & Espresso Station

These are the fancy shiny ones you see on display past the standard coffee pots. They usually have multiple nozzles, buttons and water tanks. I used to own this one by DeLonghi but the fuse gave out in the burner plate so the coffee pot wouldn’t brew anymore and we had to get rid of it.

Pros: It does it ALL! This coffee maker suits the basic coffee drinker (my hubby) and the fancy coffee drinker (me)! It produces the standard drip pot of coffee, as well as, espresso and lattes. Great for entertaining because you have the option of providing fancy coffee, without sacrificing the standard bulk coffee option. Most machines of this calibur have a timer option so that you can set your coffee to be ready when you wake! Some even have built in coffee grinders so you can have freshly ground coffee every morning.

Cons: As you might guess, these are machines are quite expensive. A quality machine typically costs around the $200 mark. Also the lattes are a little more tedious to make. Often times I found myself avoiding the process on a daily basis and only using the feature when entertaining. If you think that you won’t be diligent in using the more tedious latte maker, then you are better off saving your money and going with the standard drip coffee pot and hitting up Starbucks when you are wanting that fancier coffee treat! Also, like a standard drip coffee maker, these machines typically have plastic tubing where the hot water runs through.

#3 Keurig

These coffee makers have taken the world by storm with their signature K-Cups and most everyone has used one at some point another. Here is my quick run down of pros and cons:

Pros: One word: CONVENIENT!! Keurigs are so super convenient. You have a hot cup of coffee in about 90 seconds with the simple insertion of a K-Cup and the push of a button. These are the perfect coffeemakers for the solo coffee drinker in a household who only drinks a cup or two a day.

Cons: K-Cups can get to be a bit pricey compared to buying loose grounds. If you drink more than one or two cups a day this can burn a real hole in your wallet. Good news, however, if you are set on the Keurig: you can purchase a reusable mini filter basket so you can use loose grounds instead of using the K-Cups. Prefer the K-Cups?? Use your Kohl’s Cash to buy your K-Cups for almost free! Another con of these machines, like the first two coffeemakers, this machine runs hot water through plastic tubing. If you are looking to avoid running hot water through plastic tubing see options 4 through 6.

#4 French Press

If you are not familiar with a French Press coffee maker, let me introduce you to this lovely way of making coffee! A French Press is simply the process of mixing coarsely ground coffee with hot water. After letting the grounds steep for approximately 5 minutes, you simply push the mesh plunger mechanism down to force the grounds to the bottom leaving delicious rich hot coffee above and ready to pour!

Pros: An absolutely delicious cup of rich, strong coffee! And with no plastic construction at all, it’s another win! French Presses are made of glass with a metal plunger that comes apart for cleaning. These are great for the person who likes good rich coffee and only drinks a cup or two in the morning. It’s also perfect for that afternoon cup of coffee.

Cons: Usually only make 2-4 cups at a time, so not great if you make more than that on a daily basis. Also, if you like a cup of coffee ready fast, then the French Press isn’t for you. All in, the French Press Coffee can take about 10-15 minutes to make, and you must be present on and off during that process. This may not seem like a big deal to some of you, but if you are a zombie in the morning like myself, then that might be a little too much pre-coffee labor. Also, since this is a manual coffee maker, there is no heating element, so be prepared to reheat that second cup.

#5 The Pour-Over Method

Another manual coffee method and honestly my least favorite of the six. Don’t get me wrong this method produces a delicious cup of coffee with out running hot water through plastic tubes, but it’s not my favorite… I’ll explain.

Pros: Not plastic construction. There are many different pour over mechanisms to choose from. The one above is a mesh basket that is large enough to make an entire pot which is great for big coffee drinkers. There are also one cup pour over coffee makers made of ceramic or silicone. All are great options in terms of product material.

Cons: The Pour Over Method is a very slow tedious process. After boiling the water and situating the grounds and the pour over mechanism, you must slowly pour the water over the grounds. It does not drain quickly, which is actually a good thing if you like a flavorful cup of coffee. However, if you are a zombie mom in the early morning like myself… this might be more work than people like us can handle. It can take up to 10 minutes to pour the hot water in and that’s a long time for tired non-morning people like myself. I like to wake up early, but I like to have my coffee waiting for me (high maintenance… yes definitely when it comes to coffee!) Also, like the French Press, there is no heating element to this coffee maker, so the first cup might be hot, but any cups that follow will need to be reheated.

#6 Percolator

Yay! We are to the final coffee maker and my favorite. This vintage coffee making machine is making a comeback in our modern world! Oh yeah! I discovered this awesome machine when having coffee at my neighbor’s house and ran out and bought one shortly after. Here is the one that I use:

Pros: Where Do I even Start? With an all stainless steel interior, this coffee maker is perfect for those trying to avoid running hot water through plastic tubing. I was told that a percolator makes THE perfect pot of coffee and that is no doubt the truth! Coffee is perfectly brewed not too weak and not too strong, and it stays HOT as long as you need it to. Percolator coffee makers are available in many sizes (up to 100 cups). We have a 12-cup which is perfect for my husband and I and for entertaining. This is also an easy to clean machine and no filters are necessary (depending on your model). It is literally the best of both worlds, it has no plastic and makes a delicious cup like French Press, but it works by simply plugging it!

Cons: There is no on/off switch or timer. You can not program this to be ready when you wake up. It simply starts percolating when you plug it in. With that being said, you can plug it into a timer outlet and set that. OR if you have an Alexa, you can purchase an Alexa compatible plug and program Alexa to start it at a certain time every day! Also there is no automatic shut off, so you must unplug the coffee maker when you are finished to avoid burning coffee.

Also it takes a few pots to figure out how many grounds to use. It does come with an instruction booklet, but I still found I had to experiment a bit before I successfully made a pot without grounds over flowing into the coffee. For the percolator coffee maker pictured above I use 6 tablespoons of grounds for 8 cups of water and have no issue with over flow 🙂 and it is oh so delicious!

Well, there you have it! Six different coffee makers and my honest review of each! What is your favorite way to make coffee??

xoxo Allison