I've played around with many other methods, my favorites are:
- Areopress: It will offer the most control over everything.
- Clever: Makes a delicious cup with very little effort.
Both are hybrids, and do quite well imho.

But in all honesty, between the person, coffee, grinder and brewer, the brewer is the least important. Any brewer can be good if you practice and learn how to get the best out.

If you want to geek out, watch this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0N6ygb1Ypg

CwD wrote:With everything done right using the blue bottle method, I can taste things I've only tasted in espresso.

This is exactly why I've always wanted to try Blue Bottle's Nel Drip recipe. I'm officially off the fence. Thanks for the nudge.

nickw wrote:I've played around with many other methods, my favorites are:
- Areopress: It will over the most control over everything.
- Clever: Makes a delicious cup with very little effort.
Both are hybrids, and do quite well imho.

+1

If you (the OP) want to make coffee for slightly larger amounts of people, then a bigger Chemex is for you. Like with the afore mentioned, everything is controllable and that is what matters.

Control (over the brew) makes things repeatable. And when you get good coffee, you probably want to make it again.

nickw wrote:
If you want to geek out, watch this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0N6ygb1Ypg

Interesting thing is he seems to brew his v60 for about 6 minutes.... Most references I've read are closer to 3 minutes give or take 30 seconds....

RyanJE wrote:Interesting thing is he seems to brew his v60 for about 6 minutes.... Most references I've read are closer to 3 minutes give or take 30 seconds....

Do you mean when he talks about different filters a 31:10?

If so, he was contrasting some new v60 filters with took 6min to brew, where with the previous grind and filters it was 3min. In the case of the new filter, you will need to adjust your grind size.

Always Aeropress as second choice. Versitality is second to none, fast , easy cleaning, control over everything.

I used a Moka pot recently and was happy with the results.

Starbucks instant light roast and a glass pipe? I kid.

For espresso, there really is no substitute.

Other pleasant forms of coffee, assuming good grinder:

Drip with Ratio/Kone if I want more than one cup

CCD with Melita bamboo filters if I want only one cup

Dragon if I am feeling really ambitious/nerdy/mad scientist

Cold brew any style, if it is the real thing, made fresh

nickw wrote:Do you mean when he talks about different filters a 31:10?

If so, he was contrasting some new v60 filters with took 6min to brew, where with the previous grind and filters it was 3min. In the case of the new filter, you will need to adjust your grind size.

I caught that part also, but no... Watch the timing as he brews his v60. From the start of bloom it takes him about 5.5 minutes before he is done. Looks like the water barely even drains. ALSO interesting that he seems to pour around the edges every time, which is the exact opposite of all other methods I've seen??

CwD wrote:My favorite out of the many I have is the Woodneck with it's flannel filter. With everything done right using the blue bottle method, I can taste things I've only tasted in espresso.

Can you give some pointers as to what some of the key aspects of this method are? How coarse are the grinds for this approach? I've tried it a few times now, and when I invert the filter to dump grinds, most of them at the bottom of the sock are not fully hydrated. Perhaps I'm not grinding coarse enough.

The brews at 1:4 - 1:5 are good but not particularly espresso-like. I've varied a few things like brew time (up to 6min) but am still left wanting more.

Using some fresh medium roasts from La Colombe. Thanks.