Which Brewer Is Best?
When you’re into something, is there anything more fun than looking at all the gadgets you can buy for it? It seems to be an integral part of the enthusiast experience. Into bikes? These aero wheels might make you a little faster, and they look so cool… Into computers? You could probably use a RAM upgrade. Into baking? How about a mini mill to mill your own grains into flour? And on and on. Coffee is no different, of course.
So you’ve got ABC brewer. Should you buy XYZ brewer? Will it make your coffee better?
The short answer to “which brewer is best” is simply the one that you are the most comfortable with, which really boils down to the one that you’ve used the most.
There are some differences between brewers of course, but there are really only two things that matter…
Grinders and Extraction
Extraction is the process of water removing the soluble material from the coffee grounds to give you your finished beverage. If you don’t extract enough soluble material, your coffee will be weak, watery, sour, vegetal, and/or underwhelming. This kind of brew is commonly referred to as “underextracted.” If you extract “too much” (this is in parenthesis for a reason - keep reading) soluble material, your coffee will be harsh, bitter, and/or astringent (mouth-drying). This kind of brew is commonly referred to as “overextracted.” If you extract the right amount of soluble material, your brew will be balanced, sweet, smooth, and full of origin character (perhaps fruity, perhaps floral, perhaps savory, etc).
