You can buy books on how to brew coffee and spend days researching various methods from the world’s best baristas but it comes down to a few key things
Origin of the beans
Age of the beans and travel time
Quality of the grind
Quality of the tools
Technique
Technique is everything. The best beans from a single origin brewed right across the street from you placed in a $400-$1,000 grinder can still taste terrible if your technique is bad. I’ve spent years brewing coffee that is supermarket el-cheapo before buying high quality beans because you’re just wasting your money if you don’t have the technique. At home, I use these brewing methods
- French Press
- Chemex
- Melitta
- Moke Pot
- Aeropress (on order)
- On my list: Vacuum & esperesso machine (both are very expensive)
You’ll notice that a Mr. Coffee doesn’t exist in my home setup because the coffee is bland, boring, burned and watered down.
I am not qualified to teach anyone how to brew coffee but Stumptown Coffee Roasters based in Portland has a fantastic website with guides on the most popular brewing methods. French Press is a good starting method then I’d move to single cup pour-over followed by Chemex. Aeropress is easy but it’s too easy.
I encourage you to check out their site and take notes. very well designed and easy to navigate:
http://www.stumptowncoffee.com/guides