Which Manual Brew Method Is Your Method?

There’s more than one way to make a great cup of coffee.

Some of us want something quick, clean and fuss-free. Others enjoy weighing every gram, timing every pour and chasing those tiny flavour differences hiding inside a coffee.

Whatever your approach, there’s a manual brew method for you.

So, which one sounds like you?

AeroPress - the quick thinker

You like your coffee clean, quick and without too much faff.

The AeroPress is hard to beat when you want great coffee without turning your kitchen into a science lab. It’s compact, forgiving and beginner-friendly, but there’s plenty of room to experiment once you get the hang of it.

There are seemingly endless AeroPress recipes to explore so much so that there’s even a whole AeroPress Championship dedicated to finding new and creative ways to brew with one.

Our favourite is the inverted method.

Our go-to AeroPress recipe

15g coffee
250g water

1. Add 15g of coffee to your AeroPress.

2. Start your timer and add 50g of water.

3. Let it bloom for 30 seconds.

4. Add the remaining 200g of water.

5. Give it a gentle stir to make sure everything is nicely saturated.

6. Let it sit until around 2 minutes.

7. Wet the filter and screw on the top tight, carefully flip the AeroPress onto your cup and press slowly.

The result? A clean, balanced cup with plenty of flavour without spending half your morning brewing it.

Perfect for: beginners, busy mornings and anyone who likes a recipe they can play around with.

V60 - The Coffee Nerd

You enjoy the details.

The V60 is for the curious coffee drinker. The one who notices the difference between a washed and natural coffee, gets excited about tasting notes and doesn't mind spending a few extra minutes getting the brew just right.

Unlike some of the more forgiving methods, the V60 gives you plenty of control. You can adjust your grind size, pouring technique, water temperature and timing to bring out different characteristics in the coffee.

It's particularly good for those delicate, intricate flavours that can sometimes get lost in a heavier brew.

And that's what makes it so much fun.

Our foolproof V60 recipe

15g coffee
250g water

1. Place your filter in the V60 and give it a good rinse with hot water.

2. Add 15g of freshly ground coffee.

3. Start your timer and pour 50g of water to bloom.

4. Leave for 30 seconds.

5. Continue pouring in 50g increments every 30 seconds.

6. Aim for a total brew time of around 2–3 minutes.

Once you've got the basics down, start experimenting. Try a finer grind. Change your pouring speed. Play around with your ratios.

You might even discover something completely different hiding inside the same bag of coffee.

Perfect for: the coffee obsessive, flavour chaser and anyone who enjoys getting a little nerdy with their brew.

Chemex - The Entertainer

You like good coffee, good company and making a bit of a thing out of it.

The Chemex is a bit of a show-off and we mean that in the best possible way.

With its glass body and distinctive wooden collar, it looks as good sitting on the table as it does brewing coffee. And because it makes a larger batch, it's ideal when you've got friends round and don't want to make four separate cups.

The thick paper filter produces a particularly clean and elegant cup, making it a great way to appreciate the more subtle characteristics of a filter coffee.

Put it in the middle of the table, get everyone involved and let the coffee do the talking.

Perfect for: Sunday mornings, dinner parties, coffee with friends and anyone who believes coffee should be shared.

French Press - The Traditionalist

You don't need fancy equipment. You just want a proper cup of coffee.

The French Press has been doing its thing for generations and there's a reason it has stuck around.

It's simple. Add coffee, add water, wait, press and pour.

No elaborate pouring technique. No paper filter. No scales required if you don't want them.

The metal mesh filter allows more of the coffee's natural oils through, giving you a fuller, heavier cup than methods like the V60 or Chemex.

It's the kind of coffee you can make half-awake on a Sunday morning and still get something delicious in the mug.

Perfect for: traditionalists, slow mornings and anyone who wants their coffee simple and satisfying.

So, which one are you?

AeroPress if you want quick, clean and easy.

V60 if you're here for the details.

Chemex if coffee is better when it's shared.

French Press if you like to keep things classic.

But here's the fun part, the method is only half of the equation, the coffee you put in it can completely change the experience!

Our filter range is packed with coffees that are worth experimenting with from bright, delicate washed coffees to juicy naturals and everything in between. Try a different coffee, try a different recipe, change your grind and see what happens.

Want to see it in action?

We've put together our YouTube brew guides to take you through the different methods, step by step.

So grab your favourite brewer, pick a bag of filter coffee and let's get brewing.

[WATCH OUR BREW GUIDES → HERE]