Hey there partner! If you’re reading this blog post, you’re one of two people:
- You’re beginning to find out about the joys of coffee and you want to save a lil money instead of going to Starbucks every day and putting a second mortgage on your house to feed your addiction
OR
- You found out that I have my own coffee company and you love me; but don’t have a clue about coffee, and you’re looking for a new addiction!
No matter why you’re here or how you found your way here, I’m just happy that you’re here! I hope that this guide is helpful for you to choose a home coffee machine that works best for you, and produces some coffee that brings you a little more light & life to your day.
Coffee Brewing Essentials:
Necessities for all systems:
Coffee grinder: $50-100 (depending on what you get. Freshly ground coffee makes the WORLD of a difference!! For best home coffee, you should buy whole beans from store/coffee shop and grind them to use. That is the best and sole most important thing on this list! Grind your own coffee). Make sure the you are buying a burr grinder, as this is the most consistent type of coffee grinders for your coffee. Some brands that I would recommend are cuisinart (this was my first coffee grinder!), Baratza (a little more expensive, but super consistent and lasts forever!), and Breville (Again more expensive, but absolutely a work horse and will last forever!).
Kitchen scale: $15 (it is so easy to find great tips/how-to guides for all of the coffee options, but they will all have measurements for your coffee. If you get a scale, you can measure out your coffee and have consistent results every time!)
Different types of brewing methods
Pour over:
Pour over brewing is exactly what the name suggests; you pour water over the coffee grounds to make the coffee. The two different brewing methods in this category will be the chemex pour over, and the v-60 pour over. There will be some similarities to both of these products, so I will list the components needed and links to these products as well. Pour over coffees focus on keeping the lighter coffee notes present through high grade filters. If you enjoy light to medium roast coffees, pour overs are the most ideal method to brew light to medium roasts.
Chemex Materials Needed:
Chemex: chemex makes different size glasses, so go to their website to see the price range for different glass sizes. https://chemexcoffeemaker.com/collections/coffeemakers
I recommend the 8 cup size because it is the standard, and is the most versatile for the price. Average chemex price is $51.
Amazon also has chemex+filter combos that are super clutch!! CHEMEX Bundle – 8-Cup Classic Series – 100 ct Square Filters – Exclusive Packaging https://a.co/d/gS3ElpA
Chemex filters: if you buy the chemex/filter combo, skip this step! If you buy a chemex without the filters, you’ll need this for sure. You can buy them squared or rounded, both do the exact same thing (squared are a lot cheaper) price range: $8-22
Gooseneck kettle: you will need a gooseneck kettle to pour into the chemex. There are a ton of options for gooseneck kettles, it just depends on what you want for budget/ease of use. I have an electric kettle
($70) COSORI Electric Gooseneck Kettle Smart Bluetooth with Variable Temperature Control, Pour Over Coffee Kettle & Tea Kettle, 100% Stainless Steel Inner Lid & Bottom, Quick Heating, Matte Black https://a.co/d/dZhwOah
I don’t have to use the stove and that’s lowkey convenient, but if you want to save money getting a cheaper kettle is the way to go. I bought my mother-in-law this kettle and it works fantastic!
Bean Envy Pour Over Coffee Kettle – 40 oz, Stainless Steel, Gooseneck Coffee and Tea Kettle with Thermometer and Ergonomic Handle https://a.co/d/8OAQ1yn
Total chemex materials price: $80-150
V-60 Materials Needed:
V-60: Hario is the main producer of the V-60 brewing method. They make filters in 1 cup and 2 cup range. This is the perfect personal brewing method, if you are looking to make a single cup of coffee at a time. I would recommend getting the 2 cup (this is the standard) because a normal cup of coffee is 5oz so you’re gonna be getting basically half a cup of coffee with the 1 cupper. Get yourself a normal cup of coffee with the 2 cup! Hario also has a full v-60 bundle kit with the v-60, filters, a serving mug, and a measuring spoon for $50!
Individual v-60: Hario V60 Ceramic Coffee Dripper Pour Over Cone Coffee Maker Size 02, White https://a.co/d/g2UjwGO
V-60 bundle: Hario V60 Coffee Pour Over Kit Bundle Set – Comes with Ceramic Dripper, Range Server Glass Pot, Measuring Spoon, and 100 Count Package of Hario 02W Coffee Filters https://a.co/d/9k0Gj2s
V-60 filters: like the chemex, if you went with the bundle skip this step! If not, I would buy hario brand individual filters (sorry Mother Earth) reusable filters are going to hold the past coffee scents/flavors and will ultimately change the cup of coffee over time. Plus filters are fairly cheap ($8 for 100). It’s worth the money.
Hario V60 Paper Coffee Filters, Size 02, Natural, 200 Count https://a.co/d/1EqTejH
Gooseneck kettle: you will need a gooseneck kettle for this as well, links above! Price range from $30-70
Total V-60 Price: $70-120
French Press:
French presses are one of the simplest and effective ways to make coffee. They do not need a filter, they are easy to clean, and make coffee fast and efficiently! French presses are best used for medium to dark roasted coffees. Because there is no filter, the coffee grounds get brewed together and enriched the coffee flavor that you get. At the same time, you can lose some of the lighter tasting notes along the way. French presses are also versatile! You can make 1-4 cups in the same pot: all you have to do is change the amount of water and coffee you use. The one downside of the French press is that it uses a lot of coffee. That rich coffee taste comes with a price: using more coffee grounds, which will up how much you buy beans, and over the year can add up (for example, 32oz of coffee with my pour over uses 36g of beans, 32oz of coffee in my French press uses 64g!) however, what you spend on beans over the year, you’ll probably save in not having to buy filters in the long run.
French Press Materials Needed:
French press: there are so many!!! You really can’t go wrong here. They all range from $20-50, and anything over $50 is a waste of money in my opinion. One thing to consider is that stainless steel is going to hold heat better than glass, but glass French presses are BEAUTIFUL! I wouldn’t hesitate to go either way. If you want a beautiful French press sitting on your counter? Go for it!! If you want something more efficient, do that as well. No matter what you do, buy one with a good plunger. If you buy a bad plunger, you will have coffee grounds in your cup and you will hate yourself for it. Here are some solid buys to give you different price points/things to look for as you find the perfect press.
Stainless steel: POLIVIAR French Press Coffee Maker, 34 oz Coffee Press with Teak Wood Handle, Double Wall Insulation & Dual-Filter Screen, Food Grade Stainless Steel for Good Coffe and Tea (Flatland) https://a.co/d/3FZ4ybp
Glass: DUJUST Gold French Press Coffee Maker, Luxury Design French Coffee Press with 4-Level Filter System, High-Grade Glass for Hot & Cold Resistance, Include Long Size 304 Stainless Steel Spoon – 34oz https://a.co/d/djRiUFI
My French press: Coffee Gator French Press Coffee Maker – Thermal Insulated Brewer Plus Travel Jar – Large Capacity, Double Wall Stainless Steel – 34oz – Gray https://a.co/d/eL6ugl1
Gooseneck kettle: same as pour over section, you’ll still need one though! Price range: $30-70
Total French Press Price: $50-120
Traditional Coffee Pot:
Old faithful. Good old reliable coffee. The OG Set and forget. Traditional coffee makers are so easy, consistent, and great for making a bunch of coffee! By far the easiest process on this list. Put the coffee in the filter, click brew and watch it do its thing! It is good for all roasts and makes a really well rounded cup of coffee. The only downside to the traditional coffee maker is that it’s made to make a lot of coffee. If you just want a cup for yourself, it can feel kind of wasteful. Unless you drink a whole pot of coffee, then we need to talk. Great for hosting and making a bunch at one time, but even in my house with Amanda and I, it wouldn’t get much use (that’s why we don’t have one lol).
Traditional materials needed:
Coffee maker: there is a ton of coffee makers out there! I’m sending you a list of the best coffee pots on the market and you can choose what price point suits you best. https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/reviews/best-drip-coffee-maker
Avg. range: $30-150
Coffee filters: these would be coffee maker specific, and they’ll tell you which ones to buy on the coffee maker! Avg. range: $10-20
Total Traditional Price: $40-170
Espresso Machine:
By far the most expensive on this list, but also the most versatile, and can save you a ton of money Year over year on your favorite drinks (Starbucks at home? Wahoo!!) with the ability to make espresso, you have the ability to make lattes, americanos, iced coffee, etc. overall just a great product (you definitely pay for what you get!!).
Espresso Machine Materials Needed:
Espresso machine: Just like the traditional coffee brewers, all you really need is the machine. And depending on what machine you get, you wouldn’t need to get a grinder either (could save you a little money up front!). I’m sending a link to a super informative and great article on different priced espresso machines/functions, all listed with price points! Avg. price range: $120-750
https://www.thespruceeats.com/best-espresso-cappuccino-machines-4128791
Total espresso machine cost: $120-750
TLDR Recap:
Total prices (grinder and scale included)
Chemex: $145-215
V-60: $135-185
French Press: $115-185
Traditional Coffee Maker: $105-235
Espresso machine: $185-815
I hope this guide has been helpful to see what some of your options for at-home brewing would look like. If you decide to go with any of these machines and male your coffee bar a little bigger, let me know! I hope you scoop up a bag of L&L beans to add to your coffee bar as well!