Filter coffee: A short comparison between manual and automated brewing.
Filter coffee is about brewing coffee without brewing coffee with the absence of added pressure. The lack of pressure allows for more gentle extraction while the larger volume of water opens up more flavours at the expense of intensity (compared to espresso). Given, there are toys like the Aeropress that fall into a grey area but for the most part that would be the understanding. Under the filter umbrella, you’d normally have batch brewing and manual (hand) brewing. They then break off into an endless tree of sub-styles and methods like V60 & Origami drippers, mokapots, Chemex and Kalita Wave. We’re not going to cover all of that here, because my fingers will be very tired.
Hand brewing as its name suggests is all about YOU. Hand brewing gives you precise and instant control over these variables:
Temperature (higher temp= higher rate of extraction)
Pre-infusion volume (water) and blooming time
Brewing ratio (you may change this at any time during the brew)
Pour-over/ full immersion (V60/French press)
Agitation ETC.
There’s a lot of potential to influence the final cup. It’s an amazing way to learn about coffee extraction variables! The downside is that it can consume a lot of money (time too) because you’re always looking for new toys. It can be a headache when you’re brewing multiple cups, but you asked for it…right? I would recommend a plastic V60 dripper as a start as it’s inexpensive and widely covered so you have a larger pool of knowledge to draw from. It also enjoys a greater filter paper selection from multiple manufacturers so you can taste how filter papers affect cup quality.
Batch brewing lies on the other side of the filter coin - loathed by some coffee enthusiasts for being a bit lazy and its non-artisanal nature because there’s not much for you to do. The upfront costs are definitely higher but you pay for repeatability. However that isn’t to say that making a batch brew doesn’t require skill, it just means that some of the variables have been locked and automated so you’re limited to other variables like choosing the right coffee, grind size brewing ratio etc.
Well engineered machines are extremely consistent once you’ve locked down your recipes. They’re also convenient to work with; imagine the things you can do in 6 minutes working at a cafe (churn out some espresso drinks); or even at home - pee and brush your teeth. Your coffee will stay warm while you do other things. Batch brewing also makes a delicious coffee if you use it right. It’s a joy to use a machine when you’re understaffed haha!
The downside is that eventually there may be some repairs or part replacements needed and those can cost more due to proprietary components.
Personally, I’ve only used the Technivorm Moccamaster extensively. It pretty much never let me down at the cafe I was working at. Consistent and delicious. At times the coffee did suck, but that was all on me.
If you’re keen to get one, you can do so here (no, we don’t earn anything from it). It’s beautiful on the counter at home, low-key luxury. Admittedly, I am slightly biased but it has gotten me through some tough service times and you really can’t go wrong with one.
If you don’t want to buy an heirloom product like the Moccamaster, keep these things in mind when you’re choosing a machine and you should be on the right path:
Consistently reasonable temperature and consistent intervals (repeatability & reduced risk of overextraction)
Well built (because it’s a hassle to continually repair)
Good warranty program and spare part availability (because when it does need repairing…it can be repaired)
Beautiful (why not?)
Easy to understand (so that nobody breaks it)
In conclusion, you would want to go with manual brewing if you enjoy the ritual, you want to learn more about variables or you just want control in all aspects. If you’re focus is for better repeatability and more efficiency, please consider getting a machine for brewing.
I hope this has shed some light on the topic. In the meantime you can always get in touch with us if you have any questions, we’ll get back to you as soon as we can!
