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Home Coffee Brewing 101: What You Need to Know Before You Start

All Things Brewing

4 mins read

Brewing specialty coffee at home can be incredibly rewarding. But before you start buying gear or pulling shots, let’s take a step back.

What kind of coffee do you actually want to make?

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the key things to consider before diving into home brewing. Think of it as your pre-brew roadmap to consistently good results — without wasting time, money, or beans!

Step One: Choose Your Path – Filter or Espresso?

There are two main brewing paths when it comes to home coffee:

Filter Coffee (e.g. Pour Over, French Press, AeroPress)

Ideal if you love black coffee or batch brewing

Lower cost of entry

Great for highlighting origin characteristics and clarity

Less equipment

Espresso-Based Coffee

Perfect if your go-to order at the café is espresso or milk coffee

Higher investment in equipment

Rich, intense coffee experience

Steep (but rewarding!) learning curve

Not sure which to choose?

If you're just starting out and want a more accessible experience, filter brewing is a great entry point.If you’re set on replicating your flat white or long black at home, espresso is your path.

Preparing to Brew

Filter Coffee: What You’ll Need to Get Started

1. Good Beans!

Not those questionable ones from the supermarket. You’ll want freshly roasted specialty coffee. Lighter to medium roasts are ideal for filter brewing; they bring out the unique characteristics of the coffee’s origin.

2. A Consistent Grinder

A burr grinder is essential. It delivers an even grind size, which directly impacts your extraction and flavour.

Pro Tip: Grind your beans right before brewing. It minimises the loss of aromatic compounds and makes your coffee taste noticeably more vibrant and expressive.

Recommended Manual Grinders:

Timemore Chestnut

Comandante C40

Recommended Electric Grinder:

Fellow Ode (designed specifically for filter brewing)

3. Your Brewer of Choice

Pour Over (V60, Kalita, Origami): clean and nuanced

French Press: bold and full-bodied

AeroPress: compact, quick, and versatile

4. Scale & Gooseneck Kettle

Recommended Coffee Scales:

Brewista Smart Coffee Scale II

Acaia Pearl (if budget allows)

Recommended Electric Gooseneck Kettles:

Fellow Stagg EKG

Brewista Artisan

5. Filtered Water

Don’t overlook water quality. A Brita jug is a solid start. If you want to get fancy, Third Wave Water lets you dial in the ideal mineral profile for brewing.

Preparing to Brew

Espresso Coffee: What You’ll Need to Get Started

1. Choose the Right Beans for Espresso

For milk coffee drinkers: Start with a blend, ideally roasted darker than a typical filter roast.

For black coffee drinkers: Try a single origin, roasted slightly lighter than a milk-focused blend.

2. Espresso Machine Options

Breville The Infuser (Entry-Level)

Breville Dual Boiler (For Milk Coffee Lovers)

La Marzocco Linea Micra (For Enthusiasts)

3. Don’t Buy Machines with Built-In Grinders

They often lack grind consistency and offer limited adjustment control. Not to mention drama if something gets stuck!

4. Invest in a Dedicated Espresso Grinder

Breville Smart Grinder Pro

Eureka Mignon Specialita

Niche Zero

5. Get a Digital Scale for Dialing In

Use it to:

Weigh your bean dose (e.g. 20g in)

Track your espresso yield (e.g. 40g out)

Recommended Scale:

Acaia Lunar – fits on your drip tray under the cup with real-time feedback

Timemore Black Mirror Mini Espresso Scale

6. Essential Accessories

Tamper

Milk Jug

Cleaning Supplies

For Coffee Enthusiasts: Workflow & Precision Upgrades

Distribution Tool

Bottomless Portafilter

Electric Auto Tamper (e.g. Puqpress)

7. Filtered Water & Maintenance

Use filtered water and clean regularly to ensure great taste and protect your equipment.

Final Thoughts: Build the Habit, Enjoy the Process

Whether you go filter or espresso, home brewing is all about rhythm. It’s not just about making coffee — it’s about being curious, paying attention, and enjoying the craft.

Don’t stress over perfection. Start with good gear, good beans, and build from there. You’ll get better with every cup.

Coming Next: 👉 Here’s What All That Jargon on a Coffee Label Actually Means