Coffee makers are a familiar kitchen tool in every home across the country, but it wasn’t always that way.
Before the convenient luxury of automatic coffee machines, people used to brew coffee manually. There are a lot of great things that can be said about coffee made with your hands.
I often meet people who have never tried coffee made in a French press or a Moka pot. I hope this article can motivate anyone who hasn’t, to give them a chance.
Here is a list of 20 reasons why coffee brewed manually is better than automatic coffee.
1. Brew Better-Tasting Coffee
It’s true, manual coffee makers like the French press, pour-over, or Moka pot brew a better-tasting cup of joe than automatic coffee machines.
Since all of our homes have been equipped with a drip coffee machine for decades, it’s no surprise that most people have never tried a manually brewed coffee before.
Can you remember the last time you’ve had java beans brewed exactly how you like them?
It’s not just something coffee enthusiasts say to get a response. Manual coffee makers brew better-tasting coffee every time.
2. Make Your Own Style of Brew!
There’s always something special about creating a meal or a drink with your own hands. The same goes for a cup of coffee.
Once you start to focus on the little details involved in brewing coffee manually, you’ll begin to understand the pleasure of making something of your own.
Automatic coffee is generic and get’s dull fast, but coffee brewed manually is unique and can be deeply personalized to your liking.
A French press or a pour-over allows you to create your own style, recipe, or brand of coffee.
3. Control Brewing Variables
Sure the perk of an automatic coffee machine is to set it and forget it, but if you want to enjoy a tasteful cup of joe, you may want to consider the variables that go into making coffee.
Manual brewing methods give you full control over certain variables such as the coffee grind size, water temperature, and brew duration to zero in on the ideal flavor, body, and caffeine levels.
4. More or Less Caffeine?
One unique advantage of brewing coffee manually is the ability to control the caffeine levels of your brew.
The longer your coffee steeps, the more caffeine the water will extract from the grids or beans. So, you’re able to brew stronger or weaker coffee as you please.
Manual coffee makers can be a good idea for anyone trying to cut back on the caffeine intake as they usually provide a little less caffeine than automatic brewers do.
5. Taste the Real Flavor of the Coffee Beans
Besides brewing better coffee than automatic coffee machines, manual coffee makers annunciate the flavor profiles of coffee beans to their fullest potential.
We often see packages of coffee beans describing coffee flavors or notes as chocolaty, caramelly, fruity, or earthy, but how often can you remember tasting these individual notes?
Making a cup of joe manually offers you the chance to explore different flavor profiles of the cuntless coffee beans circulating around the world.
6. Save Money on Coffee Gear
This is pretty straightforward. One major reason why manual coffee pots are better is that they are more affordable.
The prices of these all-in-one coffee makers are getting a little hefty, and the cost of a professional-grade espresso machine can set you back a paycheck or two. When compared to a $15 or $30 French press or Moka pot, those prices seem ridiculous.
You can always find affordable coffee machines in the same price range as manual coffee pots, but their brew quality won’t measure up to the same standards.
7. Beautiful Designs
Even though manual coffee makers are less expensive than almost any other coffee gear, they certainly don’t look that way.
In fact, you’ll often find your Chemex, French press, or Aeropress being a conversation topic for many guests and friends seeing it for the first time.
All manual coffee makers have unique designs and beautiful silhouettes. Some owners even choose to display them as part of their home decor.
They are always more eye-catching than any simple drip coffee maker.
8. Available in Different Volumes and Colors
Unlike most coffee machines, such as espresso or single-serve coffee makers, which are usually black or stainless steel, manual coffee makers come in a variety of designs and colors.
Most commonly they are made from borosilicate glass, but their accents and details are colored paint, crystals, or natural wood.
Never be bored by a plain coffee machine again. Instead, brighten up your kitchen with an orange or a pink French press, or a beautiful natural bamboo Chemex.
Also, consider the variety of sizes manual coffee makers come in. Each design has options for single brewing or group sizes.
9. Compact Designs
Another benefit of manual coffee makers is their small size. They are the same size as a flower vase or a bottle of wine.
Compact coffee makers are ideal for small kitchens or people who don’t like clutter because they can be easily stored away.
Even though these brewers are so much smaller than a coffee machine, they often produce the same amount of brew as their competition.
10. Don’t Need Electricity
That’s right, one of the reasons why manual coffee makers are better than automatic ones is that they don’t need power.
They can make a cup of coffee from start to finish with no electricity, which can be handy in case of a power outage.
These brewers are exceptionally popular amongst avid campers who still love to drink a cup of joe in the morning.
One of the major reasons why the French press is so popular today is because it was used so much during WW2 when soldiers and civilians didn’t have access to power.
11. They’re Portable
Since they don’t need electricity, manual coffee makers are the most portable coffee brewing option.
No need to be stuck in your kitchen brewing coffee. Take your brewer with you to the backyard, patio, or garden.
More than that, take these coffee makers with you camping, to the beach, or to the cottage.
Most manual coffee makers can be moved or passed around even when they are in the middle of brewing your coffee.
Certain cafes will offer to bring the whole pot to your table and let you pour the coffee yourself.
12. Brew Like a Pro Barista
Learn how to make coffee like a real professional barista. I’m talking about the coffee masters from decades past who used to brew each cup of coffee individually.
Nowadays baristas press buttons and mix syrups and flavor additives to make coffee-based drinks, but if you ask, they’ll proudly show you their manual coffee-making skills.
You can learn to make coffee for your friends the same way nightclub bartenders mix cocktails in front of a crowd.
13. Coffee Nuances
Get to know your coffee a little better. Since you already consume this beverage on a daily basis, wouldn’t it make sense to understand what makes it so special?
Manual coffee makers give you access to certain coffee nuances that automatic machines just don’t.
Being able to adjust and maintain the boldness or subtleness of your coffee is a perk of the French press not found in a common coffee maker.
14. Experiment and Mix Different Coffee Bean Flavors
It’s good to know what you like and stick to it, especially when it comes to coffee, but what if you could manipulate the flavor, intensity, and aroma of your drink, would you experiment with it?
Many of us do. Moka pots and French presses give us the option to mix multiple flavors of coffee beans to create something unique.
Of course, you could do the same with an automatic machine but the results wouldn’t be as special because you would have control over extraction times or water temperatures.
15. Not Just a Coffee Maker
Coffee pots aren’t just used for coffee. You can find room for them around your home and showcase them off as decor, you can use them as vases for flowers, and you can use them as pitchers for milk or lemonade.
A French press can be used to manually froth milk for a cappuccino or a latte. It can also be used to make cold-brew coffee right in your fridge.
Since most of the coffee pots have a measuring gauge on their sides, they can also be used for measuring in the kitchen.
16. Experience Authentic Coffee Mouthfeel
The term coffee body is used to describe the mouthfeel of a coffee drink. It’s another thing most automatic coffee drinkers aren’t familiar with.
The body of a coffee can be described as oily, grainy, or watery, for example. It’s the definition of the sensation of the drink in your mouth and on your tongue.
Since most automatic coffee makers use filters that exclude the natural elements and oils from our drink, their coffee tends to be smoother and beginner-friendly.
Manually brewed coffee, on the other hand, is more authentic in its natural flavors.
17. Zero In On a Specific Taste
This may sound a little confusing but manual coffee brewing methods allow you to focus on one specific thing you enjoy about coffee and zero in on that attribute.
The access to multiple brewing variables gives you control over the finished product, so if you want your coffee to be more pronounced you can focus on brewing it that way. If you’d like your coffee to be less acidic you can take all the steps necessary to make it so.
18. Expand Your Coffee Horizons
Get to know more about the possibilities of coffee besides the generic brew.
If you take the time to learn about all the different coffee-brewing methods, their variables, and their potential, you’ll never brew a dull cup of coffee again.
Have you ever tried gritty coffee? How about the velvety smooth brew from a Chemex? Maybe they aren’t your style, or maybe they’ll be your new favorite drink.
The point is, manual coffee brewing methods allow you to expand your coffee horizons to know what’s out there and let you try the abundant coffee landscape one coffee at a time.
19. Brew a Whole Pot or Just One Mug
Manual coffee makers let you brew the exact amount of coffee that you need. No more pouring old coffee down the drain.
You choose if you want to make one cup for yourself or a whole pot of coffee for your household or guests.
That’s a cool feature that’s often overlooked in manual brewers. It’s so easy to pour coffee down the drain, but why waste it? Just brew the exact amount instead of whole pots every time.
20. Won’t Burn Your House Down
Coffee machines have been known to catch on fire, emit smoke, or melt.
Manual coffee makers won’t cause that issue since they don’t use electricity and don’t have complicated wiring and moving parts inside them.
No worrying about leaving the hot plate on with these coffee makers.
Summary
My plan wasn’t to convince you to switch from using coffee machines to manual coffee makers. I just wanted to spell out all the benefits of using a manual coffee brewer and why so many people in the coffee community love them.
- Better tasting brew.
- Control over brewing variables.
- More affordable.
- Unique designs.
- Don’t need power.
- Easily portable.
- Won’t burn down your house.
Most of us have both coffee appliances and a French press, a pour-over, and a Moka pot and we alternate between them based on how we feel. I suggest the same for you as well. Discover different brewing methods and expand your coffee horizons with manual coffee makers.
I’ve always seen coffee as a way of bringing people together. Everywhere I go people seem to enjoy a fresh cup of coffee and that’s what drives my passion. There’s always a new brew to master, and there’s always a new face to enjoy it with. Hitch a ride with me on a coffee-fueled adventure to find a perfect cup.
