Single Cup Brewing

[Rusty Jackknife]

I enjoy strong tasting coffee and would like to try a single cup brewing method.

Is there a preferred single cup brewing method/product for "standard" coffee? (I am not intrested in buying an expresso machine.)

Thanks,

RJ

 

[profsaffel]

There are a few of us here that clearly and completely enjoy their Keurig coffee makers. Unfortunately, I cannot compare them to others because I only have/tried the Keurig. The cups are now decently priced, there are an infinite variety of flavors, and the maker itself is very easy to use and clean.

 

[Monkeyboy]

A french press makes a good strong cup.

 

[Jim]

Porcelain #1 Size Coffee Cone Filter Holder

For those who dislike plastic, we offer a nice heavy porcelain coffee filter made in China. I think you could practically drop this from your 2nd story window and not break it ...very heavy vitrified porcelain. These have 3 holes, just as a plastic filtercone does. It fits a #1 paper cone filter, which we also stock ... but this is a small size. This is a very small size cone, and is great for brewing for one person, perhaps two. Here is a picture of the #1 next to the #4 size. Also see the Porcelain #1 Filter Drip Pot Set below. As with any filtercone, you adjust the grind to achieve ideal infusion time - which is 2 to 4 minutes or to your taste. In cold ambient temperatures, I suggest pre-warming with hot water to prevent heat loss. Once heated, it retains heat well, and will help create a better brew.
**Certified Lead-Free and Cadmium-Free

$11.50 (1.2 lbs. ship wt.) ​

 

[tsmba]

I use a little SwissGold one-cupper I bought from Sweet Maria's back when they were in OH. They're no longer sold

 

[Jesus of Baghdad]

I love my two Keurigs - a Breville model at home and a Keurig mini at work.
Some coffees taste great with both of them, others not as much. I tend to stick with breakfast blends, many of which are as good as a properly brewed drip.
I've tried Tassimo (had one for over a year), when it was a Braun product... Stay away from it, unless you want lattes or cappucinos (both fake, but tasty and drinkable). NEVER got a good cup of coffee out of a Tassimo. Keurig also has coffees, teas, cocoas, etc., and works great. Also these days K-cups are easier to find than T-discs. I just think the design is better, and simpler. Also holds more coffee in a K-cup, so it's naturally easier to get proper flavor than wringing the flavor out of much less coffee (t-disc). Go for Keurig.
Highly recommended.

 

[arcman]

A french press makes a good strong cup.

This is my suggestion as well, especially if you're not familiar with coffee from a french press. So much of the coffee's essential oil and aromas get lost in paper drip filters, a press really does a better job at capturing the flavor of the bean. Just make sure you do your own grinding, you'll need to make it coarse for a press pot.

At work I'm the only coffee drinker in my department, so there really wasn't any point in making a full pot for just myself, so I got a Bodum 32oz Young Press. I make about 16oz per day, and it works out pretty perfectly.

I know the Keurig machines have gotten pretty popular, although I can't imagine myself ever using one without the refillable kcup that you can put your own freshly ground coffee into. I don't care what vacuum packed freshness seal they're advertising, if you're starting out with preground coffee you're going to get an inferior cup.

 

[benvh]

For single cups I use either a Beehouse or Hario ceramic pourover or a Clever Coffee Dripper from Sweetmarias. I definitely get better results from the CCD since I can control brew time.

 

[marvin100]

The Aeropress.

 

[Jasonian]

For single cups I use either a Beehouse or Hario ceramic pourover or a Clever Coffee Dripper from Sweetmarias. I definitely get better results from the CCD since I can control brew time.

+1 for the Clever coffee dripper.

 

[arcman]

On the CCDs, couldn't you use the IngenuiTEA, or one of the many clones thereof, and use the permanent filter instead of paper ones? You might get some sediment (though I would think it would be minimal, those filters are pretty fine), but it seems like that would better preserve the coffee oils and aromas.

 

[texbilly]

A french press makes a good strong cup.

+1 We use various methods - drip, Italian espresso pot, even own a Nespresso machine. All are very good, but our French press gives the most consistent, bitter-free brews. And you can buy a small size that probably yields only 2-3 small cups.

 

[marvin100]

+1 We use various methods - drip, Italian espresso pot, even own a Nespresso machine. All are very good, but our French press gives the most consistent, bitter-free brews. And you can buy a small size that probably yields only 2-3 small cups.

I use a Moka pot, a French press, and an Aeropress, and the Aeropress wins hands down for me, for ease of use, consistency, and flavor. On its best days, I can believe the French press may make a superior cup, but it's easy to mess it up and it's pretty finicky (though nowhere near as finicky as the stovetop espresso maker/Moka pot...).

 

[Fnord5]

 

[Monkeyboy]

Porcelain #1 Size Coffee Cone Filter Holder

I use the #4 porcelain filter holder from Sweet Maria's to brew with most often because the cleanup is easy. They are nice and thick-walled. A trick I came up with is I put it on top of the toaster inverted to get it nice and hot so it won't draw heat away during brewing.

But if your aim is a rich, strong tasting cup and you don't mind the sediment/cleanup, the press is the way to go.

 

[SiBurning]

I usualy brew one cup, although my cup's a quart. I do moka, french, several kinds of manual drip, and turkish. For an alternate manual drip, you can brew in any cup or pot and pour into a filter when it's about ready.

 

[thebikingengineer]

For single cups (most of my coffee brewing these days, roommates aren't up early enough) I use either an Aeropress or a small french press. The Aeropress works better for blends and more neutral coffees while the french press does justice to the single origins I tend to favor.

 

[uberlegit]

Protip: Don't skimp on french press quality. I bought a cheap one-cupper at TJ Maxx and the glass burst in my hand as I was cleaning it. A deep but manageable gash in my right pinky.

 

[_JP_]

For a single cup I use either a French press, Aeropress, or filter cone. All give great results that are a little different from each other.