If you are a novice and want to try brewing coffee, as a merchant, the following may be the most honest guide to getting started. If you are interested, please record it, leave a message to tell me the questions you want to know, or share it.
As someone who has been in the game for almost three years, and with the experience of constantly buying equipment over the past few years, I have come to the following conclusions on the most practical ways to save money when getting started. The most resources you invest in hand-brewed coffee should be the following parts.
Coffee beans will be the most valuable part of your investment.
Why are coffee beans key?
Coffee beans are undoubtedly the most critical investment in the hand-brewed coffee process. Even with good coffee beans and basic hand brewing equipment, you can brew impressive coffee by hand. On the contrary, if you use low-quality coffee beans, no matter how advanced your equipment is or how exquisite your hand brewing skills are, your coffee will not taste satisfactory.
The importance of supporting local baking
By supporting local roasters, you not only receive freshly roasted, high-quality coffee beans, but you also contribute to local small businesses. This mutually beneficial relationship not only promotes the development of the coffee community, but also allows you to get more resources and knowledge to share on your journey of exploring hand-brewed coffee.
Selected hand-brewing equipment: A one-stop smart choice
Bean grinder purchasing strategy
If you buy it right from the beginning and use the grinder directly, you will be able to save the most money by entering the pit of hand-brewed coffee. If you buy a cheap grinder at the beginning, after playing with it, you will naturally upgrade, upgrade, and upgrade again. Instead, you will get deeper into it, and it will become the part where you spend the most money.
Recommended bean grinders on the market
If your budget is under HK$1,000, Timemore S3 is a good choice. For coffee lovers with a budget between $1000 and $2000, the 1Zpresso ZP6 / 1ZPresso K-Ultra offers an excellent performance and price ratio. And if your budget exceeds $2,000, the Comandante C40 is undoubtedly the best on the market and can bring a qualitative leap to your hand punching experience.
Information about the grinder:
Timemore S3 coffee grinder:
Timemore chestnut S3 external hand grinder｜Coffee Stage coffee stage (mycoffeestage.com)
1ZPresso ZP6 coffee grinder:
1zpresso zp6 special edition coffee grinder - professional hand drip precise grinding | Coffee Stage coffee stage – Coffee Stage coffee stage (mycoffeestage.com)
1ZPresso K-Ultra coffee grinder:
1zpresso K-Ultra hand grinder - precise grinding, perfect for hand-brewed coffee – Coffee Stage coffee stage (mycoffeestage.com)
COMANDANTE C40 MK4 Manual Coffee Grinder:
Rental｜COMANDANTE C40 MK4 Hand Grinder: Designed for Real Coffee Lovers｜Coffee Stage Coffee Stage (mycoffeestage.com)
How to choose the most cost-effective pour-over coffee maker
The choice of hand brewing kettle can be considered from many angles, including price, water control performance, material, whether it is electric and temperature controlled, etc. Among the many options, there are flagship versions such as Fellow EKG Pro or Brewista Artisan, as well as entry-level versions For example, Timemore Fish Smart Pro is a popular choice.
main difference
- Water delivery accuracy: Premium pots typically offer more precise water flow control, which is critical for accuracy during the extraction process.
- Personal habits: Different pots may require a certain adaptation period. Once you are familiar with them, you will develop your own hand brewing skills.
- Electric heating function: The electric kettle does not require the use of a burner for heating, which is convenient and fast. It is a big plus point for busy coffee lovers.
Reasons to choose an electric kettle
Because if you make coffee by hand every day, I think it is too troublesome to use the burner to heat it. Over time, you will no longer touch the pot. Only with the most convenient coffee equipment can you have the motivation to make it every day. Make coffee.
With so many choices of filters, which one offers the best value for money?
The choice of filter cups is also rich, but beginners can consider buying a V60 model, a 155Model, and a 101Model, which is both economical and practical.
You asked me if there is any difference between cheap and expensive? The answer is yes, but most of it is just a matter of appearance. Do you think the material will have a big impact? I think it’s very difficult to notice the difference when you get into it, it’s mostly marketing terms.
I have bought the hand-pour filter cup for so long, and I think it will affect the difference during extraction. The only difference is that the different grooves inside it will affect the water flow extraction (or the physical structure inside).
Does the material of the filter really affect the flavor of coffee?
If the material of the filter cup really affects the changes of water molecules inside, then this is a "Radiation filter cup" and not a filter cup for normal brewing and drinking. Just imagine, when we brew coffee by hand normally When your water flow comes into contact with the coffee powder first, then the filter paper, and then the filter cup, if your water molecules can change the taste in just a short moment, then this should be a chemical effect, but As far as I know, most filter cups are made of ceramic. Because ceramic is an extremely stable material, the possibility of chemical interaction is very low. (Disclaimer: personal opinion.)
Therefore, if you want to save money, you can just buy the most basic filter cup. Anyway, after you get into the trap, you will gradually want to buy a lot of filter cups.
How to choose a coffee pot
When placing coffee in a pot, I think your first choice is to buy a glass one, because you can see the color of your coffee liquid, and slowly you will know the color and predict the final extraction level.
The situation is similar to other filters, you can buy it when you see one you like.
Is it necessary to buy an expensive electronic scale when starting to make hand drip coffee?
When choosing an electronic scale, the most basic functional requirements are to measure time and weight. Beginners do not need to buy expensive scales. Scales with more functions may provide information such as powder-to-water ratio that they may not be able to use temporarily. Just choose a reasonably priced scale that can meet your basic needs.
How to choose filter paper
When it comes to choosing filter paper, there are truly many options on the market. You may find filter paper in different colors, such as unbleached brown and bleached white. The key is to choose the filter paper that matches your filter cup model.
Some discussion states that the texture of the filter paper may affect the taste of the coffee, which is possible. The physical structure of the filter paper, such as thickness and pore size, affects the speed of water flow and extraction efficiency, thus affecting the final flavor. But for beginners, it is enough to start with the basic filter paper. As you gain experience, you can start to try different filter papers to find the one that best suits your taste.
Summarize
The above reflects my personal opinions and is not an absolute rule. I hope to be able to help those friends who want to start their hand-brewed coffee journey save money with an honest attitude.
As for why I call myself Honest Bean Paste Bao, it’s because I believe that helping you start this journey is enough to make you deeply interested in the world of coffee. My methods may be simple and straightforward, but I believe they are effective. This is my opinion.
