People like coffee a lot, but sometimes you only want one cup. And not a comically big single cup or 40-ounce tumbler-full, but an actual 8 to 12 ounces of coffee. To help you nail the perfect petit pour, we asked our favorite baristas, coffee roasters and latte artists for their favorite way to make one cup of coffee.
Michelle Kawahara, a barista and Lavazza’s West Coast training manager, endorses the single cup. “Interestingly, my husband doesn’t drink coffee, so preparing it just for myself feels quite calming,” Kawahara told HuffPost. “I like to ensure that my morning cup of coffee is just right, as I typically have only one cup a day.”
When you’re only having a single cup, you might as well make it spectacular. To help you ensure your small caffeine fix is brewed to perfection, here are coffee experts’ favorites for making one serving of joe.
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Kawahara says this method is perfect for making 10-12 ounces of coffee, noting, “This technique really brings out the flavors of the coffee, making them more noticeable and enjoyable.” But she recommends using Hario’s specific pour-over paper filters, “[to] remove any extra bits like oils and sediments from the coffee, resulting in a smoother and less bitter taste, leaving your mouth feeling fresh.”
Konwinski also recommends using Hario’s white paper filters and encourages using a kitchen scale to ensure precision for one cup. “Using an appropriately accurate digital scale, not just for the beans but also the water as I brewed, has been one of the largest improvements to my coffee craft,” Konwinski said.
Han uses this ceramic dripper every morning, saying, “The V60 produces stellar coffee, especially if you enjoy bright, fruit-forward coffees since this brewing method tends to highlight the top notes in coffee.” She does note you may not get it right your first few times. “Proper V60 brewing technique does take a bit of practice to get right, and the brewing process itself requires full attention for 2-3 minutes — which might not be possible some mornings,” she said.
“It’s simultaneously the most versatile brewing method out there while being very humble in appearance, design and pricing,” said Andrea Grove, creator and roaster at Elementary Coffee Co. in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. “I use mine with a hand grinder that’s designed to fit snuggly inside the pieces and make for easy travel. So I take it everywhere with me for a good cup of coffee on the road, in the woods, and at home!”
Peter Leonard, owner of Little Amps Coffee Roasters in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, agreed, noting the ease and price point of this compact device. “As long as you can get ground coffee, which most specialty shops can do for you, and have a hot water source (even a microwave) you can use the provided scoop and get a great cup with our measuring anything! And they’re super affordable!”
Cosette Manson, a coffee content creator who consistently goes viral recreating Starbucks drinks at home, also loves the AeroPress for its versatility and affordability. “You can make espresso, hot coffee and cold brew! I highly recommend it to both beginners and coffee experts. I love using my AeroPress to recreate Starbucks drinks at home, too!” Manson said.
“If I have the time, I prefer to use a pour-over to create my coffee at home,” Spring said. “Currently, I am using the COSORI pour-over coffee maker I purchased from Amazon before we opened Tall Rabbit. I simply boil water in my kettle, put in the reusable filter, and start the pour-over process. I enjoy the process almost as much as I enjoy the quality of coffee.”
While Breville espresso machines run the gambit in size, price and complexity, we like the Bambino model. It’s a smaller, compact machine made for making one to two shots, but also has a frother. It won’t take up your whole counter (and it’s a lot cheaper than the bigger models).
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