I was asked to rank 7 coffee-making methods for this article in CNET. These are the 7, and this is how I ranked them.
Pour Over
Aeropress
Espresso Americano
French Press
Automatic drip machine
Moka Pot
K Cup
From a specialty coffee perspective, pourover is, for me, the best brewing method for a cup of black coffee because it maximizes clarity, control, and expression of origin. Aeropress is a close second, but I prefer the additional control you get with pourover.
“With a pourover, a slow, deliberate pour allows precise control over variables such as temperature, flow rate, and agitation, ensuring even extraction and revealing a coffee’s nuanced sweetness, acidity, and aromatics.” is my quote in the article.
I will try 3-4 different pourover recipes and methods and get different results. The two I primarily use or v60 and Chemex.
Immersion and press methods have their uses, but they can muddy delicate flavors notes with residual oils and fines.