4 Different Ways to Prepare Coffee

Last Updated: July 30, 2025 by Michael Kahn. Published: June 23, 2025.

We live in a coffee-loving world, and as such, you’ll find plenty of different options when it comes to preparing a cup of joe. In fact, one of the marvels of the modern world is that there are simply so many different brewing methods out there.

Table of Contents

• Drip Coffee
• Single-Serve Pod Coffee
• Moka Pot
• French Press

If you’re serious about making coffee at home, then it’s worthwhile taking a look at some of the most popular methods. After all, it’s infinitely better to make coffee with specialist equipment than it is to make instant coffee! One of the following will be all you need, but given that coffee equipment isn’t expensive, you might wish to invest in a couple.

Drip Coffee

If you live in the US, then drip coffee will be the classic way to brew coffee that you’re familiar with. It’s a simple process in which you put coffee in a filter lining at the top of the brewer, add water, press the start button, and then wait. It takes around 6 – 8 minutes in total, and once it’s done, you’ll have a fair few cups to enjoy, which makes them great for mornings when multiple members of the household are looking for a cup. The most advanced machines allow you to pick the strength of your coffee, and you can also set a timer so that the coffee is brewed for when you wake up.

Single-Serve Pod Coffee

Coffee pod machines offer all the deliciousness of coffee in the most convenient package possible. Simply insert the pod into the machine, press the start button, wait around 20 – 30 seconds, and that’s it — your cup of coffee is ready. They’re so effective that you can operate them when you’re half asleep, which makes them perfect for morning time. There are also plenty of different coffee flavors you can use, with Keurig pod blueberry coffee, cinnamon french toast coffee, and butterscotch coffee all available. Even if you like to sometimes make coffee using slower processes, the all-out convenience of a pod coffee machine means it’s worth having one in the kitchen. 

Moka Pot

The Moka pot is a classic way to make a cup of coffee. Invented in Italy nearly one hundred years ago, it’s a remarkably ingenious brewing method that results in a great cup of joe. There are different sizes available, so you make anywhere from between 1 – 5 cups with a single brew. They’re a little bit slower than other brewing methods, requiring around 5 – 10 minutes depending on the size of the pot, and they’re also not intuitive to use — but once you get the hang of it, you’ll be able to do it on autopilot. 

French Press

Finally, there’s the French press, also known as a cafetiere brewing method. This method involves adding coffee to the press, filling it with some boiling water, letting the coffee steep for a while, and then adding more hot water until the press is full. It requires a little more effort and time, but it makes a great cup — and the French press itself is cheap, so it’s worth having one.