What is slow coffee? -A few steps back

Slow coffee is basically taking the time for your cup of coffee to bring out the best flavors.

We have already covered various slow coffee brewing methods such as the Aeropress , Chemex , the Hario V60 and the Cafetière , but what exactly is it?

One thing is certain: Slow coffee is hip and happening ! It should no longer be a secret that we are crazy about it :-)

For us, slow coffee mainly stands for attention and love for your product, and extracting the delicious soft and fruity flavors from your freshly roasted coffee beans . And you can taste that!

What is slow coffee

I thought it was time to take a few steps back and explain what exactly I mean when I say slow coffee .

First of all, I would like to mention that slow coffee is closer to most of us than we think.

It comes quite close to an old-fashioned quick filter machine. Or a camping filter that you can put on your mug. But different ;-)

Although slow coffee is super hip, if we look at history we can conclude that slow coffee is absolutely nothing new.

For example, I mentioned earlier that the Cafetière dates back to the 1920s, and the Chemex was designed in the 1940s!

Why slow coffee

But why did these revolutionaries come to this fantastic discovery? Quite logical actually: they discovered that not all types of coffee were suitable for the traditionally fast espresso method.

This ultra-fast extraction did not provide the very best result, especially for fruitier and fresher coffees. These coffees come into their own much better if they are ground a bit coarser and the ground coffee has longer contact with the hot water.

An average slow coffee preparation takes about 3 to 5 minutes!

Keep in mind that slow coffee comes under different names in the coffee world, such as: pour over coffee, filter coffee, drip coffee, and cafetiere. This amounts to about the same.

How do you make slow coffee

There are different ways to make slow coffee, but to get the most out of your coffee you need a number of basic attributes for the best result.

• Scale

You need this to weigh the amount of coffee beans and the water you will use for your coffee. Your recipe always consists of x grams of coffee to x grams of water so that you end up with a certain ratio in which the coffee comes into its own. If you have no idea, a ratio of (1:15) is a good starting point (1 gram of coffee to 15 grams of water).

Tip: take a special scale for coffee, such as this scale with a built-in timer, so that you know exactly how long it took you to make your slow coffee.

• Kettle

You need this to get the water to the right temperature for your slow coffee. The ideal brewing temperature is between 94 and 96 degrees Celsius. With the handy kettles from Brewista you can set the temperature. This way you can fine-tune your slow coffee recipe even better.

Tip: if you don't have a kettle with a built-in temperature. Then let the water boil. After boiling, open the kettle so that it can cool down a bit. After about 45 seconds your water temperature has dropped to about 96 degrees Celsius.

• Coffee grinder/bean grinder

You use this to grind your freshly roasted coffee beans just before making your coffee. In this way, the aromas remain intact and your coffee ultimately tastes the best.

There are many different ways to grind your coffee , but it all starts with good tools. Take a look at these coffee beans and bean grinders, for example.

So, do you have everything you need for your perfect slow coffee moment? These are the steps you need to take to make your slow coffee a success.

1. Grab the suitable coffee filter and rinse it with hot water, this will prevent a papery taste in your cup of coffee.
   
   
2. Weigh the correct amount of coffee beans (see recipe)* and grind them just before you start making the coffee. Slow coffee usually requires a medium to coarse grind. Unlike a very fine espresso grind.
   
   
3. First pour a little water (temperature +/- 96 degrees) on the coffee and let it sit for about 30 seconds. This process is called blooming.
   
   
4. Then, depending on your recipe, pour the rest of the water over the coffee.
   
   
5. Wait until the coffee has completely run through and 'there you go', your slow coffee is ready!

*Most specialty coffee roasters give brewing advice with their coffee, see the example below of a recipe for one of our slow coffees.

Types of slow coffee

There are many different ways to make slow coffee. Below I have listed the three brewing methods that are the most popular and that we often use in the roasting house to test the coffees.

Harry V60

The Hario V60 is perhaps the most famous form of specialty coffee and is widely used in coffee bars. With this brewing method you put the ground coffee in a filter and dripper and pour the coffee on it.

Read also: How to make the best Hario V60 coffee

Chemex

The Chemex is a real classic when it comes to slow coffee. This slow coffee tool, designed in the 1940s, is a real eye-catcher in your kitchen.

The principle is the same as the V60. The ground coffee goes into the filter and you pour the water on it.

The Chemex does have a somewhat slower lead time, so it is still slightly 'slower' slow coffee ;-).

Read also: Making the best coffee with the Chemex in 5 steps

Aeropress

The Aeropress is a somewhat more modern way of making slow coffee. Extremely popular and very versatile, this toy is also easy to take with you on a trip.

Hundreds of recipes can be created with the Aeropress and there are even national and international Aeropress championships.

Read also: How to make coffee like a champ with the Aeropress

Advantages and disadvantages of slow coffee

A very nice side effect for coffee lovers and hobbyists is that slow coffee can be a much cheaper hobby than espresso style.

Perhaps the most important one good mill , nice and fresh and lightly roasted coffee beans and for example a Hario V60 dripper and associated filters .

To be able to make a good espresso yourself at home, you will soon have to invest a few hundred to a few thousand euros in the equipment.

With slow coffee brewing methods you get much more flavor from your cup of coffee. Dare to taste and experiment with your brewing method. Look for the sweet, fruity and sour taste notes that you can get from specialty coffee .

Tip: Our Filter Brew Box simply fits through the letterbox, the price includes shipping and contains 2 x 250 grams of specials with 85+ points suitable for slow coffee.

Advantages	Cons
Low investment	Each cup may taste different
Get more out of your cup of coffee	Takes a bit more time
Moment of meditation	Addictive ;-)