Credit: Hannah Stryker / How-To GeekBrewing coffee at home can give you results that are as good as, if not better than, the drinks that you can purchase from well-known coffeehouse chains. It’s not always easy to brew the perfect cup, but there’s plenty of technology that can help.
Data-driven espresso
The holy grail of brewing coffee is repeatability. There are so many factors and variables that go into brewing coffee that getting consistent results is a real challenge. Everything from the freshness of the beans, the coarseness of the grind, the ratio of water to coffee, the temperature of the water, and even the mineral content of the water itself can have a significant impact on the final result.
One day, you might make the perfect shot of espresso (known as the ‘god shot’). Despite your efforts to keep everything exactly the same, the next shot might be nowhere near as good. Trying to ensure that every variable is the same as it was on the previous shot is tough to do.
Credit: Decent EspressoThankfully, there are products that can help if you can afford them. If you’re looking to be able to accurately reproduce as many factors as you possibly can, the Decent DE1 could be what you need.
The Decent DE1 models are high-tech espresso machines that use components such as precision thermocoils and pressure sensors to accurately monitor and control the key factors involved in the brewing process. All of the information is displayed on the built-in tablet, which also serves as the control interface.
Using a Decent DE1, you can control how the pressure changes over the course of the brew, the exact temperature of the water throughout the brew process, the flow through your coffee puck, and more. You can even publish the data to Home Assistant via MQTT. The biggest downside is that the cheapest model, the Decent DE1PRO, will set you back $3,699.
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DIY hacks turn old machines into powerhouses
If you like the idea of having more control over brewing your coffee, but don’t really feel like paying the best part of $4,000 for the privilege, there are alternatives. One of the most popular is the Gaggiuino project.
If you know coffee and microcontrollers, you may recognize the brand names that have been squished together to make the name Gaggiuino. Gaggia is a famous Italian brand of coffee machines, with the Gaggia Classic being a hugely popular entry-level espresso machine. Arduino is an open-source hardware and software company that makes microcontroller development boards, and by coincidence, is also an Italian company.
Credit: Zer0-bit / GaggiuinoAs the name suggests, the Gaggiuino project combines these two products. It’s a community-driven project that allows you to modify a Gaggia Classic espresso machine to include powerful features such as temperature control, pressure profiling, flow profiling, a touchscreen display for control and live graphs, and more. It effectively allows you to give a Gaggia Classic a rough approximation of some of the features of a Decent DE1 by adding a microcontroller and some additional components to your espresso machine.
The name is now a bit of a misnomer, as the more recent versions of the project use an STM32 board rather than an Arduino. Originally, installing all the hardware required several days to complete, but you can now buy ready-made kits that can be installed in just a few hours. For a couple of hundred dollars, you can turn your classic espresso machine into a coffee-making powerhouse.
The Gaggiuino project involves modifying an electrical device, which can be a significant safety hazard. You should always use safe electrical practices if attempting this project, and you do so at your own risk.
High-tech home roasting
Technology isn’t just changing the way people brew coffee at home. It’s also changing the way that you can roast your own coffee. I’ve done some home roasting using a popcorn maker, with some success, but it’s a very messy process, with chaff from the coffee beans flying everywhere.
Credit: IkawaAs with brewing coffee, the key to good roasting is repeatability. That’s where modern coffee roasting products shine. Roasters such as the IKAWA Home Coffee Roaster make home roasting simple, with app-controlled roasting programs that make repeatable roasting much easier.
At the top end of the spectrum, drum roasters such as the Aillio Bullet models give you features including infrared temperature sensing and real-time temperature monitoring. However, all that control comes at a cost; the more expensive models will set you back more than $5,000.
You don’t need to break the bank for good coffee
While technology can help you achieve repeatability in your brewing and roasting, you don’t have to spend a fortune to make great coffee at home. You can make a delicious cup of coffee using incredibly simple methods with inexpensive equipment.
A V60 pour-over, for example, involves pouring water through ground coffee placed in a paper filter inside a plastic cone. The cone can cost as little as $10, and the results can be excellent.
Hario V60 Plastic Coffee Dripper, Size 02, White
The Hario V60 is one of the most popular and successful pour-over coffee brewers. Just add a paper filter, ground coffee, and hot water.
The AeroPress costs around $40, and lets you make great-tasting coffee by manually forcing the water through the coffee puck. It’s a small and lightweight plastic device, so it’s a great option for taking on vacation, and was designed by the same person who invented the Aerobie flying ring.
Aeropress Original Coffee Press – 3 in 1 brew method combines French Press, Pourover, Espresso – Full bodied, smooth coffee without grit, bitterness – Small portable coffee maker for camping & travel
The AeroPress is inexpensive and easy to use, and it produces a consistent, strong brew. You can try out a huge range of techniques and expand on it with aftermarket attachments.
Perhaps the most important thing you need for great coffee is a good grinder. Grinding fresh beans gives superior results to using pre-ground coffee, but cheap grinders are rarely up to the task. You don’t need to spend a fortune; you can get a reasonable manual grinder, such as the 1ZPresso Q Air for pour-over, for as little as $70.
Brewing coffee is a complex process, and technology can definitely help to make things more repeatable. You don’t need to spend a small fortune, either; if you’re willing to tinker, the Gaggiuino project can give you impressive control. The real danger, as with any hobby, is that the urge to upgrade your equipment is always incredibly hard to resist.
