The perfect cup of cold or hot coffee

Our two Aussie residents face-off in a battle for the best coffee.

Here’s something you may not know about us: At Float, we take our coffee seriously.

As a fully remote team who works staggered hours during the day across multiple time zones, we’ve come to appreciate the magical powers encompassed in each little brown seed.

Our individual coffee preferences came to a head recently, culminating in a heated Slack debate between our two resident Aussies over what the best method for brewing the perfect cup of joe is. We’ve decided that the most democratic way to solve our disagreement is to open things up for public debate. Each side will present its argument, and you — the people — can decide who you agree with in the comments section below.

In the blue corner, Steven Brown, a champion of the cold-brew Kickstarter kit he uses to (literally) kick-start his day. In the red corner, Glenn Rogers, an ambassador looking to impress with an Aeropress.

Get your popcorn ready. Let’s rumble.

Steven’s Guide to the Perfect Cold Brew

Instant coffee? No thanks. Espresso machine? Too time-consuming! Cafe? Sure, if you hate money and want to throw yours away. Pod machines? Bad for the planet, man. Aeropress?! All you need to do is look at Glenn’s photo below — the one where he’s straining himself to apply severe downward pressure to a canister of hot water that is precariously placed over a fragile, little coffee mug. Please.

So what option remains for the lazy and cheap coffee lover in us all? Cold brew, baby!

When I first heard the term “cold brew coffee” I thought it just meant cold coffee, but as a connoisseur of home brewing beer, I was intrigued. As it turns out, the word “cold” only applies to the brewing process — after that it’s optional. Since no heat is applied, the result is a smoother, less bitter, less acidic coffee. It’s actually pretty amazing!

A coffee snob friend (you know the type) recommended I pick up the OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker, but my wife came across the Arctic Cold Brew Coffee System on Kickstarter, and I was sold.

One of the things that attracted me to this kit is its lack of disposable filters. Aside from water and coffee, it’s equipped with everything you will ever need. Less filters means less waste and more money for coffee — what’s not to like? Who wouldn’t want that?

The brewing process is simple as well. First insert coffee:

Coarsely ground coffee is the best (IMO), as a finer grind results in more residue passing through the microscopic holes. The instructions recommend 10–15 tablespoons, and I find that 15 comes out to around 150g. That’s a lot to grind by hand, even for the most hardened coffee pro, so you may want to invest in an electric grinder.

Next, add about 1200ml of water:

As with beer, water quality can impact the flavour, so it’s recommended that you use filtered water. It can take a while to flow through the coffee and into the jug, but things seem to move more quickly if you stir the coffee. Stirring is also a good way to disturb air pockets and ensure that all of the coffee is soaked.

At this point, all you need to do is place the cap on the top, put it in the fridge, and say “Hey Google, set a timer for 24 hours”. You could even do as little as 12 hours if you want.

Once the brewing process is complete, simply remove and discard the coffee grind. You can replace the cap and keep the brewed coffee in the jug if you’d like (I transfer the coffee to another container so that the kit is ready for another brew). The coffee can be stored for up to a week, but my supply always seems to be gone quickly!

One thing I love about cold brew is the flexibility of serving options. In the colder months, I put some in the microwave for 30 seconds, and froth a little milk for a nice latte. During the summer I just add milk and an ice cube for some refreshing iced coffee. If you don’t like milk, you can use hot water instead.

Glenn’s Go-to Aeropress Coffee Guide

Of all the office coffee-making methods I’ve tried over the years, I’ve found the Aeropress to be the simplest, most consistent and convenient method for killer results.

If you find yourself burning the coffee in your percolator, want a step up from instant, or you just aren’t willing to wait 24 hours for a coffee (like Steven here is), this little setup is a winner.

The best part? You can take this anywhere, whether you’re camping or working offsite.

To kick things off, you’ll need:

• Aeropress kit: This includes your filters and stirrer.
• Coffee Grinder: The Rhinoware is the best ceramic burr hand grinder I’ve found. (Bonus: It’s half price on Amazon right now).
• Scales: Any food scale should do the trick. I use the Oxo.
• Coffee Beans: Take your pick, one that I love is the Ona Raspberry Candy.

First up, measure your beans. You’ll want between 17g to 18g.

Next, grind ’em up! You’ll want to shoot for the consistency of sand, which is around 4 to 5 click on this hand grinder.

I grind directly into the cap of the hand grinder. There’s also an attachment that does the same thing straight into the Aeropress.

I use the inverted Aeropress method, which seems to produce the most consistent results for me. Flip the Aeropress upside down and push the plunger in just enough to cover the bottom and avoid any dripping. Drop in your coffee grinds and give it a shake to level it out at the base.

You’ll want the water to be around 80 degrees Celcius at the point of pour. So I typically boil the kettle, then let sit for a minute.

Pour to the centre of the Aeropress, making sure you cover all the grind as you go. Fill just shy of the top (you’re aiming for 230g of water), so if you have those scales handy, it’s easy enough to measure.

Give it a few stirs clockwise and then another few anti-clockwise.

Pop the cap on it with the paper filter already loaded. This will keep the heat in while you let it sit.

Next, set a timer for around 35 seconds. This wait time really depends on your taste preference. Give it 5 seconds longer if you’re finding the taste a little sour or lacking sweetness. Give it a little less if you’re finding it heavy or bitter.

Times up, time to pour! Grab the Aeropress with two hands and flip it on top of your coffee mug. Apply pressure from the top slowly. It should take roughly 30 seconds to fully press.

Pro tip: Rotate slowly as you’re pressing to avoid big jumps that can sometimes happen in the pressure.

Stop as soon as you hear the hissing noise of air escaping. Hold the Aeropress over a bin, untwist the cap and continue to press. The ground beans and filter will pop out to the bin for an easy clean!

There you have it. The perfect cup of hot coffee for one!

Shout out to Jason and the crew at Plug Nickel for their master advice.

Do we have a winner? Tell us what you think in the comments.