How to Brew Great Drip Coffee: 6 Tips to Make Drip Coffee

Sure, there are lots of fancy (and expensive) ways to make coffee. But did you know that you can make great coffee with your drip coffee maker?

This guide is part of our How to Make Coffee series.

How to Make Drip Coffee

Here’s how to make a great cup of drip coffee.

• Time to first sip: 4 to 10 minutes (depending on how many cups you’re making)
• Type of Coffee: Usually an average cup of coffee but depends on how you make it
• Coffee grind: Medium grind
• Gear required: Regular drip coffee maker, standard filters
• Difficulty: Easy

Drip Coffee Tips: Use freshly ground coffee and a permanent filter. Don’t let the carafe sit on the hot plate too long or your coffee will taste burnt.

The automatic drip coffee maker is one of the easiest, fastest, and most common ways of making coffee in today’s culture.

Drip Coffee Brewing Recipe

1. Add a paper filter
2. Add medium-ground coffee
3. Add water to the tank
4. Remove from heat
5. Keep your machine clean
6. Setup your coffee maker in the morning

1. Add a Paper Filter

Even if your coffee maker has a permanent, metal filter, you’ll notice a smoother taste by using a paper filter.

Paper filters remove more particulates and oils for a great cup.

2. Add Medium Ground Coffee

Add medium ground coffee into the filter compartment (1 to 2 tbsp per 6 oz cup of coffee)

3. Add Water

Add water to the tank. Filtered water is best. We use Berkey filtration to make our coffee.

4. Remove From Heat

Remove from heat. Once the brewing process is complete, remove the pot or cup from the burner on your coffee maker. The flavor will quickly go downhill if it sits on the burner once brewed.

You can also turn off the heat, and leave it on the burner.

5. Keep Your Machine Clean

Keeping your machine clean will limit funky smells and tastes. White vinegar and water is the best method. Here are some more tips for cleaning your coffee maker.

6. Setup Your Coffee Maker in the Morning

While even the most basic drip coffee machines have timers, resist the urge. Taking fresh water and grounds just before brewing will give better results.

If you prefer, you can set up your drip coffee maker the night before with grounds and water and then just push the button the next morning when you’re still half asleep or rushing around trying to get ready for work. This is also a good method for making a batch of coffee if you’re entertaining at home or making coffee for the office.

How to Make Drip Coffee (video)

The following video will show how to make coffee with a coffee maker.

Keep reading: How to Make Coffee Taste Good (5 Brew Tips)

With a drip coffee maker, you’re not going to get the same full-flavored cup of coffee that you would from another method like the French press. Still, it’s inexpensive, easy to use, and it delivers a quick caffeine fix.

If your primary goal for coffee making is getting your daily dose of caffeine to carry you throughout the day, then the drip coffee maker is a great choice.

Your Turn

How did your coffee turn out? Have a tip to share? Or maybe a question about making great-tasting drip coffee? Join me below!