Choosing the Right Coffee for Your Brew Method

Great coffee doesn’t stop at the beans — it’s how you brew them that brings everything together.

Different brewing methods extract coffee in different ways. Pressure, contact time and filtration all influence what ends up in your cup. That’s why a coffee that tastes incredible as an espresso can feel flat as a filter, while a delicate pour-over favourite might struggle under espresso pressure.

To help you get the most from your setup, we’ve pulled together a selection of York Coffee Emporium coffees that shine with specific brewing methods. These pairings are based on how each coffee behaves in extraction — body, sweetness, acidity and clarity — so you can brew with confidence.

Espresso

Bold, concentrated and full-bodied

Espresso demands balance. Under high pressure, any sharp edges are amplified, so coffees with good structure, natural sweetness and a rounded finish tend to perform best.

• House Espresso

Smooth and rounded, designed specifically for espresso extraction. Consistent, comforting and endlessly drinkable.

• Italian

Classic chocolate and nut flavours with a heavier body — ideal for those who like their espresso rich and traditional.

• El Salvador Orange Bourbon

Bright and floral with a lively acidity that cuts through beautifully, especially as a modern-style espresso.

AeroPress

Versatile, forgiving and flavour-forward

The AeroPress sits somewhere between immersion and pressure brewing, making it incredibly adaptable. It’s brilliant for showcasing sweetness and clarity without over-extracting.

• The Cobbles

Chocolatey with gentle honeyed sweetness. A crowd-pleaser that works brilliantly in an AeroPress.

• Ethiopia Bekele Kachara

Red fruit flavours shine through with clarity, giving a vibrant, expressive cup.

• Bolivia San Juan

Dark chocolate notes with depth and structure, producing a rich and satisfying brew.

V60

Clean, nuanced and expressive

Pour-over brewing is all about clarity. The V60 highlights acidity, florals and subtle fruit notes, making it perfect for lighter, more complex coffees.

• The Gunpowder

Fruity with mild acidity, offering balance and approachability without overwhelming the palate.

• Colombia Papayo

Bright citrus notes with a lively, clean finish — ideal for showcasing clarity.

• Uganda Ibanda

Light, floral and elegant, with a refined structure that suits slower extraction.

Cafetière (French Press)

Rich, immersive and full-bodied

Immersion brewing allows oils and heavier compounds to remain in the cup, creating a fuller mouthfeel and deeper flavour profile.

• The Terrence

Chocolate and nut flavours come through boldly, making for a comforting, weighty brew.

• Kenya Nandi

Boozy, complex and expressive — a great example of how cafetière can add depth.

• Brazil Fermentado

Fruity with mild acidity, delivering sweetness and richness in equal measure.

Final Thoughts: Brew with Intention

There’s no single 'correct' way to enjoy coffee; but there are combinations that simply work better than others.

At York Coffee Emporium, we brew every coffee across multiple methods to understand where it truly shines. These recommendations aren’t rules; they’re starting points. Once you know what works, you can tweak, experiment and explore with confidence.

Whether you’re chasing the perfect espresso, refining your pour-over, or enjoying a slow cafetière at the weekend, the right coffee for your brew method makes all the difference.

And if you ever want a recommendation tailored to your setup, you know where to find us.