It’s the coffee question we get all the time:
“What’s the best way to brew at home?”
The truth? There’s no single answer – it depends on your setup, your taste, and your routine. But we can help you break it down.
Let’s compare three of the most popular methods: espresso machine, stovetop (Moka pot), and French press.
1. Espresso Machine
☕ Style: Intense, short shots with crema
💸 Cost: $$$ (machine investment)
⏱️ Brew Time: ~30 seconds (after warmup)
Espresso is the café standard. If you love strong, rich coffee with velvety body and often drink with milk – this is for you.
At Elixir HQ, we brew our Espresso Blend daily for tasting and QC. It’s made for machines.
Pros:
✔️ Café-quality shots
✔️ Strong flavour, excellent with milk
✔️ Fast (once dialled in)
Cons:
✘ Expensive equipment
✘ Steeper learning curve
✘ Requires maintenance
2. Stovetop (Moka Pot)
☕ Style: Bold, espresso-style brew (without the crema)
💸 Cost: $
⏱️ Brew Time: 4–6 minutes
The Bialetti Moka Express is a stovetop classic. It uses steam pressure to push water through the coffee – no filters, no tech, no fuss.
Best used with: Medium-fine grind, like our Fratelli Blend in “stovetop” format.
Pros:
✔️ Affordable, compact
✔️ Durable (lasts decades)
✔️ Great for milk drinks
Cons:
✘ Requires stovetop
✘ Can be over-extracted if not careful
3. French Press (Plunger)
☕ Style: Smooth, full-bodied brew with rich texture
💸 Cost: $
⏱️ Brew Time: 4 minutes +
The French press is beloved for its simplicity. Just steep your coarse-ground coffee, plunge, and pour.
Try our Narciso Blend for a more fruit-forward plunger brew.
Pros:
✔️ Easy and forgiving
✔️ Great for black coffee
✔️ Makes multiple cups at once
Cons:
✘ Sludgy bottom if not filtered well
✘ Less intense than espresso
So… Which One Wins?
It depends on your vibe:
- Like café-style milk drinks? Go espresso or Moka pot
- Prefer mellow black brews? Try French press
- Low effort, big flavour? Moka pot wins on value
- Want control and ritual? Espresso is your playground
Bonus Tip: Match Your Method to Your Grind
- Espresso: Fine
- Stovetop: Medium-fine
- French press: Coarse
You can select your grind style at checkout for all our coffee blends.
Want to Brew Better?
Check out our Grind Guide and Bialetti Brew Guide for more expert tips.
Or explore our blog for recipes, comparisons and more.