According to Statista, 33% of Americans used a drip coffee maker for their morning cup of Joe in 2023 [1]. Although that's a 46% decrease since 2010, autodrip coffeemakers are still one of the most popular ways to brew coffee at home.
So, what exactly is drip coffee?
Drip coffee is made using a drip coffee maker. This machine “drips” hot water through ground coffee into a carafe (coffee pot) below. The coffee is dark and flavorful but not as rich as pressurized brewing methods such as espresso and moka pot.
Drip coffee is fast and simple to make and tastes fantastic when fresh, high-quality coffee beans are used — this is what attracts so many people to the brewing method.
What Does Drip Coffee Taste Like?
Drip coffee has a mild, clean, and smooth flavor. It's passed through fine paper cone filters, so it has a light body with a thinner texture. The filter also absorbs some of the oils and fine particles of the coffee, giving it a much milder flavor.
The taste of drip coffee is wildly dependent on the type of coffee used. Whether it's an arabica, robusta, or a blend as well as the roast level, grind size, and how fine the paper filter is will all affect the taste. Arabica coffee is a smooth, mild drip coffee. Robusta beans produces a darker, more bitter cup of coffee. A blend balances the bitterness of robusta and the sweet smoothness of arabica.
Generally, drip coffee offers a well-balanced, less intense coffee experience compared to other brews such as French press, espresso shot, and moka pot coffee.
Drip Coffee & Its Variations
Although drip coffee is any brew made using a drip coffee maker, there are a few variations. The way the machine is prepared, the temperature of the water used, and the exact equipment used all affect the resulting brew.
The taste and type of drip coffee produced can vary widely depending on the type of coffee used and subtle differences in the brewing process.
Here are a few different types of drip coffee and how they’re made:
1. Regular Drip Coffee
“Regular” drip coffee is made using an automatic drip coffee maker.
These machines have a water reservoir, coffee chamber, and carafe plate. A filter is placed in the chamber, followed by ground coffee, then the machine is switched on. The water is heated and pours slowly over the coffee. The drip coffee passes through the paper filter and is collected in the carafe below.
Drip coffee is served in regular-sized coffee mugs (240 mL) and can be consumed black or with milk and/or sugar.
2. Pour-Over Coffee
Pour-over coffee is essentially the same as drip coffee. A pour-over coffee maker is like a “manual” version of an automatic drip coffee maker.
Pour-over coffee is made by pouring hot water slowly over ground coffee through a filter. The brew slowly drips through the filter into a single cup or coffee pot below.
3. Cold Brew Drip Coffee
Cold brew coffee can be made through drip extraction. Rather than using hot water, cold water is dripped over the coffee to make a mild, low-acidity, ice-cold brew.
Cold brew drip coffee doesn't have the same depth of flavor as regular cold brew coffee that's brewed over 18 to 24 hours. However, making cold brew drip coffee is a quick way to produce a similar-tasting brew easily.
4. Iced Drip Coffee
Iced drip coffee can be made by brewing a concentrated shot of drip coffee over ice.
Ice is added to the carafe, and a regular amount of coffee with around half the amount of water is brewed over the top. The chilled coffee can then be poured into a glass and further diluted with water or milk. Sugar or syrup can be added to sweeten the cold beverage.
Iced drip coffee is incredibly quick and easy to make. It's simple to make this summertime beverage at home with just a few ingredients and a drip coffee maker.
The Origins of Drip Coffee: Where Is it From?
The origins of drip coffee can be traced back to Germany in the early 20th century. The “pour over” brewing method — essentially the manual way to make drip coffee — has been around since 1908.
The Birth of Drip Coffee
The German entrepreneur Melitta Bentz invented the paper coffee filter (the Melitta filter) while seeking a way to brew coffee without the bitterness caused by over-extraction. She experimented with blotting paper and eventually developed the pour-over filtration system.
This invention led to the founding of the Melitta company, which popularized filtered drip coffee made using a pour-over brewer. The method quickly spread across Europe and beyond.
Melitta Benz's innovation marked the birth of modern drip coffee, but it wasn't until the mid-1950s that the automatic drip coffee maker was invented.
The First Electric Drip Coffee Maker
In 1954, the German inventor Gottlob Widmann invented the first electric drip coffee maker. Named the “Wigomat,” this drip coffee maker is remarkably similar to the machines we use today. This was the first ever electric coffee machine of any description.
The invention of the Wigomat revolutionized home brewing. Automatic drip coffee makers quickly became a household staple in Europe and it didn’t take long to reach the rest of the world.
Today, most households in Europe and the US own a drip coffee maker and use it weekly. The drip coffee maker market is estimated at a whopping 5.5 billion (as of 2023) [2].
What Do You Need to Make Drip Coffee?
Drip coffee is popular because it’s quick, easy, and convenient to make. You need just two ingredients, a few pieces of equipment, and less than 10 minutes.
Here’s what you need to make great-tasting drip coffee at home:
Ingredients
- Whole bean or ground coffee
- Water
- Milk (optional)
- Sugar (optional)
Equipment
- Burr grinder (if using whole-bean coffee)
- Drip coffee maker
- Paper coffee filters
- Coffee mug
- Teaspoon
Coffee Type and Grind Size
You can use either robusta, arabica, or a blend in a drip coffee maker. The type of coffee you use comes down to personal preference.
- Robusta produces a strong, dark, slightly bitter drip coffee. The HaNoi (100% Robusta) blend is ideal for strong robusta drip coffee.
- Arabica produces a more mellow and sweet drip coffee. The DaLat coffee is perfect for making a smooth, creamy drip coffee.
- Robusta and arabica blends combine the best of both worlds. We recommend the Cafely Saigon OG coffee for the perfect balanced cup of drip coffee. This arabica, robusta, and peaberry blend is bold, velvety, and dark.
How to Make Drip Coffee
Drip coffee is incredibly easy to make with an automatic coffee maker.
Here’s a simple step-by-step guide on how to make the perfect cup of coffee using any standard drip coffee maker:
1. Prepare the Coffee Maker
Prepare your drip coffee maker by filling the reservoir with cold, filtered water. Use the carafe to measure out the water you need before pouring.
Take a paper filter and dampen it with clean water. Place the filter in the filter basket.
2. Grind and Measure the Coffee
The best drip coffee is made using freshly ground coffee beans. The best water-to-coffee ratio is 1:16 — one gram of coffee to 16 grams of water. For two cups, that’s roughly four tablespoons (28 grams) of ground coffee to two cups (470 mL) of water.
Measure the desired amount of coffee beans and place them in a burr grinder. Grind the beans to a medium consistency — similar to sand.
If you don’t have a grinder and want to use pre-ground, make sure to opt for a fresh, high-quality coffee. Check out our pre-ground coffee range.
3. Brew the Coffee
Pour the ground coffee into the filter in the basket on your coffee machine. Turn on the machine — the water in the reservoir will automatically heat and begin to drip over the ground coffee.
You’ll start to see the first coffee drips pour into the carafe after 30 seconds to a minute (depending on the machine).
Wait for the machine to finish brewing and switch it off.
4. Pour, Adjust, and Enjoy
Once the drip coffee maker has finished brewing, remove the carafe and pour the coffee into your favorite coffee mug.
Drip coffee tastes great black, but it can be creamed using milk or a coffee creamer. You can also add sugar or syrup to sweeten.
FAQs: Drip Coffee and More
Eager to learn more about Drip coffee and other brews?
Check out the answers to the FAQs below:
1. What Is the Ideal Grind Size for Drip Coffee?
The ideal grind size for drip coffee is medium. Medium grind coffee has a texture similar to sand, allowing water to pass through slowly.
2. What's the Best Coffee for Drip Coffee?
The best coffee for your drip coffee maker should be high quality and freshly ground. In terms of type, robusta, arabica, liberica, and blends can be used to make great-tasting coffee. The best type and roast for you depends on your flavor preferences.
3. How Long Does It Take to Brew Drip Coffee?
It only takes a few minutes to brew a cup of drip coffee using an automatic drip coffee maker. Brewing an entire carafe can take up to 10 minutes.
4. Can You Use Pre-Ground Coffee for Drip Coffee?
Yes. You can use pre-ground coffee to make drip coffee. Just make sure the coffee is fresh and has a medium or coarse grind. Avoid fine and extra fine grinds.
5. What Is the Coffee-to-Water Ratio for Drip Coffee?
The usual coffee-to-water ratio for drip coffee is 1:16 — to every one gram of coffee, 16 grams of water should be added. However, this ratio can be adjusted to suit your palate.
6. What Is Pour-Over Coffee, and How Does It Relate to Drip Coffee?
Pour-over uses a filter and drip brewing to produce a balanced cup of coffee. Pour-over coffee makers produce a similar coffee to drip coffee makers. The only difference is the need to pour hot water over the coffee manually rather than a machine doing it for you.
7. How Much Caffeine Is in Drip Coffee?
An eight-ounce (240 mL) serving of drip coffee can contain anywhere from 95 to 165 mg of caffeine. The exact strength of the coffee depends on the type of bean, the roast level, and the coffee-to-water ratio used.
8. Why Is Drip Coffee So Popular in the United States?
Drip coffee is so popular in the United States because of its convenience. Drip coffee is quick and easy to make and the machine requires very little cleaning due to the use of coffee filters.
9. Can You Use a Metal Filter Instead of a Paper Filter for Drip Coffee?
Yes. You can brew drip coffee through a fine metal or cloth filter. Different types of filters will affect the taste of the coffee. Generally, drip coffee made with metal filters has a thicker texture than coffee made with a paper filter.
10. How Do You Clean a Drip Coffee Maker?
For weekly cleaning, you can run a regular brew cycle using just water to clean your drip coffee maker. The carafe can be washed with soap and water. Occasionally, the machine may require descaling and deep cleaning with distilled vinegar.
References:
- Kuempel, J. J., Ledesma, C. W., Carlson, T. D., & Day, N. M. (2022). US Patent Application No. 29/737,983.
- Mukherjee, A., Mukherjee, E., & Menon, V. (2022). Contribution of Non-alcoholic Beverage Sector to Indian Economic Growth and Atmanirbhar Bharat. AF Press.
