From the French press, to pour over, to the basic drip, there are a variety of ways to brew up a simple cup of coffee. Traditionally all you need are beans and water for whichever method you choose. In recent years, however, getting your caffeine fix has undergone many upgrades to make it tastier, intoxicating, or easier to get.

Brewing coffee from a pod has saved us all from the burnt, inedible sludge often found in lobbies, offices, and hotel rooms. Instead of picking up a pot of coffee that has probably been sitting on the burner all day, you can choose and brew a fresh cup of coffee to your individual taste while waiting for an oil change or getting through the afternoon slump at work. It also makes life easier for the non-morning person who only has time to push a button on their way out the door.

Keurig and their K-Cups have become the ubiquitous name in this method of coffee brewing but rival other products from Nespresso and Senseo. It still requires water and coffee grounds, but the machine does all work for the consumer who just needs to select the size and flavor. Why stop at coffee? Pods are available to make oatmeal, pasta, rice, or even soup. Heating water to just under 200 degrees, the ideal range for brewing coffee, these machines make it easier to cook up any item that just takes hot water. Resembling the instantaneous cooking technology predicted in movies such as Fifth Element or Back to the Future II, it helps keep up with our fast-paced lives.

If you only need to brew a single cup but desire a mobile method, Coffee Co-Packing produces a single-use product that just needs to be watered. These prepackaged coffees come in a mini pour-over pouch that fits directly on to the cup for what they claim combines quality and efficiency. If the compact portability of this appeals to you, but you’re a French press loyalist, Bodum sells a travel mug with a built-in plunger so you can press on the go while also reducing paper waste.

These steamy summer days can make hot coffee unbearable to even think about, so with shorts and flip flops come iced lattes and cold brews. Iced coffee typically means brewing it by normal hot methods at double strength and then pouring it over ice, meanwhile, cold brew has a slightly different and lengthier process. Here at Press Coffee, our cold brew recipe combines coarse ground coffee and cold water and lets it sit for twenty-four hours, similar to how the French press method soaks the grounds in water instead of using gravity. Since the water never heats up and the grounds stay in contact longer, it produces a rich flavor without the acidity.

Taking it a step further, many cafes are also offering Nitro Brew which combines the smoothness of cold brew with the frothiness of a keg. Tiny nitrogen bubbles are added to the coffee to produce a creamy cup that will make you think you’re at the local pub instead. This trendy summertime option may make a richer cup but will make you poorer for it. The time and equipment that goes into it means you’ll be paying a bit more for the pour. While we don’t predict this option coming to our menu anytime soon, we are currently offering our Cold Brew at two for the price of one every Thursday afternoon!

If nitro coffee is more up your alley, then maybe Pabst’s newest product will suit your tastes. PBR’s Hard Coffee is a malted beverage with 5% alcohol, caffeine, and milky vanilla flavoring. We’ve seen this boozey caffeinated combo come and go in the past with Four Loko after its appeal to young people took a dangerous toll that sent many to the ER. While PBR’s experiment has a lower alcohol content, it’s still a questionable blend for the health-conscious consumer.

If navigating this minefield of coffee options is intimidating, feel free to bring your questions to our knowledgable baristas. We love talking shop and experimenting with new coffee recipes. You can also get special Press Coffee deals and coffee insight straight to your inbox by signing up for our Pressing Newsletter!