The original idea for this blog post was "what do you actually need to brew great coffee at home", but after half a paragraph and 3 bullet points, the blog was finished. The reality is, as much as we all love our fancy toys and brewers, and a lot of us enjoy nerding out on coffee science, you need very few things to make great coffee at home.

With that in mind, we've put together a list of the different types of home brewer you can be and what your set ups might look like. With a bit variable control and good quality fresh coffee beans, all these home brew set ups will deliver a delicious cup of coffee! The question is, how deep down the coffee rabbit hole have you gone?

The No Frills Brewer

You wake up, and you want coffee. It's as simple as that. You want it fast, you want it simple, and you want it to taste damn good. Well, now is the time to dig out that dusty old french press in the back of your cupboard! The french press is like that old uncle at family gatherings who, despite being quite dated and a bit dusty, he always brings a spot of joy, and everyone loves him!

What is needed:

• Good quality, freshly roasted coffee
• A burr grinder
• A french press
• A timer
• A scale (Highly recommended, but in a pinch a measuring scoop will do)
• A go get 'em attitude!

If you want to go into a little more detail, check out our french press brew guide here.

The Discerning Consumer

So, you've dabbled in coffee a fair bit, you have your favourite roaster, you love your Aeropress, and you understand that, with a little bit of attention to detail, your coffee can be amazing! You have nailed your recipe; it's part of your daily routine, and it brings you a little bit of joy every morning! The Aeropress is your best friend, and it delivers, without fail, every time!

What is needed:

• Good quality, freshly roasted coffee
• A burr grinder
• An Aeropress
• Aeropress filters
• A gooseneck kettle
• A scale
• A timer
• A healthy curiosity towards specialty coffee

The Aeropress is an amazing brewing device. It is practical, easy and versatile. If you love your Aeropress and want to do even more with it, check out our brew guide on how to make an Aeropress for two.

The Coffee Nerd

You are really into coffee! You probably have quite a few different brewers at home. You love getting into the minutia of each and every brew. You've probably thought about competing the brewers cup or the Aeropress championships - maybe you even have competed. No doubt, this love affair with home brewed coffee began with the Hario V60 dripper.

What is needed:

• Good quality. freshly roasted coffee
• An electric grinder (you've done your time with a manual grinder)
• A Hario V60 dripper
• A Hario Range Server
• V60 Filters
• A variable temperature kettle
• A scale
• A bit of patience and a lot of attention to detail

Many specialty coffee connoisseurs and master home brewers began their coffee journey with the Hario V60. Why not check out how CCB brews a V60 with our brew guide.

The Coffee Hipster

Let's be honest with ourselves here; a lot of the coffee equipment you see out there is gorgeous. While each of the items on the list below is no doubt at the top of its class in quality and will definitely add value to your brews, there is almost always a more affordable option. Having said that, if you are the type of coffee brewer who is looking for the best of the best and a designer brew set up, to match your designer kitchen, then look no further.

What is needed:

• Good quality, freshly roasted coffee
• Chemex brewer
• Chemex filters
• An Acaia Pearl scale
• A Comandante grinder (Coming to CCB soon)
• The Felicita Smart Kettle
• A top-knot and rimmed glasses (optional; not for sale at CCB)

Forgive the sass, I am probably just jealous that I don't have a set-up this beautiful in my kitchen! If this is you, I imagine you don't need a brew guide - but why not check out our blog on seven factors that influence coffee's flavour? 

The Newbie Barista

From the moment you received that first flat white with a perfect rosetta in it, you wanted more. You had your first sip and the sweet and delicate but deliciously creamy drink was almost overwhelming. This is now all that you drink, and you have been spending your days perfecting those espresso shots and that latte art!

What is needed:

• Good quality, freshly roasted coffee
• A Rancilio Rocky Espresso Grinder
• A Rancilio Silvia Espresso Machine
• A tamper
• Acceptance for the fact that coffee snobs might judge you for drinking milk

If you have started down this journey and you need some guidance, we have put together a beginner's guide to making espresso!

The Prosumer

You remember the good old days back in college when this coffee obsession started. At first, it was just to keep you awake through exams, but 6 months later, you were wearing flannel shirts and slinging espressos in your local corner cafe. It was the early days of the third wave coffee revolution, and everyday was exciting. Unfortunately, college came to an end, and you had to get that career rolling, but there is a little corner of nostalgia in your kitchen in the form of a nice little espresso set-up. You already know all the tips and tricks, and you love to impress your dinner guests, but at the end of the day, this is your little corner of joy.

What is needed:

• Good quality, freshly roasted coffee
• A Eureka espresso grinder
• A Rocket Appartmento Espresso Machine
• A tamper
• A hopeless romantic attitude, with a tinge of nostalgia

You don't need anything else. You've got it all: The palate, the skills, the passion. You're a coffee darling and you still dream of opening that third wave cafe in the hipster quarter some day.

The Completely Coffee Obsessed And Maybe A Little Bit Mad

I have yet to come across one of you but I have no doubt that you exist! You are mad about coffee and nothing will get in the way of your pursuit of the perfect shot of espresso. You don't drink milk in your coffee, and you don't mess around. This is business.

What is needed:

• Good quality, freshly roasted coffee
• A Malkhionig E65S espresso grinder
• A La Marzocco Strada single group
• A Puqpress
• A tattoo that says "death before decaf"

If this is you, and you love to totally geek out on espresso, check out Matt Pergers guide to dialling in espresso. It might be just the thing you need to get that perfect shot.

Where do you fit into the wonderful world of coffee? Comment and let us know what kind of home brewer you are and don't forget to share your home brews with us on social media! We always love to see what you guys are brewing at home!