For those who like their coffee or espresso black, or want to get the most (caffeine) from their cup, they may wonder which brew method would best support their preferences.

When it comes to the “strongest” brew method, some may be looking for the strongest flavor, while others are in search of the most caffeine per cup. We’ll take a look at both. 

Best Brew Method for the Strongest Flavor

Espresso is easily the winner for strongest flavor. That is generally one of the reasons it is served in such a small amount. 

The brew method for espresso relies on high pressure with heat being forced through fine coffee grounds. This pressure extracts the coffee in a more intense, concentrated form. This is why a typical serving size for espresso is one ounce.

Follow-up contenders for the strongest flavor include the Aeropress and Mokapot, when it comes to traditional western brew methods. Both also use a form of pressure to extract the coffee from fine grounds.

Honorable mention goes to the Turkish coffee brewing method using a cezve (or ibrik). This is actually a far stronger brewing method than the Aeropress or Mokapot, but it’s not as well known in western cultures. We think it definitely could and should be. It has a dense, thicker mouthfeel because the extremely fine grounds are never filtered out, so your cup contains all the coffee oils and fine particles, which are still extracting as you drink.

Best Brew Method for the Strongest Caffeine

Some equate strongest flavor with most caffeine, but this would be technically incorrect, but there is nuance to consider.

Espresso, per 1 oz serving size, actually contains less caffeine than a cup of coffee, sitting at an average 60 mg of caffeine per oz; a standard serving of coffee brewed with French press, drip, or pour over is 8 oz, which is 80-90mg of caffeine. However, most coffeeshops pull double shots of espresso for a standard serving, so in that case, espresso may offer the higher caffeine content. 

The winner for strongest caffeine per serving, however, is neither espresso nor traditionally brewed coffee. Cold brew takes the cake when it comes to caffeine.

The longer, slower extraction time of cold brew helps to increase the caffeine content, and it also tends to be a higher coffee to water ratio. Cold brew method creates a concentrate that can then be diluted to your preferences.

Cold brew serving sizes tend to be around 12 oz, and a 12 oz cup of cold brew can range from 170-250mg of caffeine, making it sit at the strongest caffeine per serving size.

What makes this interesting is cold brew has a smoother flavor profile, which may make some consider it to be not as strong as espresso. So while espresso is typically considered the brew method for strongest flavor, cold brew is a smoother flavor yet the best brew method for strongest caffeine content.

Which Segafredo Coffee is Best for Which Brew Method?

We have a range of coffee roasts, grinds, and offerings at Segafredo to fit everyone’s preferences. We recommend our Brillante Ground Coffee for cold brew, as the brightness really shines in that method. For the strongest flavor profile, we recommend our Extra Strong Whole Bean Espresso. This is a great option for those who like their espresso neat or in strong espresso drinks. We also now have our Massimo Whole Bean Espresso for an option, as well. That espresso truly shines in lattes and americanos.

Shop our espresso and coffee options >>