You may be thinking... A coffee guide on a web developer's blog? You'd be right to be a little concerned - but coffee is what keeps me going, and this method to a great cup is almost fool-proof. Plus, once you learn it, you won't forget it.

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It's based on this method by James Hoffmann, but without the accuracy (and trust me, it doesn't make much of a difference). Though it takes a while to brew, you won't notice if you start it before making breakfast - everything will be done around the same time!

Ingredients

There are two (maybe three) ingredients you'll need:

• Ground coffee (from the store, or you can grind at home if you prefer - use a coarse grind)
• Boiling water
• (Optional) Milk (cow's milk, or a dairy-free alternative)

The Method

Start by boiling the kettle. Once boiled, let it sit for 20-30 seconds to avoid scalding the coffee. In the meantime, scoop about 30g ground coffee into your cafetiere - this is equivalent to about 2 tablespoons. If you're making two cups, double this amount.

Once your water's boiled and you've let it sit, slowly pour it into the cafetiere. Leave about 3/4 of an inch at the top. Grab a teaspoon - preferably a long one - and give it a good stir. Then gently place the lid on the cafetiere, avoiding the coffee, and set a timer for three minutes.

After three minutes, gently remove the lid and bring your cafetiere over to the sink, being careful not to shake the coffee too much. Use your teaspoon to remove the top layer of coffee grounds and flick them down the sink - this will stop you getting grounds in your cup. Afterwards, give the coffee a gentle, but deep stir, and then replace the lid as you did before.

Leave the coffee to brew for a further 5 to 7 minutes, depending on preferred strength.

When the coffee's brewed, very slowly push the plunger down. It helps to rest a finger between the plunger and the top of the lid if you can withstand the heat. Push the plunger about 2/3 of the way down, then stop.

If you're using a dairy alternative milk, pour some in your cup now. This will stop it curdling. You can add some sugar at this stage too.

Then, slowly pour the coffee into your cup until you reach your desired amount. Add your dairy milk and give the coffee a gentle stir, if that's what you drink.

Finally, enjoy your coffee, because that's all there is to this method.

What About The Grounds?

If you're looking for something to do with the coffee grounds you just used, check out this article for some ideas. Using it as a fly deterrent could be interesting...