Manual drip:

This is one of the easiest and best methods for brewing coffee. You, the brewer, has complete control of the amount and grind of coffee used, as well as the temperature and amount of water used for brewing. Coffee brewed this way is best done cup by cup, but you can filter into a thermos or insulated carafe for short-term storage. Experiment with the amount of coffee used to create your desired strength. Experiment with the grind as well. Something a little on the fine side of a medium grind usually works, but much will depend on your filter and grinder. Too fine a grind and the water will never get through, too coarse and you’ll have a watery cup. There are several reusable filters on the market. These have the advantage of less waste as well as a better cup as some paper filters can impart a brown bag taste on your brew. Some tips for brewing with this method:
    -Grind your whole bean just before brewing. A burr grinder is preferred for a consistent grind, but a blade grinder is just fine assuming you have taken the time to experiment enough to get the proper grind. Grind 2 mounded tablespoons of bean for every 6 to 8 ounces of coffee being prepared.
    -Your coffee is only as good as the water going through it. Use filtered water when possible. A temperature of 195 to 205 degrees Fahrenheit is optimal. Preheat your filter (this will limit the taste imparted by some paper filters).
    -Pour the water slowly over the grounds as the extraction should take around 4 minutes.
    -You can adjust the strength of your brew by adjusting the grind (finer if the water moves through the filter too fast, more coarse if it moves too slow), or the amount of coffee used.

Auto drip:

Despite the popularity of these common machines, they are far from the best way to enjoy your coffee. Used properly they are on par with the manual filter method. Over time the heating elements corrode and your water temperature will perpetually drop. The quickest way to ruin a great cup of coffee is to put it on a hot plate and sit. Most of these machines do this immediately, but a couple models on the market utilize an insulated carafe. Look for these if you are looking for an auto drip machine or just get the coffee off the hot plate as soon as possible!