Not a dumb question at all! If your coffee exposure is mostly pods, then pour over might taste “washed out”. It took me a while before truly getting into coffee. I drank Nescafé for years before discovering the stovetop Moka pot. Then I had a local roaster grind some cheap dark roast coffee for me and I had that for years before getting into specialty/single origin and pour over. Until then I could never drink coffee black. Always sweetened with oat milk. What got me into pour over was James Hoffman and a random Chemex knock-off we bought off a supermarket in Turkey that I still use today. Then I got a burr handhgrinder. That made a whole world of difference. Now my preferred methods are in that order V60, Aeropress, Turkish coffee, Chemex, Moka pot.
If I’m typically only ever making coffee for myself, what should my brewing method be? Nespresso? Pour-over? French press?
I’d avoid Nespresso and Nestlé in general for a myriad of reasons. Pour over is finicky but well worth it. French press is easy, takes little effort, and can make a delicious cup. I only made like two cups before breaking mine so I’m scouring the flea market and thrift stores for one at the moment but they go for as little as 5$ new. The aeropress is a no brainer. Follow a recipe that you like and you’re getting the same cup every time. Turkish coffee is very special for me. It’s quick if you have pre-ground coffee and an electric kettle. Can be delicious with a cheap blend and isn’t expensive to get into either, all you need is a cezve or something similar, and a stove, but it demands attention or it can make a mess.
And should I be looking to try everything black, or are lattes and whatnot a good way to learn what my tastes are?
A good latte is a good latte. But if you truly want to experience the complexity of tastes a coffee has to offer, then it’s a good idea to learn how to appreciate black coffee. I realized that I sound like a snob… 😅
Bottom line: get beans, better if roasted locally, grind them yourself, or make sure they’re freshly ground for the method you want to use, and make some great coffee!