h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I realize this is an open ended question, but I'm interested in any approach to fully realize the great potential of coffee.

If, by good you mean strong, then the following works:-
Equipment:
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Large metal teapot,an range cooker (e.g. an Aga or the like), a coffee grinder, a fridge, a slack handful of roasted arabica beans and some raw cane sugar. A supply of clean water is also useful.

Method:
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Take the beans from the fridge (where they are kept for freshness) and grind them. Put the pot on the range to warm and throw the grounds in. Now add water to 3/4 of the depth of the kettle and bring close to the boil (if it actuially boils it may taste burnt). Once it is boiling, add sugar to taste and simmer until the grounds sink to the bottom of the pot (usually at least 30 minutes). Strain into cup and then add a cup of cold water to the kettle - thus maintaining the level.
Repeat the last step every time you need another cup - should last all day.

I think you can also make excellent coffee by purchasing a percolating coffee pot, which depending on the kind you get, either requires electricity or just a flame or some other heat source. The coffee grounds are contained in a little basket thingy which is located in the pot over a bunch of water. When the water boils, it goes up into the coffee grounds, and then drains back down (I think). Regardless, the coffee tastes pretty good, as long as you don't burn it. Also, you can make it strong or weak this way.

Or spend a considerable percentage of your monthly pay on a seriously sexy coffee machine that forces hot (not boiling) water through ground coffee at pressure - gives that lovely creamy head (crema) to espresso. The stove-top ones are fine (and considerably cheaper) but unless you want to risk life-threatening kitchen-based explosions, there isn't enough pressure for really good coffee.

For tips on making really good coffee, please check out the home pages of the Norwegian coffee centre at http://www.kaffe.no They have almost all of their pages in english as well, that is if your norvegian is a wee bit rusty...

"Good cooffee" often is a question of individual taste or culture.
Here some hints for the way coffeshops in Austria use to make coffee (supposed you are familiar with the basics):
Add a slight amount of salt, this lets increase the taste of sugar (no joke)
Add some cocoa to the coffee for some decent chocolate-taste (some coffeeshops get you pieces of chocolate to let do it yourself)
Add a little bit of cinnamon
Besides that, Austrian coffeeshops have one unpayable advantage many other countries don't have: clean alpine water! You will never be able to make good coffee without using good, lime-free water.

Yes, a percolating coffee machine is, in my opinion, essential. It makes a stronger cup, but with much more flavour. This is for _good_ coffee, like Kona for example. Ordinary coffee, well, it doesn't matter what method you use... just don't use a bodum.