The Ultimate Clever Dripper Technique

Summary

The video script discusses the Clever Coffee Dripper, a versatile and easy-to-use brewing method. It highlights the steep and release technique, emphasizing the importance of water-to-coffee ratio, grind size, and the order of adding ingredients for optimal extraction and faster draw-down. The presenter shares a tip from Workshop Coffee in London for quicker brewing by adding water before coffee and demonstrates the process, ensuring viewers understand the steps for a balanced and sweet cup of coffee.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Clever Coffee Dripper is a versatile and underappreciated brewing method that offers a simple steep and release mechanism.
• 💡 It's a pioneer in the steep and release brewer category and is known for its ease of use and robustness.
• 💰 The Clever Coffee Dripper is affordable, typically priced around $20 to $30, and is made from BPA-free plastic.
• 📏 The recommended coffee to water ratio is 75 grams per liter, but the presenter enjoys using a slightly lower ratio of 60 to 65 grams per liter.
• 📄 The brewer uses Melitta-style paper filters, size number four, for the larger model, and can handle up to 400 ml of liquid, though not recommended to the maximum.
• ☕ The coffee grind size is medium-fine, similar to that used for a two-cup V60, which is finer than expected for a steep style brewer.
• 🔍 A key technique involves adding water to the Clever first and then the coffee, which results in a quicker draw-down time compared to the reverse order.
• 🕒 After adding coffee to the water, it's recommended to let it steep for two minutes before breaking the crust and starting the brewing process.
• 👀 The first liquid to drain may appear weak due to some liquid sitting outside the filter paper, but this doesn't significantly affect the final result.
• 👌 The Clever Coffee Dripper is forgiving with timing, allowing for some flexibility in steeping time without negatively impacting the final brew.
• 🌟 The final brew is characterized by a great texture, clarity from the paper filter, and good sweetness, which can be adjusted by fine-tuning the grind size.

Q & A

What is the Clever Coffee Dripper and how does it work?

The Clever Coffee Dripper is a steep and release brewer that allows coffee and water to steep together. When you're ready to drink, you place the brewer on top of a mug or carafe, which lifts a stopper and allows the liquid to drain out from the bottom.

Why does the Clever Coffee Dripper not get as much recognition as it should?

The script does not provide a specific reason, but it suggests that the Clever Coffee Dripper is a fantastic and easy-to-use brewing method that produces great results, implying that it may be overlooked due to its simplicity or lack of widespread awareness.

What is the recommended coffee to water ratio for the Clever Coffee Dripper?

The script suggests starting with 75 grams of coffee per liter of water, but the speaker also enjoys using a ratio closer to 60 to 65 grams per liter, even at the lower ratio, resulting in a rich texture and mouth feel.

What type of filter does the Clever Coffee Dripper use and what size is needed?

The Clever Coffee Dripper uses Melitta-style paper filters, specifically the size number four, which is suitable for the larger size of the brewer.

What is the maximum amount of liquid that can be brewed in the Clever Coffee Dripper?

The script mentions that the Clever Coffee Dripper can technically brew up to 500 milliliters of liquid, but it is not recommended. Instead, up to 400 milliliters is suggested for practical use.

What grain size is recommended for the coffee when using the Clever Coffee Dripper?

The recommended grain size is described as medium fine, which is finer than what is typically used for a steep style brewer and similar to the grain size used for a two-cup V60.

Why is it suggested to add water to the Clever Coffee Dripper before the coffee?

Adding water first and then coffee helps to speed up the draw-down time, as discovered by Workshop Coffee in London. This method prevents a clogging effect on the paper filter that occurs when coffee is added first.

What is the recommended steeping time for the coffee in the Clever Coffee Dripper?

The recommended steeping time is two minutes, after which the crust on top should be broken to allow for an even extraction.

What is the impact of the draw-down time on the quality of the coffee brewed with the Clever Coffee Dripper?

The draw-down time, which can vary depending on the coffee and grinder used, affects the extraction. A quicker draw-down time, achieved by adding water before coffee, results in a better extraction and improved taste.

What are some tips for adjusting the taste of the coffee brewed with the Clever Coffee Dripper?

If the coffee tastes hollow, grinding the coffee finer may help. Conversely, if the coffee is bitter and harsh, grinding it slightly coarser could improve the sweetness.

Why is it not recommended to push the paper filter down as far as it can go in the Clever Coffee Dripper?

Pushing the paper filter down too far can interfere with the draw-down process. It is better to leave the filter neatly in place and accept that some water will dilute the brew without being involved in the brewing process.

What are the benefits of using the Clever Coffee Dripper according to the script?

The Clever Coffee Dripper is simple, robust, BPA-free, and does not require fancy equipment. It allows for easy brewing with accurate grind, dose, and water weights, resulting in great paper-filtered coffee.

Outlines

00:00

😀 Introduction to Clever Coffee Dripper

The video begins with an introduction to the Clever Coffee Dripper, a steep and release brewer that the presenter highly recommends for its ease of use and quality of coffee produced. The presenter discusses the brewer's design, which involves placing a filter paper, coffee, and water inside, allowing them to steep before the coffee is drained by placing the brewer on top of a mug or carafe. The brewer is described as robust, BPA-free, and easy to use, with a focus on achieving even extraction and a quick draw down. The presenter also shares their preferred coffee-to-water ratio and the type of filter to use, as well as a tip on preheating the brewer and rinsing the filter paper.

05:01

😉 Technique for Quick Draw Down with Clever Coffee Dripper

The second paragraph delves into the technique for achieving a quick draw down with the Clever Coffee Dripper, which is crucial for preventing the coffee from stalling during the brewing process. The presenter explains the importance of using the right coffee grain size, which they describe as medium-fine, and the innovative method of adding water before coffee to the brewer, a tip credited to Workshop Coffee in London. This method is said to significantly speed up the draw-down time compared to the traditional coffee-first approach. The presenter also details the steps for brewing, including the initial steeping time of two minutes, the option to break the crust for better extraction, and the final steps for draining the coffee. They conclude by sharing their thoughts on the brewer's performance, the importance of using a good grinder, and the flexibility of the brewing time.

Keywords

💡Clever Coffee Dripper

The Clever Coffee Dripper is a brewing device central to the video's theme. It's a steep and release brewer, known for its simplicity and effectiveness in making coffee. The device allows coffee and water to steep together and then releases the brewed coffee when placed on top of a mug or carafe. The script praises the Clever Coffee Dripper for its robustness, ease of use, and BPA-free material, highlighting its role in producing great coffee with good texture and mouth feel.

💡Steep and Release Brewer

A steep and release brewer is a type of coffee maker that allows coffee grounds and water to steep together, then releases the brewed coffee when a stopper is lifted. The Clever Coffee Dripper is an example of this brewing method. The script emphasizes its pioneering role in this brewing space and how it works by steeping coffee and water together before the liquid drains out from the bottom once the brewer is placed on a surface.

💡Extraction

Extraction in coffee brewing refers to the process of drawing flavor and compounds from coffee grounds into the water, resulting in brewed coffee. The video focuses on achieving a good, even extraction for optimal flavor. The term is used to describe the desired outcome of the brewing process, with the script detailing techniques to avoid stalling and ensure the liquid filters through the coffee efficiently.

💡Immersion Brew Method

The immersion brew method is a technique where coffee grounds are fully submerged in water for a period, allowing for extraction. The script mentions that the Clever Coffee Dripper uses this method, typically recommending a coffee-to-water ratio of 75 grams per liter, although the presenter has enjoyed ratios closer to 60 to 65 grams per liter, which still yields a rich texture and mouth feel.

💡Paper Filters

Paper filters are used in the Clever Coffee Dripper to separate the coffee grounds from the liquid during brewing. The script specifies the use of Melitta-style paper filters and recommends the Filtropa brand. The filters are essential for the brewing process, ensuring that the coffee has a clarity and lacks the bitterness that can come from over-extraction.

💡Grain Size

Grain size in coffee brewing refers to the coarseness or fineness of the ground coffee. The script describes the ideal grain size for the Clever Coffee Dripper as 'medium fine,' which is finer than expected for a steep-style brewer but similar to that used for a V60. The grain size is crucial for achieving the right balance of extraction and preventing bitterness.

💡Draw Down

Draw down is the term used to describe the process of liquid filtering through the coffee grounds into the cup below. The script discusses the importance of achieving a quick draw down to prevent the brewing process from stalling. The presenter shares a technique discovered by Workshop Coffee in London that involves adding water before coffee to speed up the draw down.

💡Pre-Heating

Pre-heating in the context of the video refers to the initial step of rinsing the paper filter and warming up the brewer with hot water before adding coffee grounds. The script mentions that this step helps to rinse out any paper taste and pre-heat the brewer, although it notes that since the brewer is made of plastic, it won't retain much heat.

💡Stirring

Stirring is a technique used in the brewing process to ensure that the coffee and water are well mixed, preventing dry pockets of coffee. The script advises against over-stirring but recommends a gentle stir or shake to break the crust formed during steeping, allowing for an even extraction.

💡Brew Time

Brew time refers to the duration for which the coffee grounds steep in hot water before the liquid is drained. The script suggests a steep time of two minutes, which is found to be optimal for extraction. It also mentions that going beyond this time does not significantly impact the quality of the coffee but emphasizes the benefits of the quick draw down technique.

💡Grinder

A grinder is a device used to grind coffee beans to the desired grain size for brewing. The script mentions that different coffees may require different grain sizes, and the presenter tends to stick to one grain size once a coffee is 'dialed in.' The type of grinder, such as a Wilfa Uniform or a high-end grinder, can affect the draw-down time, which is a critical factor in the brewing process.

Highlights

The Clever Coffee Dripper is a steep and release brewer that deserves more recognition for its ease of use and quality coffee production.

The steep and release method involves steeping coffee with water and releasing the liquid when the brewer is placed on top of a container.

The Clever Coffee Dripper is robust, made of BPA-free plastic, and costs around $20 to $30.

A good extraction with a quick draw down can be achieved using the Clever Coffee Dripper, avoiding the frustration of stalled filtering.

A coffee to water ratio of 60 to 65 grams per liter is recommended for the Clever Coffee Dripper.

Melitta style paper filters, size number four, are designed for use with the Clever Coffee Dripper.

The maximum liquid capacity for brewing with the Clever Coffee Dripper is 400 to 500 ml, though 400 ml is more practical.

A single grain size is often used for the same coffee and ratio, regardless of slight recipe changes.

Folding the paper filter before placing it in the brewer helps it sit neater and rinses out paper taste.

A medium-fine grind size is recommended for the Clever Coffee Dripper, finer than expected for a steep brewer.

Adding water before coffee to the Clever Coffee Dripper improves the draw-down time significantly.

The technique of water first, then coffee, prevents clogging effects on the paper filter that can slow down the brewing process.

Stirring the coffee and water mixture lightly after adding coffee ensures even extraction without over-agitating.

A two-minute steep time is standard for the Clever Coffee Dripper, with a shake or stir to break the crust before brewing.

The initial liquid from the brew may appear weak due to some liquid sitting outside the filter paper during the initial fill.

The draw-down time can vary depending on the coffee, grinder used, and technique, but is generally around a minute.

Adjusting the grind size can help achieve the desired flavor profile, avoiding bitterness or hollowness.

The Clever Coffee Dripper is a simple and affordable method for making great paper-filtered coffee without needing fancy equipment.

Accuracy in grind size, coffee dose, and water weight are key to achieving a great cup of coffee with the Clever Coffee Dripper.

Transcripts

Today we're gonna talk about brewing coffee

with the Clever Coffee Dripper.

This is a fantastic way to make coffee.

I've been a fan of this for a long time

and I sometimes feel it doesn't get the recognition

that it deserves.

Now, it's a steep and release brewer.

This was pioneering in the steep

and release brewer space in coffee.

The way that that works

is you put a filter paper inside this,

you put your coffee and water in

and you let them steep.

And when you're ready to drink the coffee,

you put the brewer on top of something.

It could be a mug, it could be a carafe.

That causes a stopper to lift

and the liquid drains out of the bottom.

It's maybe 20 pounds or $30.

It's very easy to use, it's robust,

it's BPA-free of plastic

and making coffee with it is pretty easy

and the results are pretty great.

Now, the technique I'm gonna talk you through

is pretty focused on getting a good, even extraction

but also getting a pretty quick draw down.

That's the phrase that we use

to describe the liquid filtering through the coffee

into the cup below.

For many people, it often seems to just stall

and stop and stop filtering

and that's very, very frustrating.

So we're gonna try and fix that problem.

Now, it's an immersion brew method

and typically, I would recommend 75 grams a liter

but more and more, I've been enjoying closer

to 60 to 65 grams a liter.

Even at that sort of lower ratio,

you still get tons of texture,

tons of mouth feel.

Now, this is designed to use paper filters.

These are the Melitta style paper filters in this shape.

I quite like the Filtropa brand.

A lot of people like the Melitta one.

Size number four is what you need

for this larger size here.

You can brew, at an absolute push, 500 mills of liquid,

though I would not recommend it.

Practically, I would say up to 400 mills

and today I'm gonna be brewing 15 grams

to 250 grams of water

just for the purpose of demonstration.

Most of the time, I'll just use that one grain size

for the same coffee and the same ratio,

even if I'm changing the recipe slightly.

Different coffees may need different grain sizes

but broadly speaking,

once you've got a coffee dialed in,

I tend to stick to that grain size,

regardless of the recipe,

as long as that ratio is fixed.

To start with, just give the paper a little fold.

It's not essential but it will help have the paper sit

a little bit neater inside the brewer.

Open it up, pop it in the brewer

and give it a rise with some hot water.

You don't have to use a freshly boiled kettle.

You can use hot water from a good hot tap in your sink.

It's probably not worth boiling a kettle,

refilling it and boiling it again

to do it this way.

So hot enough is fine.

We're just trying to rinse some paper taste out

and pre-heat the brewer a little bit.

But it's plastic, so it's not gonna absorb

that much temperature anyway.

As for the grain size,

for me, I could best describe it as medium, fine.

It is probably finer than most people would expect

for a steep style brewer.

Certainly finder than most people brew French presses.

Pretty close really to the grain size I would use

for a two-cup V60.

I'll show you some grains on screen

from this particular brew next

to the KRUVE BREWLER to give you an idea

of how large these pieces are.

Now, once you've ground your coffee,

this is the key to this particular technique.

Do not put the coffee in the Clever yet.

Wait.

Now, as I understand it,

this particular part of the technique came

from a company called Workshop Coffee in London.

They have a little YouTube channel.

I'll link to that down below.

They discovered that if you put the water in first

and then the coffee, your draw-down time is quicker.

And that's what we're gonna do today.

We're gonna boil our water, fill our Clever

and then add our coffee afterwards.

This way, when you come to drain the coffee out,

it happens much, much, much, much, much quicker.

It can be anywhere from twice as fast as going coffee first

and then water second.

For some reason, going coffee first

and then water causes this sort of clogging effect

on the paper filter

that going water first, then coffee doesn't.

It's really interesting

and great little technique

and shout out to them for coming up with this.

I did test doing half of the water,

then the coffee, then the other half of the water.

It was quicker than doing coffee first, then water

but it still wasn't as quick

as doing water first, then coffee

and there was no real appreciable benefit

or improvement in taste that way.

So this way, it tastes amazing and is quicker.

Straightaway off the boil, pour your water into the dripper.

We're gonna pour 250 mills in this case.

Again, as quickly as possible,

we're gonna add our coffee

and give it a little stir

to make sure it's all mixed.

You don't wanna go overboard with the stirring.

Just make sure that there's no pockets

of dry coffee there

and then we're gonna let it steep for two minutes.

Now, the Clever now come with a lid

and that is designed to be used on top of the brewer

while it's brewing.

However, in testing, I found no appreciable benefit

to the lid and it's just a piece

that I don't wanna faff around with,

I don't wanna complicate this anymore than I need to.

So I never use the lid.

Now, as we get to two minutes,

we wanna break that crust

that's formed on top to have as much coffee fall

to the bottom as possible

and sit as a nice bed to evenly have the water pass through

for a nice extraction.

You've got two choices.

You can stir if you want to.

If it's a smaller brew like this.

I tend to just give it a little shake,

just so I'm mixing it all kind of evenly

and then after 30 seconds of letting it fall down,

then I'll start it brewing.

It's perfectly okay just to give this a little gently stir

just to break the crust instead.

It's really up to you.

Now, when I put this on here,

the first liquid out will look suspiciously weak

and that's because a little bit

of liquid sits just outside the paper

from when you first filled that Clever.

So it doesn't really take part in the brewing process,

which is perhaps a flaw of the brewer

but it hasn't stopped me getting great results.

You should end up with a nice flat bed

at the bottom of that brew

and your draw-down time should take probably in the region

of a minute.

Now, this is gonna change depending

on the coffee you're brewing

and the grinder that you're using.

With something like a Wilfa Uniform,

my brews take about a minute

to a minute and 15 to draw down.

Here with a high-end grinder,

it might be like 45 seconds

but if I was doing coffee first, then water,

you could probably double those times

for the draw down.

It's a fascinating impact

from such a simple switch technique.

Let's have a taste.

Great Clever brews have wonderful texture,

lovely clarity from a paper filter

and really good sweetness.

This is exactly that.

If it was still a little bit hollow,

I would definitely grind it finer

and you might surprise yourself

at how fine you're going

but if you hit that wall of bitterness

and harshness, then do just back it off a little bit coarser

and see if that sweetens things up a little bit.

One other note, I would say if you're trying

to avoid that liquid

that sits outside of the paper right

at the bottom of the brewer,

don't give in to the temptation to push the paper down

as far as it can go.

I wouldn't recommend that.

That tends to mess with the draw down a little bit.

So just leave it sat neatly inside the brewer if you can

and accept that some of that water is gonna act

to dilute the brew

and not be too involved in the brew process.

I really like this brew method

because it's very easy, it's very simple.

It doesn't need a lot of tending over

or standing around and doing stuff.

It's kinda do a couple things,

go away, do something else, come back,

do a couple things

and also if you are a little bit out

on your timings,

if you leave it steeping for 30 seconds, a minute,

even two minutes longer,

you'll still have a really great result.

I don't think there's any real benefit to stepping

beyond the two minutes

but there's certainly nothing detrimental

to a longer brew time like that.

You still get a really great cup at the end of it.

As long as your water is good,

your grinder's right

and the coffee that you start with is delicious.

The Clever is a simple and relatively affordable way

to make great paper filtered coffee.

It doesn't need any fancy pouring kettles

and just being accurate on your grind and dose

and water weights will get you most of the way there.

If you've got one, I hope you'll give this technique a try

and let me know how you go down in the comments below.

And if you've got some ideas that are worth sharing,

I'd love to hear them too.

Share it with all of us.

But for now, I'll say thank you so much for watching

and I hope you have a great day.