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The Ultimate Clever Dripper Technique by James Hoffmann

I. The Ultimate Technique (Water First)​

The central element of this technique, developed by Workshop Coffee in London, is the order of adding water and coffee.

  • Order: Pour the water into the dripper first, and then add the ground coffee.
  • Result: This reverses the typical clogging effect seen when adding coffee first, resulting in a drawdown time that can be up to twice as fast.

II. Recipe and Steps​

The following technique is for a 250ml brew, but the ratio can be scaled up to 400ml:

ElementSpecificationNotes
Ratio15g coffee to 250g waterThis is a ratio of 60g/L, which the speaker prefers for better sweetness and texture.
Grind SizeMedium FineFiner than what is typically used for a French press, and similar to a 2-cup V60.
WaterStraight off the boilUse the hottest water you can get.
Steps:
  1. Prep Filter: Give the paper filter a little fold, place it in the dripper, and rinse it with hot water to remove any paper taste and preheat the plastic.
  2. Pour Water: Pour your water (250g) into the dripper first, straight off the boil.
  3. Add Coffee & Stir: Add the 15g of ground coffee and give it a little stir to ensure all grounds are mixed and there are no dry pockets.
  4. Steep: Let the coffee steep for two minutes. (The lid is not necessary).
  5. Break Crust: At the two-minute mark, gently break the crust on top. For a small brew, a gentle shake is sufficient, but a gentle stir is also okay. Wait 30 seconds for the grounds to settle.
  6. Release: Place the dripper onto your mug or carafe to start the drawdown.

III. Final Results​

  • Drawdown Time: Should take approximately one minute (may vary based on grinder, but this technique significantly speeds it up).
  • Taste: A properly brewed Clever Dripper results in a brew with wonderful texture, good clarity from the paper filter, and great sweetness.
  • Adjustments:
    • If the coffee tastes hollow, grind finer.
    • If the coffee tastes bitter and harsh, grind slightly coarser.
  • Tolerance: The Clever Dripper is very forgiving. You will still get a great result even if you steep for 30 seconds to two minutes longer than the recommended time.