You’ve probably got a few questions after reading the title:
Why is the word “clever” used?
Why would a coffee dripper be called clever?
Is it powered by artificial intelligence?
Pros and Cons
All of the pertinent questions. The Clever Coffee Dripper appears to be identical to any other Melitta plastic filter cone dripper. The appearance is neither distinctive nor particularly novel.
The cleverness comes from the addition of a special valve at the bottom that prevents water from flowing. When the dripper is placed over a cup to brew, the valve opens and the coffee flows out.
This significantly improves extraction. Another advantage of this solution is that the brew time can be easily controlled. You can easily steep it for another half or full minute if you want a stronger coffee, for example. You can’t do it with a standard dripper that doesn’t have a valve.
You’d have to add more ground coffee on top of the already extracted coffee grounds, which would over-extract the coffee and make your cup bitter. Alternatively, pour less water, which results in less coffee. The Clever Coffee Dripper simply increases the extraction time without requiring any additional intervention.
Second, the Clever Coffee Dripper does away with the need for an expensive gooseneck kettle. Water does not need to be poured over in a precise manner, with complicated rotations and close attention. You can add the entire amount of water at once. You can use any kettle you have on hand for the job.
Filters are not required to be a specific shape or consistency. Different filters will, of course, make a difference, but using one over another is not required. The time spent immersed will help to balance out the variables.
Paper filters from the supermarket will work perfectly in the Clever Coffee Dripper.
Clever Coffee Dripper
Things to consider before buying
The steeping time and coffee-to-water ratio are the only two variables to consider. This is true for any coffee dripper. The Clever does not make an exception in this case and, as usual, gives you complete control over both.
The disadvantage of the Clever Coffee Dripper is that it functions more like an immersion brewing method than a true pour over method. In a proper pour over, the ground coffee is only in contact with the water for a short period of time. All that is required is for hot water to flow through the coffee.
The Clever dripper allows coffee to stay in contact with water for as little as a pour-over or for much longer. It all depends on when the bottom valve is turned on. As a result, the immersion can last longer, much like a French press, which is a full immersion method.
This has an effect on the finished product. It prefers a full-bodied cup with a heavier mouthfeel than a traditional dripper like the Hario V60.
The Clever Coffee Dripper is a cross between it and a French Press, which has a much fuller body and is preferred by those who prefer a stronger coffee. It’s not a significant difference, but it’s something to consider before purchasing the Clever Coffee Dripper.
The Clever is also entirely made of plastic, which is not the most long-lasting material. It won’t break if it falls, but it won’t last a decade either. It stains more easily and is more difficult to clean than glass. It has no effect on the taste of your brew; it is purely cosmetic.
Who is likely to buy it?
So, who is the Clever Coffee Dripper really for?
The Clever brewer, which is designed for small-to-medium amounts of coffee, will benefit people who drink no more than 1-3 cups of coffee per day. Those who don’t have the time or patience to learn how to brew with a traditional pour over will appreciate the Clever! Making a good cup of coffee does not require precise water-pouring movements or super-precise measurements.
Those who like to take their coffee equipment with them on the road will appreciate the Clever Coffee Dripper. It’s small, made of plastic, and extremely lightweight. Smaller than an Aeropress or French Press, but more delicate than a V60 or Chemex. It’s best to keep it in a small bag and set it aside until you’re ready to use it at your destination.
The low cost of this dripper is also an important factor to consider. At this price range of $20-30, it’s difficult to beat.
Comparisons
However, there are a few things to think about before purchasing the Clever Coffee Dripper. If you need coffee for a large group, this will simply not suffice. A large French Press or Chemex will yield more coffee in a single brew than the Clever, but at a higher cost.
The Clever Coffee Dripper is not for you if you like bubbly coffee with a layer of crema on top. An Aeropress or a better small, manual espresso machine will produce a coffee that tastes more like what you’re looking for.
The Aeropress is ideal if you also need portability.
The Clever will come close but not quite to satisfying those who prefer full-bodied coffee. Because it is a brewing method in between a pour over and a French press, the coffee it produces will have characteristics of both but will not be identical to either.
The body will be fuller than a pour-over, but not as full as a French Press. For a heavier body, a small French Press will suffice while remaining portable.
The two most noticeable differences between popular brewing methods such as the Aeropress and the French Press are the body and crema. The former is easier to transport and nearly impossible to break, but the Clever is more user-friendly and produces slightly more coffee with a single brew. The French Press coffee has more body, a larger capacity, and is more visually appealing. The Clever will make cleaner coffee for fewer people at a time.
Finally, the Clever Coffee Dripper produces a slightly fuller, less clean-tasting coffee than a traditional pour-over. The Clever will have an advantage in terms of ease of use and cost, as many pour-overs are twice as expensive or more than the Clever. They will allow you to experiment with the brewing process in order to get the best coffee for the beans you’re using, but at the cost of more knowledge, testing, and time on your part.
Conclusion
Overall, the Clever Coffee Dripper is an easy-to-use, low-cost, and dependable coffee brewer. It’s a great option for small amounts of coffee with a clean, medium body. A simple tool for brewing coffee for you and your partner without the fuss and attention required by other methods.
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