Over the years I've tried so many brewing methods and there are of course pros and cons for all of them.

For most of my years in Thailand it's been a French press which is great for brewing strong coffee and keeping lots of the essential oils, though not producing the healthiest version of coffee.

 

In recent years I've just been using an old fashioned electric drip machine with a built in metal filter. OK. Super easy and lazy. Boring. But eventually not the cleanest so maintenance needed.

 

I've never done a purist pour over method  like a Chemex as too much of a fuss. Though now my latest enthusiasm is a combo of a pour over and an immersion like a French press in an incredibly easy to use almost fool proof package -- the Clever Dripper. I actually bought a knock off called a Smart Dripper or you could buy a Taiwan dripper, basically the same thing.

 

It uses paper filters so the brew is very clean and for better or worse the result lacks the oils of a French press.

 

I looked at a bunch of youtube "recipes" for the dripper and each one has a different philosophy. This I consider a feature. With a Clever Dripper, you can play around with all the variables for your current bean, experiment to your heart's content to pursue your own coffee nirvana.

All that and it's not nearly a fussy as purist pour over.

Such things as:

water temp

water first or coffee first (unlike a pure pour over you can just dump all the water in directly from your kettle)

ratio of coffee to water

grind level (I've got a burr grinder)

stirring technique

brewing time

 

 

The filters that came with it were too small so I've just been brewing it very strong and then diluting the result with water at the end like an Americano espresso.

 

Mechanically, it's so cool.

 

You do all your prep on your counter service including adding the water and nothing goes through.

Then you place the dripper on a container or coffee cup and it's designed to then open up the floodgates.

 

I'd have varying results with one fail of too acidic, but overall it's a new style of coffee for me. Very, very clean and a way to bring out more of the flavor of your beans.

I'm probably going to be buying better quality beans now to take advantage of that.

I guess I'm saying, if you haven't tried a Clever Dripper, I would suggest that you do.

Been using pour over cone and paper filters for decades, have tried various other methods over the years and always go back to the pour over cone and filter.

Any use in any of this

 

https://www.boards.ie/search?domain=all_content&query="clever drip"&scope=site&source=community

 

( I've been using Aeropress for years )

Whatever coffee method you use, it's noticeable the first time and then subsequently it just tastes like the same old

I changed from drip to French Press 10 years back. Tripple Latte every morning using Strong Thai beans ground daily.

I bought this combo grinder-brewer so I can have 3 cups of coffee at 4 AM up on the 2nd floor with no mess.

 

Verasu - BUONO

6 Cups Programmable Drip Coffee Maker With Built-in Grinder
SKU: BUO-326881

Clever Dripper I find the best/easiest + cheap  😉

Have you considered a Moka pot ???

 

I think it brews a better coffee than pour over (drip), or French Press.

 

 

On 7/29/2025 at 2:26 PM, jerrymahoney said:

I bought this combo grinder-brewer so I can have 3 cups of coffee at 4 AM up on the 2nd floor with no mess.

 

Verasu - BUONO

6 Cups Programmable Drip Coffee Maker With Built-in Grinder
SKU: BUO-326881

 

I have the 4-cup version, identical to the Verasu BUO-326861, but Chinese brand from Lazada. It's quick and easy brew, and it can take ground coffee as well as beans.

On 7/29/2025 at 1:36 AM, hotsun said:

Whatever coffee method you use, it's noticeable the first time and then subsequently it just tastes like the same old

Thats why I change beans and means every few days

On 7/28/2025 at 8:14 PM, Jingthing said:

I guess I'm saying, if you haven't tried a Clever Dripper, I would suggest that you do.

I've been using a Clever Dripper for about five years, it replaced an old fashioned Melitta coffee dripper. I find this steep and release method gives a better cup of coffee that's much more consistent. Beans I buy from Boncafe or Bluekoff and I use a Timemore hand grinder, the whole process of making coffee I find therapeutic.

3 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Have you considered a Moka pot ???

 

I used a Moka pot when I worked field camps in Africa, ideal to use with a camp fire

Got my order of filters that actually fit so I don't have to brew extra strong and then dilute.

 

Hario 02 V60 Paper

 

Well it works my Smart Dripper knock off anyway.

As many youtube recipes suggest you make a small fold on the bottom and one side. Sounds weird but it helps.

I also start out by wetting the filter with boiling water to remove paper taste (then remove that water). 

You can play around with all the variables as mentioned before.

My general impression is that my coffee now tastes like it's from a fancy European restaurant.

 

14 minutes ago, Stocky said:

I used a Moka pot when I worked field camps in Africa, ideal to use with a camp fire

I used one in my twenties. I associate them with beatniks and bohemian lifestyles. 

On 7/29/2025 at 12:36 PM, hotsun said:

Whatever coffee method you use, it's noticeable the first time and then subsequently it just tastes like the same old

I was finding my boring electric drip brew was tasting worse over time but probably a maintenance issue.

I have also recently bought a manual espresso making gadget that I'm having fun with.

I figure mixing it up between the dripper and espresso using different beans for each will keep me coffee happy.

 

4 hours ago, JoePai said:

Clever Dripper I find the best/easiest + cheap  😉

Well so far I'm really loving it.

I don't know why they took so long to get my attention.

Of course I've seen them before but never bothered to learn about them. I read somewhere the trendy coffee bars generally don't use them not because they're not great but because they don't look cool or sexy enough.

If people are spending big bucks for a cup perhaps they want a show.

I use my insulated and PID-modded Ms. Rancilio for two double espressos (spaced by about an hour) in the morning. I weigh out 17.2g of fresh beans, spray with a little water, shake then grind them into a double basket. WDT, tamp and then pop a metal disk on top. I aim for 40g in 20 - 23s.

 

I like my Bialetti Moka, but it's aluminium and so not compatible with our immersion cooker. I bought a steel disc to use as a "converter", but it warped. Too much faff. I also like my Aeropress, but that too is a bit of faffing about.

 

I have a Hario cold brew and a french press, but my taste buds are too shot to taste anything that I can produce with these.

13 hours ago, Yagoda said:

Thats why I change beans and means every few days

For the best flavour I always keep bean sealed in the fridge until I want a coffee then grind and use, never leave beans out and do not grind until they are needed

14 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Well it works my Smart Dripper knock off anyway.

I too started with a cheap knock off, but the plastic starts to crack, and after a year it was leaking, so I stumped up for a genuine Clever Dripper, which has lasted four years so far without any cracks or leaks.

14 minutes ago, Stocky said:

I too started with a cheap knock off, but the plastic starts to crack, and after a year it was leaking, so I stumped up for a genuine Clever Dripper, which has lasted four years so far without any cracks or leaks.

Will see.

I.went cheap to check out the method. 

If mine goes south I would probably do as you did. Though I'm not yet convinced that all knock offs are much inferior.

2 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Will see.

I.went cheap to check out the method. 

If mine goes south I would probably do as you did. Though I'm not yet convinced that all knock offs are much inferior.

Will depend on the quality of the plastic, my cheapo version used cheapo plastic

I also do a strong brew and dilute after, like a homemade Americano
have you tried different filter papers?

On 7/28/2025 at 9:22 PM, Clapped out said:

Any use in any of this

 

https://www.boards.ie/search?domain=all_content&query="clever drip"&scope=site&source=community

 

( I've been using Aeropress for years )

What's your recipe and coffee brand? I haven't been able to make a good cup of coffee with mine. 

On 8/1/2025 at 7:45 AM, JoePai said:

For the best flavour I always keep bean sealed in the fridge until I want a coffee then grind and use, never leave beans out and do not grind until they are needed

The idea is lost on me:

When I visit https://www.akhaamacoffee.com/ the entire shelf has so many bags with out refridgeration!

 

Refrigerating coffee beans is generally not recommended because the cold, humid environment can lead to moisture absorption, causing the beans to lose flavor and aroma. Instead, storing beans in an airtight container in a cool, dark place is a better approach for preserving freshness. 

 

 

bialetti

On 7/31/2025 at 8:31 PM, BeastOfBodmin said:

I like my Bialetti Moka, but it's aluminium and so not compatible with our immersion cooker. I bought a steel disc to use as a "converter", but it warped. Too much faff.

I bought a steel disc adapter on Lazada, cheap, never warped 

On 7/31/2025 at 4:09 PM, richard_smith237 said:

Have you considered a Moka pot ???

 

I think it brews a better coffee than pour over (drip), or French Press.

 

 

My 4 cup Moka pot works perfectly, no need to change, trial and error to begin with to get it as good as possible

On 8/1/2025 at 7:45 AM, JoePai said:

For the best flavour I always keep bean sealed in the fridge until I want a coffee then grind and use, never leave beans out and do not grind until they are needed

 

32 minutes ago, sharot724 said:

The idea is lost on me:

When I visit https://www.akhaamacoffee.com/ the entire shelf has so many bags with out refridgeration!

 

Refrigerating coffee beans is generally not recommended because the cold, humid environment can lead to moisture absorption, causing the beans to lose flavor and aroma. Instead, storing beans in an airtight container in a cool, dark place is a better approach for preserving freshness. 

 

 

bialetti

Sorry, I should have explained, I have a fridge which I use as a 'pantry' with a temp set to 17C, unlike the other fridge at the usual 3C (ish) and yes, always use an airtight jar

On 8/1/2025 at 7:45 AM, JoePai said:

For the best flavour I always keep bean sealed in the fridge until I want a coffee then grind and use, never leave beans out and do not grind until they are needed

Beans of opened bags should be kept airtight to avoid exposure to moisture and oxygen but should not be refrigerated, best to keep at room temperature.

30 minutes ago, sharot724 said:

The idea is lost on me:

When I visit https://www.akhaamacoffee.com/ the entire shelf has so many bags with out refridgeration!

 

Refrigerating coffee beans is generally not recommended because the cold, humid environment can lead to moisture absorption, causing the beans to lose flavor and aroma. Instead, storing beans in an airtight container in a cool, dark place is a better approach for preserving freshness. 

 

 

bialetti

I buy freshly roasted beans in 500g bags. Once it is 2 weeks after the roast date I put the bag in the freezer. I avoid the fridge for the reasons stated above. I used to put tape over the valve, but once I discovered it's a one way valve I stopped that. When I'm down to 50g of the current bag, I pull a bag from the freezer and put it in my allowed-by-my-SO cupboard to acclimatise so as to avoid condensation on the beans. When I open a new bag I always transfer the contents to an opaque, airtight container, which lasts about 2 weeks.