Mastering Clever Dripper Coffee at Home

In this guide, we’ll explore the Clever Dripper as an excellent alternative brewing method for your home coffee. The Clever Dripper was actually one of the first coffee brewers I ever owned, and it has been a reliable companion in my quest for the perfect cup at home. While it may not be the most visually striking device in the specialty coffee realm, it is a wonderfully handy little gadget that holds a special place in my heart.

I still recall my initial discussion about the Clever Dripper with an innovative specialty coffee roaster who was always eager to share the latest trends in the coffee world. They mentioned that if they could only choose one brewing method for life, it would undoubtedly be the Clever Dripper.

While I’m not entirely certain I share that sentiment, I certainly appreciate the reasoning behind their statement. The Clever Dripper truly excels as an easy-to-use, reliable, and consistent brewing method, making it a solid choice for any coffee enthusiast.

The Clever Dripper’s Secret Weapon

The true secret of the Clever Dripper lies in its valve. This unique feature enables users to merge immersion brewing—similar to what you’d find in a French press—with drip brewing methods. Interestingly, during the production of a film about the AeroPress, we discovered that the inverted method of the AeroPress was inspired by the then-popular Clever Dripper.

Today, this same principle can be seen in various other brewers, although many of them come with a higher price tag.

Now, let’s dive into our tutorial for brewing coffee with the Clever Dripper. We will also cover some key advantages and disadvantages of this brewer, along with extra brewing tips and cleaning instructions.

Our Clever Dripper Recipe

For this recipe, you’ll need 20g of coffee and 300g of water. Start with a coarse grind size for your coffee—approximately 30 clicks on a typical grinder—and allow for a longer brew time. Aim for around 4 minutes of steeping followed by 1 minute of dripping, making the total brew time about 5 minutes.

Begin by folding the paper filter and placing it in the Clever Dripper. Rinse the paper filter to eliminate any potential paper taste and warm up the brewer.

Next, add the coffee grounds and pour all 300g of water into the dripper at once; there’s no need for a specific pouring technique. Cover the dripper with a cap and let it steep for about 2 minutes.

After that, give the mixture a gentle stir with a spoon to break up the crust that forms on top. Cover the dripper again and let it steep for an additional 4 minutes.

Finally, position the Clever Dripper on top of a carafe and allow the coffee to drain through. This should take about one minute. Enjoy your perfectly brewed cup!

In general, Clever Dripper recipes typically recommend a total brew time of 2 to 4 minutes, with adjustments to the grind size based on your preferences. Personally, we prefer the longer brew times, as they provide a little extra time to tidy up the kitchen or prepare breakfast.\

Clever Dripper Review

Now that you know how to brew coffee with the Clever Dripper, let’s explore the advantages and disadvantages of this brewing method.

Advantages of the Clever Dripper

• No pouring skills needed: You don’t need a gooseneck kettle to brew with the Clever Dripper.
• Affordable: This brewing tool typically costs around 20 euros.
• Durable and lightweight: It’s hard to break, making it a great choice for everyday use.
• Capacity for large batches: You can brew up to 400 ml of coffee at a time.

Disadvantages of the Clever Dripper

• Aesthetics: Its appearance is not very appealing, making it less suitable for display on your shelf or bar.
• Cleaning challenges: While it can be a bit tricky to clean, we have some effective tips to simplify the process.

How to Clean the Clever Dripper

After each use, rinse the Clever Dripper with hot water and allow it to dry. This helps keep all components, including the inner valve, relatively clean. Occasionally, it’s beneficial to clean it more thoroughly by disassembling the dripper, which makes it easier to clean the valve and rubber parts—something I only discovered while preparing this tutorial.

Brewing Tips & Tricks

You can use standard drip filters from various brands, but a clever alternative is to use Hario V60 filters (the largest size, number 3) by folding the bottom part. These finer filters provide better clarity in your coffee.

Another useful tip is to add water first before adding the coffee. This ensures all the coffee grounds are saturated and extracting properly. It can also help mitigate issues with clogging or slow dripping, especially if you’re using a less expensive grinder that generates more coffee dust.

If you don’t have a carafe, you can pour the brewed coffee back into the Clever Dripper after discarding the paper filter. Let it drain again; this will mix the coffee, cool it down, and introduce some air for enhanced flavor.

Lastly, it’s worth noting that a new version of the Clever Dripper was released in 2019. We haven’t had the opportunity to try it yet, but it’s great to know there’s an updated model available!