The Clever Dripper: A Quick Update




  • It has been a frustrating past week brewing with the Clever Dripper. I have been blaming my brewing technique, and even the brewing method itself when the issue at hand is so far off.

    Surprisingly, it isn’t that I am doing something wrong. I am not brewing an over-extracted, or even an under-extracted cup, but instead I realized that coming from the AeroPress I had high expectations for what the coffee should taste like in the Clever without even realizing I had expectations for it in the first place.

    I only realized this when I couldn’t stop bickering about how poorly a coffee tasted, and how the acidity and high fruit notes I had tasted from the AeroPress with a coffee weren’t coming through in the Clever.

    I think using the AeroPress for as long as I did without playing with other brewing methods made me forget that every brew method will bring out something different in a coffee. I was not liking the coffee produced in the Clever not because it’s a bad brewing method, but because my thoughts were clouded with expectations that should not have been there in the first place.

    Now that I figured out the problem I have now been able to finally enjoy the Clever for what it can bring to the table. I take back all my complaints. The Clever makes some damn fine cups of coffee.

    I’m excited to share with you all some of the ratios I have been experimenting with and my thoughts. Keep a look out for that coming soon.

    Have a good one!



    Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...


    January 4th, 2012 | Jamie | 7 Comments | Tags: , ,

About The Author

Jamie Ferguson

From sunny Sarasota Florida, Jamie Ferguson has been drinking coffee since a very young age. Jamie is just your average jane who has a serious addiction to coffee, but more so has a bigger love for the heart, and the dedication that is put into growing, processing and roasting coffee. Come and join the adventures...

  • Paul

    Great post Jamie! I know exactly how you feel. I love brewing with my Chemex & would look for similar tastes with the Clever & it just didn’t happen.I would get frustrated too. I think that every coffee drinker has a brewer that matches their desired tastes & personality.

    • http://thecoffeeadventures.com Jamie Ferguson

      Thanks, Paul. 

      I don’t know what I was thinking trying to bring out what I was tasting in the AeroPress into the Clever Dripper. I mean, the whole point of having various brewing methods is for each one to bring out something different in a coffee.

      I’m just glad to finally being able to taste what everyone raves about in the Clever Dripper.

  • http://twitter.com/LqznArff LqznArff

    Hi Jamie,

    Stumbled onto your blog while trying to figure out my Ethiopian Shakiso. It’s quite a strange one that morphs into quite something else when it cools down. I’m thinking it’s like a Sumatran but with all your typical African berries lingering in the background.

    My first ever brewer was the CCD and I thought I got it all figured out with a calibrated ExtractMojo recipe (18g, 300ml, 2:50 brewing time). Until I got an aeropress and found out the same coffee tasted radically different from the CCD. I agree with what you said, each brew type brings out different nuances from the coffee. Aeropress tends to be very confronting and upfront whereas the CCD is a bit more introverted and reserved in bringing out the qualities of the coffee. Also, I’m finding that I like it dirty with a French press nowadays too….

    Also, I’m finding some coffees takes more effort to figure out than others. And not having someone to trade notes with can make you question yourself more often that not. Coffee is a rewarding frustration in that sense :)

  • http://twitter.com/LqznArff LqznArff

    Hi Jamie,

    Stumbled onto your blog while trying to figure out my Ethiopian Shakiso. It’s quite a strange one that morphs into quite something else when it cools down. I’m thinking it’s like a Sumatran but with all your typical African berries lingering in the background.

    My first ever brewer was the CCD and I thought I got it all figured out with a calibrated ExtractMojo recipe (18g, 300ml, 2:50 brewing time). Until I got an aeropress and found out the same coffee tasted radically different from the CCD. I agree with what you said, each brew type brings out different nuances from the coffee. Aeropress tends to be very confronting and upfront whereas the CCD is a bit more introverted and reserved in bringing out the qualities of the coffee. Also, I’m finding that I like it dirty with a French press nowadays too….

    Also, I’m finding some coffees takes more effort to figure out than others. And not having someone to trade notes with can make you question yourself more often that not. Coffee is a rewarding frustration in that sense :)

  • PERC_COFFEE

    Jamie – I’ve been experimenting with using my water kettle as a top for the clever while steeping. I was wondering if loss of heat was contributing to the lack of acidity. The hot kettle seems to really hold the heat in and seems to have added a touch of complexity to the cup. : )

    • http://thecoffeeadventures.com Jamie Ferguson

      Thanks for commenting! Been awhile since posting this.. Can say that I’ve come a long way. I use the lid that comes with the clever dripper. Didn’t use to use it, but now I do which helps keep the heat from seeping out. Seems to help too!

  • John

    I have both AeroPress and Clever. To use Clever, you have to commit every cardinal sin (taboos to AeroPress): very hot water (15 sec off boil), stir well, steep long, coarse grind. The coffee comes out flavorful and never astringent or bitter every time. Use the normal 10g/6oz ratio (or whatever you like), instead of diluting it later. I simply do it like I do French Press.