Inspired by @NotesOfJohn and @5Senses through some twitter convo, I’ve become curious.
John asked his coffee crew on twitter about draw-down times for a Clever Coffee Dripper. He said that his grind consistency hardly changed the times. I suggested it could be filter related. I told John I use the Melitta 1-4 filters from 5senses Coffee, then @5senses (they love the CCD and also sell it at their shop) joined the conversation to say that they recently swapped out the Melitta filters for a japan-sourced filter. Say what? I must admit, I was curious. A week prior I had been at the 5Senses roastery picking up some filter roast and decided to re-stock my CCD filters while I was there so I bought a new box. Only to find, I wasn’t given a Melitta box, I was given a plastic wrapped package of other filters. I said nothing, why would I? 5senses have stated on twitter that they stopped using the Melittas due to ‘clogging’. Interesting! Curiouser and curiouser. “Where are you going with this crap James?” It’s time for a test. I remembered I still had about twenty Melitta’s at work in the box, in my coffee drawer. Armed with my new pack of 'Japan-sourced’ filters, it’s time for a show down. Firstly, lets get more technical than we really need to, show off the awesome capabilities of the “olloclip” 3-in-one lens for iPhone, and take some macro photo’s of these filters to look at the physical differences. I’ve labelled each image with identification, check em out. (nerd mode on) Observations: Melitta has a double-pressed edge all the way around. Melitta has a smaller 'ripple’ texture and a dimple or perforation (dot) Japan-sourced has much more agressive ripple texture, no other patterns Japan-sourced has a far more 'pressed’ edge, is a single press Clearly these filters are very different, in feel and their physical appearence. They are both pretty much the same size. What next? Lets brew. Stay tuned for part 2 as I run some brews through two CCD’s, side by side, with two timers and the same brew params. I know what’s on your mind. “who gives a shit, tell me how each one tastes!”… damn straight.
Previously I posted part 1 of a Clever Dripper filter paper showdown. The idea is to test some different filter papers for the clever dripper. It all started when @5senses tweeted to say they switched from Melitta papers to a Japan-sourced paper because the Melitta’s were clogging up.
I’m not a scientist, or an engineer, the experiment was more ‘seat of the pants’ or 'real world’ than lab-tested with any kind of serious equipment. (although a lab coat would have been awesome)
250gm 95C water from boiler, to pre-heated kettle, for pouring
Technique:
1) Fit filters, fill ea CCD with boiler water, rest for a short period, open valve to dump water (cleaning filter)
2) Grind two lots of 22gm per CCD, dose and level by giving the CCD a little jiggle. Grinding was done on the same grinder at the same grind setting. Coffee was weighed before grinding and after dosing.
3) prepare water and pour over grinds gently to 250gm’s total, bloom for 30 sec, lid on, submerge grinds and steep / infuse for 2min, lid off, stir, drop the brew
* note that even though I prepared two CCD’s side by side, I brewed one at a time so the variables could be matched without delays between brews. It’s important to note that these brews were performed and timed absolutely identically.
Results:
Melitta Filter Paper - started with a regular brew drop, slowed down more and more, after 2 minutes the brew was still dripping and I couldn’t see the mountain of spent grinds in the filter. It was still swimming in brew. This filter paper was clogged.
Japan-sourced filter (new from @5senses) - brew started regularly and maintained a nice constant brew drop unlike the other paper. It slowed toward the end but it was still visible and audible whilst brewing right through. A mountain of spent grinds was clearly left visible in the filter, no liquid remaining
Taste in cup:
One of the four of us preferred the first brew with the Melitta. The other three (myself included) preferred the taste of the Japan-sourced filter. Personally I felt that the Melitta brew was weaker in taste, yet the juice and floral flavours of the coffee was more accentuated compared with the other filter paper. The newer Japan-sourced filter paper had a much more rounded flavour and fuller-bodied mouthfeel. The Melitta had a little bitterness and the Japan-sourced paper was just right on the tounge, nothing stood out like crazy (if I can put it this way).
Conclusion:
@5senses was right when they said the Melitta clogs up and they now stock this new Japan-sourced filter paper. I’ve been using the Melitta’s for a while because it’s what I’ve had in my drawer and it’s the paper that @5senses previously stocked. They’ve always clogged for me but I’ve not really thought much of it. The brews have always ended with the grinds still swimming in unfinished brew. I’ve just tipped it all in the bin and consumed my brew. I stopped using the CCD a while ago because I was struggling with a consistently good brew. It was hit and miss.
I think these new filter papers will re-kindle my love for the Clever Dripper. It really is a great device while sometimes quirky. It’s fun to experiment with, easy to use, and very easy to clean up when finished. If you haven’t tried one, ask a friend, ask @5senses, or ask a cafe that may have them (I’m pretty sure Epic Espresso here in Perth have them available for brewing). I forgot to mention, it’s great for making a 2-cup brew and great for travel. Just ask Dean at @5senses how he enjoys his coffee when he goes camping.
This week at work for Filter Friday: Ethiopia Limmu Grand Central - Brazil Tanzanian Valhalla 5Senses - Bali
The Grand Central and 5Senses was roasted more for espresso, but we filtered it anyway and still had a nice cup. Grand Central found out via twitter and offered up a free sample of the same Brazil but roasted lighter for filter! score for next week’s session! We brewed one AeroPress (Tanzanian) and three Syphon brews of the rest of the coffee’s. Everyone loves the Syphon! I even brewed up some coffee for my boss! Everyone enjoyed it. Looks like it’s becoming a regular thing now! Thanks to the guys for bringing in some coffee and Wes for his grinder. Thanks Patrick for the photos once again! The Grand Central Brazil was very well rounded with big mouthfeel and a dark choc after taste. The Tanzanian was roasted by me, unfortunately a fraction too light (I cupped it this week) and it’s a bit green tasting, still nice however. The 5Senses Bali had a lovely clean and earthy flavour. The Ethiopian Limmu was a stand out for me. It’s hard to beat coffee from Ethiopia through a filter. Citrus, floral and super clean. I’d like to get a V60 for work and include that to our equipment to play with, or perhaps Chemex, or perhaps both! hah. If anyone wants to donate some roast for filter, please feel free, happy to write everyones experience!