Any thoughts on this?
I’ve read there can be an improvement on other flat bottomed drippers due to the insulating properties but wonder if there is that much to be gained over a regular Kalita? People seem to go to quite extraordinary lengths to ?improve results with the use of wire mesh in the bottom and filter paper “smushers”, not something I would want to add to my routine if I can avoid it.
Fellow Stagg X
Platypus What kind of ‘improvement’ is cited?
I’ve never had a Kalita Wave brew stall (stainless brewers, both types - pressed ‘Y’ and welded wire ‘Y’), never seen a need for wire meshes - though I have when using a Brewista Smart Steep for drip, with very fine grinds (coarse espresso/moka pot range).
Results with Kalita Wave, V60, Bartleet, Melitta are all pretty comparable, differences (if perceivable at all) are pretty subtle, you do have to adjust the pour regime to normalise brews.
When you say that you don’t want to add to your routine, what kind of routine are you anticipating?
That said I don’t see why the Stagg would perform any worse than the others.
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@MWJB Thanks for your reply, very helpful.
I’ve read people say extraction being improved due to the insulated body and less heat loss. At the moment I just rinse my filter on whatever dripper I’m using and am good to go but there seems to be quite a bit of fussing around with manually pressing the filter against the brewer walls or using a 3D smusher device similar to the Orea negotiator. I suppose the thing that caught my attention was the insulated properties leading to ?improved extraction and flat bottomed brewers are reportedly more forgiving with more body in the cup.
My knowledge and experience of brew is very limited , I just muddle along but this brewer caught my attention.
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Platypus Never noticed flat bottom brewers being more forgiving (or any brewer for that matter - you always need grind setting, dose, brew water weight & pour rate). More body in the cup likely comes from the shallower bed and increased agitation compared to a V, or truncated cone - more particulate matter getting into the cup. I try and keep the body similar across brewers.
Better heat retention can’t hurt, I have a 1L Pyrex jug that holds most 1-2 cup brewers, I preheat with 100-200g of boiling water and let it sit whilst grinding. Drain brew water & place on brew stand/cup/carafe & dose coffee as your brew water hits boil.
Bear in mind that heat is predominantly lost through the open top of the brewer, nice to have it ‘cool to touch’ at end of brew though…in fact, probably necessary as it has no handle.
I have no interest in smushing, I guess it’s handy if you can mangle a Melitta paper in there if Wave papers run out? Ozone usually have good stock of Kalita papers, but there can be short periods of no stock.
Only thing I fancy from Fellow is the new Coffee Brewer, but pricey