I often hear that this drip brewer extracts more than another brewer. I have about 2200 comparable, logged drip/pour over brews and have found it really hard to find any evidence of this. As I frequently use my Melitta Aromaboy to brew single cups, I can use a range of brew cones for my twice daily cup, so I thought I'd log brews to see if this panned out when used at the same pour rate, same grind setting for each of 10 coffees, same brew size (avg. 12.47g to 186g).
I started out using 4 different brewers:
V60 01 ceramic with Rombouts #2 papers. Pour time 131s, stdev 3s (x20 brews).
Pegasus 01 truncated, Melitta style cone, with Kalita 101 papers. Pour time 130s, stdev 3s (x20 brews).
Fellow Stagg X (flat bottomed), with 155 Kalita papers. Pour time 131s, stdev 3s (x20 brews).
Kalita Wave 185 (flat bottomed) in steel, with 155 Kalita papers. Pour time, stdev 130, stdev 2s (x10 brews).
All cones were preheated in a 1L Pyrex jug with boiling water prior to brewing.
Long story short, with the same grind setting per coffee (settings were adjusted as required, from one coffee to the next over the course of the excercise, based on results in the cup) there was no statistical difference in extraction between the brewers.
There were subjective differences in perception of brew quality - The Kalita Wave 185 was shelved halfway through because the taste proved to be lacking and I just couldn't face more disappointing brews.
By the end I had 60 brews, 30 ground on a Niche Zero, 30 on a Feldgrind. 10 per coffee, with each brewer & grinder combo.
Of 98 brews in total average EY was 19.96%, average brew time was 157 seconds, subjective liking score 7.11/ 9.00
Of the included 60 test brews, EY was 19.93%, average brew time was 154 seconds, subjective liking score 6.98/ 9.00
The biggest difference in EY with the same grinder was Niche Zero - Stagg X (19.97%, stdev 0.63%) vs Pegasus 01 (19.60%, stdev 0.66%). Not statistically different.
Comparing the Niche Pegasus to Feldgrind V60 01 (the sample with the highest EY) saw 20.14%EY for the V60 01, stdev of 0.72% - no statistical difference to the Niche Pegasus (p=0.147).
No statistical difference in subjective liking score, but if you're interested, the V60 01 with Niche (7.2), V60 01 with Feld (7.1) & Stagg with Niche (7.1) all scored about the same. Pegasus with Feld & Niche both scored 6.8. My hunch here is that the surface of the grinds bed is greater with the Pegasus and flow through the bed is a little less even. Likewise for the abortive Kalita 185 test…a greater surface area and shallower bed here (I do have a glass 155, but not had an an on-par brew with this, Aromaboy, or otherwise).
It's certainly possible that intervention with a shower screen could enhance the steel 185 (which has given par brews with a gooseneck, historically) & Pegasus brews, but I wanted to test apples to apples.