Orea Z1

HarveyMushman

I visited two coffee shops recently that were using the Z1 for their hand-brewed method. I’d not heard of it but loosely understand it’s aiming for a zero bypass extraction.

Both resulting coffees were two of the best I’d tasted. Very very clean, very balanced and full flavoured without being over pronounced. Tea-like qualities and sympathetic to the style of coffee (light, fruit-forward).

Having not tried either coffee from any other pour over method I can’t really say with confidence it was due to the Z1 but I’m tempted to give it a go. Seems like the sort of thing that would suit certain coffees far more than others.

Has anyone got one/tried one?

MWJB

HarveyMushman Not tried one, but all my brewers suit suitably roasted coffees, irrespective of origin, or process.

Some bypass is inevitable & part of normal percolation brewing, so the concept of ‘no-bypass’ is a bit misleading. (I have tried some ‘no-bypass’ brewers and not found any evidence of a lack of bypass, that is not to say that they are better/worse than more common percolation brewers.)

HarveyMushman

@MWJB fair points and hard to compare directly having not tried the same coffee with a different method.

Worth a try if you’re ever in a coffee shop that uses them, seems like a few are on the bandwagon currently.

HarveyMushman

I bought one (along with the caraffe as it doesn’t fit the Hario one I have…).

I’ve been able to do a side by side now with a couple of coffees. Personally the biggest difference for me is how ‘clean’ the cup tastes. Mouthfeel is incredibly thin and clear which isn’t necessarily a positive in all cases but for tea-like light roasts with a lot of fruit forward flavours I really like it.

I’ve ordered a couple of slightly wilder sounding coffees from Skinny Dip as it was theirs that sold me on the Z1 originally. I’m not saying it would replace the V60 but it’s a nice alternative and very nicely designed.

Things I don’t like -

Filters are bespoke and expensive. Perhaps we’ll see some third party versions pop up.

It can be too hot to handle if you’re making multiple cups and need to unscrew it straight after brewing.