The Clever Dripper brewer combines immersion brewing with drip brewing. This brewing method creates a coffee with the same depth of flavor as French press coffee and the same body as pour-over coffee.
In this brew guide, you'll learn how to make coffee using the Clever Dripper coffee brewer and tips on how to craft the perfect cup…
Clever Dripper Brewing Specs
- Brew Time: 5–10 minutes
- Coffee/Water Ratio: 1:15
- Grind: Medium-coarse (similar to kosher salt)
- Water Temperature: 208ºF (98ºC)
- Recommended Coffee: Cafely's DaLat, Hanoi Coffee, Saigon OG Coffee
Clever Dripper Brewing Summary
- Grind and measure the coffee.
- Install and moisten the paper filter.
- Pour hot water into the clever dripper.
- Add the ground coffee.
- Lightly stir the brew.
- Place the lid on, and allow it to brew.
- Place the clever dripper on top of a mug.
- Open the release catch.
- Wait for the coffee to draw into the mug.
- Remove the clever dripper and enjoy.
What You Need to Brew Coffee with a Clever Dripper
You don't need much in the way of equipment or ingredients to brew coffee with the Clever Dripper.
Here's what you'll need:
Tools Needed
- Clever Dripper — You'll need a Clever Dripper to make this brew. They come in two sizes — 500 mL (16.9 oz) and 300 mL (10.1 oz).
- Coffee Grinder — Freshly ground coffee makes the best brew. Use a burr grinder to produce a consistent coarse grind.
- Kettle or Pan — You need hot water to brew coffee with the Clever Dripper. Use a kettle or stovetop pan to heat your water.
- Coffee Measure — A coffee measure will help you measure coffee accurately, allowing you to make great coffee consistently.
- Coffee Mug — Use your favorite coffee mug for serving.
Ingredients
- High-Quality Coffee — A high-quality whole-bean coffee produces the best brew. Opt for a dark roast arabica, robusta, or blend.
- Water — Use fresh, filtered water when brewing coffee with a Clever Dripper.
- Milk (Optional) — Add a dash of milk to the finished brew for a creamy coffee.
Coffee Recommendations
The best coffee for the Clever Dripper should be freshly roasted and ground. The type of coffee you choose depends on your personal taste.
For a “classic” rich brew that's naturally sweet and smooth, opt for a 100% arabica coffee such as DaLat Coffee.
For a dark, nutty, slightly bitter brew with a strong caffeine hit, opt for a 100% robusta coffee such as Cafely HaNoi.
For a perfectly balanced brew that's bold, velvety, sweet, and robust, opt for a blend such as the bestselling Saigon OG Coffee (Arabica x Robusta x Peaberry).
Step-by-Step Instructions for Brewing Coffee with a Clever Dripper
Making coffee with the Clever Dripper is relatively simple. By following a few steps, you'll brew delicious coffee in less than 10 minutes.
Here's how to brew coffee using the Clever Dripper:
1. Boil a Kettle of Water
First, bring a kettle of fresh, filtered water to a boil.
2. Measure and Grind the Coffee
Measure out 15 grams of whole-bean coffee and grind coarse using a burr or blade grinder. A burr grinder produces a more consistent grind which results in a more even extraction.
3. Prepare the Clever Brewer
Place a paper coffee filter inside your Clever Dripper and make sure the release catch is closed. Pour in a small amount of freshly boiled water to wet the filter — this will get rid of any impurities in the filter.
Wait for 30 seconds, then place the Clever Dripper over your serving mug and release the valve. Swirl the hot water around the cup before discarding — this will preheat it.
4. Add the Water
Unlike most coffee brewers, you should add the hot water to the Clever Dripper before the ground coffee.
Make sure the release catch is closed, and add 250 mL of hot water.
5. Add the Coffee and Wait
Add 15 grams of ground coffee to the Clever Dripper and gently stir with a spoon. Attach the lid and wait for the coffee to brew for two to three minutes.
6. Draw the Coffee into the Mug
After two to three minutes, gently swirl the Clever Dripper to disturb the ground coffee and water. Then, place the device over your mug and open the release catch.
Wait for a minute or two for the coffee to draw down into your mug.
7. Serve and Enjoy
Remove the Clever Dripper and discard the spent grounds and filter.
Add a dash of milk and/or sugar if desired or enjoy black.
Tips for Brewing Coffee with the Clever Dripper
Although the Clever Dripper is an almost fool-proof way to brew coffee, these tips will ensure you make the perfect cup every time:
1. Use Freshly-Ground Coffee
You can use pre-ground coffee to brew using the Clever Dripper. However, if you want to produce the finest cup of coffee with the best possible flavor profile, opt for a whole-bean coffee.
Arabica, robusta, and blends work well in the Clever Dripper. Select a whole bean you enjoy and grind it fresh before brewing if you want to produce the most flavorful and aromatic cup.
2. Make Sure to Soak the Filter
As mentioned in the brew guide above, you should pre-soak the coffee filter before brewing. Soaking the filter in hot water before brewing rids the paper of impurities that can taint the taste of your brew.
Doing this has another benefit — pre-heating. By draining the water into your coffee mug after soaking the filter, the hot water will preheat the cup. This ensures your coffee is served at the perfect temperature after brewing.
3. Experiment With the Coffee-to-Water Ratio
Although a 1:15 coffee-to-water ratio is recommended for the Clever Dripper, you can experiment. Adding more coffee will produce a stronger, darker, more concentrated brew. Adding less coffee will produce a weaker brew with a thinner body.
You may want to adjust the coffee-to-water ratio to suit the type of bean you’re using. Arabica beans tend to work well with an increased coffee-to-ratio, and robusta beans work well with a lower coffee-to-water ratio.
4. Use Your Clever Dripper to Make Iced Coffee
The Clever Dripper can be used to make more than hot, black coffee. It can also make great-tasting iced coffee. To do this, simply increase the coffee-to-water ratio. Add 15 grams of ground coffee to 120 grams of hot water and brew as normal.
Add an ice cube to the concentrated shot to rapidly cool the coffee down. Then, in a glass, add ice, the concentrated coffee, and milk. Sweeten with syrup to taste, stir, and serve.
Clever Dripper iced coffee is the perfect beverage for a hot summer’s day.
5. Maintain Your Clever Dripper
Make sure to look after your Clever Dripper. Routine cleaning will ensure your brewer produces the perfect coffee every time.
After each use, discard the used filter and spent grounds straight away. Clean the Clever Dripper with a mild detergent and hot water. Rinse the brewer well and dry thoroughly before storage.
The Clever Dripper is easy to clean and maintain. It’s also small — making it the perfect coffee-brewing companion for travel and recommended coffee while camping.
FAQs: The Clever Dripper
Want to learn more about the clever dripper, other brewing methods, and coffee in general?
Head over to the Cafely blog and read the answers to the frequently asked questions below.
1. What is a Clever Dripper?
The Clever Dripper is an immersion coffee brewer with a flow valve. It works in a similar way to a pour-over coffee brewer but it allows time for the coffee grounds to brew in the hot water before dripping into a collection chamber below. The Clever Dripper produces coffee with a similar flavor and depth to the French press, without the sediment.
2. What’s the Difference Between Pour-Over and Drip Coffee?
The pour-over and drip brewing methods produce similar cups of coffee. Drip coffee is made using an electric drip coffee maker. These machines heat water and automatically pour it over ground coffee, where the brew passes through a filter and collects in a carafe below. Pour-over coffee is made by manually pouring hot water over ground coffee, where it passes through a filter into a chamber below.
3. What is a Chemex Coffee Brewer?
The Chemex is a piece of coffee brewing equipment. It's a pour-over setup that's both elegant and functional. It works by holding ground coffee in a cone filter above a large collection chamber. Hot water is manually poured over the coffee to extract the brew, which is collected below.
4. What is a Hario V60?
The Hario V60 is a precision pour-over brewer that works by manually pouring hot water over ground coffee held in a conical filter. The brew is collected below in a single coffee mug. The Hario V60 provides a large level of control when brewing and allows you to adjust the strength and characteristics of the coffee easily.
5. How Much Caffeine is in a Coffee Made With a Clever Dripper?
There is around 95 mg of caffeine per 8 oz (240 mL) cup of coffee brewed with a Clever Dripper. However, this number can vary depending on the coffee type used, the coffee-to-water ratio, and extraction time.
6. What’s the Best Type of Coffee to Use in a Clever Dripper?
The best type of coffee to use in a clever dripper depends on your personal taste. For a smooth, naturally sweet brew, arabica coffee such as our DaLat (100% Arabica) is best. For a robust, dark, slightly bitter brew a robusta coffee such as Cafely HaNoi (100% Robusta) is a good option. For a coffee that balances the sweet, smoothness of arabica and the dark, bitterness of robusta, opt for a blend like Saigon OG.
7. What’s the Difference Between Arabica and Robusta Coffee?
Arabica and robusta are two different types of coffee beans. Arabica produces a smooth, naturally sweet brew with a mild strength. Robusta produces a dark, rich, slightly bitter brew with around twice the strength of arabica.
8. Is Whole Bean Coffee Better Than Pre-Ground?
Yes. Whole bean coffee is generally better to use than pre-ground coffee. When whole beans are ground fresh before brewing, a rich cup of coffee with much more complexity is produced. If you want to start brewing 10/10 coffee, opt for whole beans.
9. Can You Make Iced Coffee with Clever Dripper Coffee?
Yes. You can make iced coffee with the Clever Dripper. Simply increase the coffee-to-water ratio to brew a concentrated shot. Then, cool the shot, pour it over ice, and combine it with milk.
10. What is a Phin Filter?
A phin filter is a traditional Vietnamese coffee brewer that works similarly to a pour-over setup. It consists of four main parts — the filter plate, brewing chamber, gravity press, and lid.
Learn how to use the phin filter: How to Make Vietnamese Coffee with a Traditional Phin Drip Filter.
