The Sowden SoftBrew is an infusion-style coffee brewer that immerses ground coffee beans in hot water to create a delicate brew similar to those produced by a French Press.
This brewer holds ground coffee in a fine mesh basket inside a ceramic coffee pot. Coffee is added to the basket, and hot water is poured over the top. After brewing, the basket is removed, revealing a perfectly extracted pot of coffee.
Although the SoftBrew is relatively straightforward to use, there are a few factors to consider if you want to craft the perfect cup. In this brew guide, you'll learn how to make coffee using the Sowden SoftBrew and how to perfect your technique to craft the perfect cup of Joe every time…
Sowden SoftBrew Brewing Specs
- Brew Time: 4 minutes
- Coffee/Water Ratio: 1:12
- Grind: Coarse (similar to sea salt)
- Water Temperature: 200°F (93°C)
- Recommended Coffee: DaLat (100% arabica)
SoftBrew Coffee Maker Brewing Summary
- Boil the water and grind the coffee.
- Add the coffee to the mesh basket in the carafe.
- Fill the carafe with hot water to the fill line.
- Place on the lid and allow to brew for four minutes.
- Remove the basket, pour, and serve.
What You Need to Brew Coffee with a SoftBrew Coffee Maker
The Sowden SoftBrew coffee maker isn't a complex brewer. This simple piece of equipment is capable of producing fantastic coffee with just a few tools and ingredients.
Here's what you'll need:
Tools Needed
- Sowden SoftBrew — You'll need a SoftBrew coffee maker. They come in a variety of sizes from two-cups up to eight.
- Coffee Grinder — Freshly ground coffee produces the best brew. A burr grinder will produce the perfect grind size for the SoftBrew.
- Kettle — Hot water is needed to brew coffee with the Sowden SoftBrew. Use an electric or stovetop kettle to heat water for brewing.
- Coffee Measure — Using a coffee measure will help you make a perfect brew consistently.
- Coffee Mug — You’ll need a coffee mug or heat-proof glass to serve the coffee.
Ingredients
- High-Quality Coffee — A high-quality whole-bean coffee will produce the best brew. Dark roast arabica is preferred but robusta and blends also produce great brews (depending on taste).
- Water — Use fresh, filtered water in your Sowden SoftBrew to produce a clean cup of coffee.
- Milk (Optional) — A dash of milk can take the bitter edge off the finished brew and give it a creamier mouthfeel.
- Sugar (Optional) — Sweeten the finished brew with granulated sugar to taste.
Coffee Recommendations
The best coffee for the Sowden SoftBrew should be freshly roasted and ground. Grinding whole-bean coffee yourself before brewing will produce the most complex brew with the widest range of flavors and aromas. A high-quality pre-ground coffee is the next best option if you can't grind beans at home.
The type of coffee you use is less important. However, most people opt for 100% arabica, such as Cafely DaLat. Arabica produces a smooth, luxurious, and naturally sweet coffee that suits most Western palates.
100% robusta coffee can be used to produce a bold, dark, slightly bitter brew — ideal for those who want a strong caffeine hit. Blends such as Cafely's Saigon OG combine the characteristics of both arabica and robusta, producing a brew that offers “the best of both worlds.”
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Brew Coffee With a Sowden SoftBrew
Brewing coffee with the Sowden SoftBrew is remarkably simple.
Follow this guide to make the best possible cup with this coffee brewer:
1. Boil a Kettle of Water
First, boil a kettle of water. Opt for clean, filtered water — this creates a cleaner brew and protects the filter basket from mineral buildup.
The water should be just off the boil by the time it's added to the coffee — around 200°F (93°C).
2. Grind and Measure the Coffee
Next, grind and measure your chosen coffee using a burr or blade grinder. A coarse grind is needed to make coffee using the Sowden SoftBrew — the texture should be similar to kosher salt.
The amount of coffee you'll need depends on the size of the SoftBrew you own:
- 2-Cup SoftBrew — 13 g (2–3 tbsp)
- 6-Cup SoftBrew — 39 g (6–8 tbsp)
- 8-Cup SoftBrew — 54 g (8–10 tbsp)
You may need to adjust the coffee-to-water ratio to suit your taste. Use the above figures as a guide — if the brew is too weak, increase the amount of coffee by one to two tablespoons.
3. Pour in the Coffee and Water
Add the ground coffee to the filter basket inside the carafe. Gently saturate the coffee with the hot water and leave it to bloom for 30 seconds. Once the coffee has bloomed, fill the carafe to the fill line with hot water.
4. Allow the Brew to Steep
Place the lid on the SoftBrew to retain heat and leave the brew to steep for four minutes.
5. Remove the Filter Basket
After four minutes, take off the lid and remove the filter basket. Place the lid back on the carafe and discard the spent coffee grounds.
6. Serve and Enjoy
Pour the freshly brewed coffee into your favorite coffee mug. Add sugar and milk to taste (optional) and enjoy.
Tips for Brewing Coffee with a SoftBrew Coffee Maker
Although making coffee with the SoftBrew coffee maker is simple, a few tweaks can elevate your brew, giving it barista-level qualities.
Keep the following tips in mind when making coffee with your Sowden SoftBrew:
1. Produce a Consistent Grind Size
Producing a consistent grind size for any coffee brewing method is important, but more so for the Sowden SoftBrew.
The mesh filter basket of this brewer isn't particularly fine. Grinding the coffee too fine will not only produce an over-extracted brew but also lead to a silty mouthfeel. This occurs from the fine particles of ground coffee breaching the filter basket.
To avoid over-extraction and a silty final brew, make sure your coffee is ground coarse. To achieve a consistent coarse grind, use a burr (rather than a blade) coffee grinder.
2. Bloom the Coffee Before Steeping
Blooming is the action of pouring a small amount of hot water over the grounds before adding the rest. Blooming allows gasses to escape from the ground coffee before the brew is steeped, leading to a more even extraction.
Blooming the coffee in your SoftBrew device before brewing will result in a more balanced cup.
To bloom the coffee, simply pour a small amount of hot water over the grounds in the filter basket, ensuring no dry spots are left. Wait for 30 seconds or so until the grounds are bubbling, and then add the rest of the water.
3. Preheat the SoftBrew
If you're making more than one serving of coffee in your Sowden SoftBrew, consider preheating the carafe. Doing so will keep the brew warmer for longer.
To do this, pour a cup of hot water into the carafe (without the filter basket) and place the lid on. Grind your coffee as usual, and before reassembling and adding the coffee, pour the hot water out.
4. Alter the Coffee-to-Water Ratio
Adjust the coffee-to-water ratio to suit your taste, the beans you're using, and the brew you wish to make.
Increase the coffee-to-water ratio slightly to produce a stronger brew and decrease it to make a weaker brew. You may want to produce a stronger brew if you plan on adding milk and a weaker brew if you plan on drinking the coffee black.
You may also want to adjust the ratio for the bean or blend you’re using. For arabica, an increased ratio may be needed to bring out the subtle flavors of the bean. For robusta variety, a decreased ratio can mellow out some of the bitterness of the bean.
For making iced beverages, decrease the amount of water used by around half and brew as normal. This will produce a concentrated coffee that can be cooled, poured over ice, and combined with milk to produce a deliciously creamy and refreshing iced brew.
5. Keep Your SoftBrew Clean
Spent coffee grounds and natural oils left over after brewing can be stubborn. Coffee particles and oils can easily get stuck in the mesh filter basket after using the SoftBrew coffee maker.
An unclean filter basket can taint any coffee you make with the device. Make sure to thoroughly clean the carafe and filter basket after each use.
Use a mild detergent and hot water to clean your SoftBrew and allow it to completely dry before storage.
FAQs: Making Coffee With the SoftBrew Coffee Maker
Want to learn more about the SoftBrew coffee maker, other brewers, and ways to make coffee?
Check out the answers to the frequently asked questions below, or head over to the Cafely blog.
1. What is a SoftBrew Coffee Maker?
A SoftBrew coffee maker is an immersion brewer. A ceramic pot holds a mesh filter basket. This basket is filled with ground coffee followed by hot water. The coffee is allowed to steep for four minutes before the filter basket is removed — creating a rich coffee similar to a brew made with a French press.
2. What’s the Best Coffee for the Sowden SoftBrew?
The best coffee for the Sowden SoftBrew coffee maker should be freshly ground. Most people opt for a 100% arabica coffee or an arabica and robusta blend. However, if you prefer a darker, more robust brew, 100% robusta may also be used.
3. Is the French Press the Same as the SoftBrew Coffee Maker?
No. Although the SoftBrew coffee maker and the French press are both immersion brewers, they work in different ways. The SoftBrew coffee maker uses a removable filter basket for brewing coarse-ground coffee, whereas the French press uses a mesh plunger.
4. How Much Caffeine is in a Cup of SoftBrew Coffee?
The amount of caffeine per cup of coffee made with the SoftBrew depends on the type of bean used, the coffee-to-water ratio, and the extraction time. The average eight-ounce cup can contain anywhere from 90 to 140 mg.
5. How Often Should I Clean a SoftBrew Coffee Maker?
You should clean your Sowden SoftBrew after each use. Discard the spent coffee grounds and use warm water and mild detergent to remove any residual grounds and oils.
6. Can You Make Iced Coffee With a SoftBrew Coffee Maker?
Yes. You can make iced coffee with the Sowden SoftBrew. Simply brew the coffee as normal but increase the coffee-to-water ratio to create a concentrated shot of coffee. Allow the shot to cool, pour over ice, and combine with milk to create an iced coffee.
7. Can You Make Cold Brew Coffee With a Sowden SoftBrew?
Yes. You can use the Sowden SoftBrew to make cold-brew coffee. Simply add coffee to the filter basket, add cold water to the fill line, and store the brewer in the refrigerator. After 18 to 24 hours, remove the carafe from the fridge. Discard the spent coffee grounds, pour up a glass of cold brew, and enjoy.
8. Is It Better to Use Whole Bean or Pre-Ground Coffee for SoftBrew?
If you want to create a complex, barista-style brew with the SoftBrew coffee maker, it's best to use freshly ground whole beans. However, pre-ground coffee can also be used if you don't own a coffee grinder.
9. What’s the Difference Between Arabica and Robusta Coffee?
Arabica and robusta coffee are two beans from two different species — Coffea arabica and Coffea robusta. Arabica beans produce a smooth, sweet, mellow brew with mild caffeination. Robusta beans produce a robust, dark, slightly bitter brew with strong caffeination.
10. How Can I Make Espresso Without a Machine?
It's possible to make an espresso-like brew with a moka pot or Aeropress filter. You can also make a concentrated shot of coffee by adjusting the coffee-to-water ratio when brewing with the SoftBrew, French press, drip coffee maker, or pour-over brewer. You can also purchase instant espresso sachets for a convenient cup of espresso-like coffee on the go.
