Clever Dripper

Recipe for an easy, clean, and delicious cup.

One of the easiest and best brew methods for budget-friendly great coffee. No gooseneck kettle, no standing over it, no fuss. Any kettle or pot to heat water will do. It’s as forgiving of a brewing device as there is. Don’t have a great grinder? You can still get tasty coffee. Tend to wander off and forget your coffee brew? It’ll be fine.

  • Ratio: 1:16 (19 g coffee : 300 g water)

    • Scale this up or down to your volume needs (max ~400 g water).

  • Grind size: Medium (finer than most people expect for a steep brewer, similar to what you’d use for a pour over).

  • Water temperature: Around 200–205°F; use fresh, clean, soft/filtered water (learn more about good coffee water here).

  • Total time: ~4-5 Minutes

Step-by-Step Brewing Process

  1. Preparation:

    • Use a digital scale for accuracy (this is essential for consistency and troubleshooting).

    • Grind fresh coffee at a medium grind size.

    • Fold and place a size #4 Melitta-style paper filter into the Clever and rinse with hot water. Discard rinse water.

  2. Add water first (the key trick):

    • Pour all 300 g of hot water into the Clever before adding your grounds.

    • This prevents fine particles from clogging the filter and keeps the draw-down fast and clean.

  3. Add coffee & stir:

    • Add 19 g of grounds immediately after the water.

    • Start your timer.

    • Give a gentle stir to eliminate any dry pockets — don't overdo it.

  4. Steep:

    • Let sit undisturbed for 2 minutes.

  5. Break the crust:

    • Gently stir or lightly shake to break up the crust that's formed on top.

    • Let it settle for a couple minutes so the grounds fall to the bottom.

  6. Drain:

    • Place Clever on your mug or carafe — this lifts the stopper and releases the liquid.

    • Draw-down should take about 45–75 seconds.

    • You should be left with a nice flat bed of grounds at the bottom of the brewer.

  7. Cleanup:

    • Remove filter with grounds and discard, clean Clever.

Adjustments & Troubleshooting

  • Strength preference:

    • Stronger: Increase to 1:14–1:15 (20–21 g coffee for 300 g water).

    • Milder: Decrease to 1:17–1:18 (17–18 g coffee for 300 g water).

  • If draw-down is slow: Did you add coffee before water? Always add water first. Also check grind isn't too fine, and avoid pressing the paper filter down into the brewer.

  • If hollow or sour/under-extracted: Finer grind or hotter water.

  • If bitter/over-extracted: Coarser grind or cooler water.

  • Steep ran long by accident? Don't worry — the Clever is very forgiving on timing. A longer steep won't ruin your cup.