I have recently moved from instant coffee and Nespresso capsules to a Clever Dripper. This was recommended as a good starting point. I am still playing with ratio and also water or coffee first. What do you find is the best method for you to get the best possible taste from the Clever?

Gary,
I don't vary much from a 1:16 ratio.
But I do change or adjust the immersion time, coffee grind size and water temperature.
It depends on the coffee bean roast level, freshness and what beans I buy, that has me changing those variables.
But that's just me.
Now, with that you have a new clever dripper you will defiantly be able experiment.
Good luck,
John

GaryGorilla wrote:I have recently moved from instant coffee and Nespresso capsules to a Clever Dripper. This was recommended as a good starting point. I am still playing with ratio and also water or coffee first. What do you find is the best method for you to get the best possible taste from the Clever?

Just try different ratios, temps, and times. All depends on the coffee you're using and personal taste. No one can tell you what variables will suit your taste buds.

Experiment with it. It's really difficult to eff up a Clever brew.

350/25 / 200f barista water. Then I wet the grounds for my PO. Once thats done I stir the mix in the CD. Then I complete the water addition for the PO which is real close to 3:15. CD is ready to dump into a cup.

If you can get the Filtropa Paper Filters #4, I think that a good ones for CD, I preferred 1/14, 94-96C, 1st pour 50gr and stir, 2nd pour the rest of the brew water, closed the lid, near 2m:30s stir the crust surface at 3m flush, I use a coarser grind size Kalitawawe / Chemex.

GaryGorilla wrote:I have recently moved from instant coffee and Nespresso capsules to a Clever Dripper. This was recommended as a good starting point. I am still playing with ratio and also water or coffee first. What do you find is the best method for you to get the best possible taste from the Clever?

someone has already posted the Hoffmann video and in the world of specialty, Hoffmanns seems to set the bar. outside of his technique, the clever is an immersion brewer (like the french press) with a release valve. You can treat it almost identical to a french press and keep it really simple so you're not too hammered with all the details. off the boil water, dump in the water, wait 2 min, stir, wait 30 seconds, release. you'll want to make sure you're controlling your ratio too, I use 20g of coffee for a large mug (about 300ml/10oz volume). coffee absorbs twice its weight in water so 20g of coffee will hold 40g of water. if you want 300ml/10oz in your cup (a large mug) pour 340ml of water. If you don't have scales, then you should get some, but until then you will have to figure out what strength is right using a scoop which I really can't advise you on that one as each coffee scoop varies widely. Like many immersion brewers, the clever is forgiving but try and be as consistent as possible with small changes if you need to adjust so you can repeat your results the next day. The clever is one of my favorite brewers because of its ease of use, good results and there is a coolness factor in there as well with the release mechanism.

The Clever is my favorite brewer because it's easy, consistent and forgiving. Oh yeah, it makes a great cup.

Put the kettle on the boil to start. Rinse your paper filter and let it drain. Dose 16 grams of coffee and grind as fine as possible without stalling the brew (adjustments might be needed). When the kettle comes to a boil, place Clever on a scale and pour in 255 grams of water. Immediately add coffee and gentle get all grounds wet with a spoon. After three minutes, place Clever on a cup to drain. If it doesn't stall, I will grind finer next time. Enjoy. This method allows you to grind finer than the 'coffee then water' method, infact this is finer than my grinds for V60 and Kalita. I don't ever use the lid. I have tried different paper filters and they don't make much difference with this method. You don't need a gooseneck kettle. Easy and consistently good.

^^^You're using it as a modified PO