CLEVER Dripper (Clear)

This little gadget makes a great mug of coffee (check for the james hoffman ultimate clever video). It is consistent and reliable. The Clever is also the perfect workplace coffee companion. when selecting filters i find that the Kalita 103 filters are worth the extra coin.

I did some research online having decided to change my coffee methodology to pour over. Everything lead me to the Clever Dripper being a very efficient and forgiving starting point. The reviewers were not wrong. The price point is reasonable and it works as advertised. Recommend.

I have a V60 a French press an aeropress a mocha pot and now the clever. The clever in my opinion is the best of these. It has all the flavours and benefits of the immersion in the French press without the sludge. I like clean coffee. The volume of one brew is perfect for my morning coffee. It’s easy to use and clean. I love this thing!

Over the holidays, I upped my coffee game big time. Breville Dual Boiler, Varia VS3, Timemore Black Mirror Nano timer, Stagg Pro Studio kettle, glassware of varying sorts, and on and on and on. Thank you Nick F. and Eight Ounce for your patience and incredible guidance. It was a very slippery slope, but a massively fun one…

Anyway, in addition to all the espresso oriented gear I acquired, I added to my trusty AeroPress and Chemex, by picking up a Switch, Clever and V-60 Mugen.

In my hands, the AeroPress still comes out on top, reigning supreme over every other alternative. Taste, consistency, ease of use, tolerance to changed variables (bean, grind, water temp, weight of coffee/beans, bloom time, immersion time, etc.) - the AeroPress is still #1 for me.

That said, since most of these alternatives were bought new over the holidays, these are very early days. I still don’t have much mileage in on the Clever (and other alternatives). Perhaps my technique/approach will improve over time.

For now, I find that compared to the same bean in the AeroPress, coffee made with the Clever (and Switch) tastes a little burnt. Charred. Starbucks-like. Filter coffee - made with the same bean, water temp and grind, using the Chemex or V60 - tastes much more delicate and nuanced to me, and certainly not burnt. But the trusty AeroPress still tastes the best to me, balancing body and complexity beautifully. Aesthetically, it’s a fail. But otherwise, the AeroPress is shockingly good. Time after time.

Is it my grind? Am I in the wheelhouse grind-wise for the AeroPress but not for the Clever or V60? Immersion time? Water temp? Are my beans being over extracted with the Clever or Switch? Or is this simply the character taste, that others may actually love?

Who knows, but I’m about to find out! Clearly I have lots to learn, and I am looking forward to continuing with the journey I am on. It’s been a great experience so far.

And the beauty is that the investment with the Clever (or Switch, or V60, or AeroPress) is less than a burger and a beverage at your local pub. The risk is nonexistent, and the fun and excitement are limitless.

The awesome thing about the Clever, compared to my size 2 Switch, is that it’s significantly larger. I should have bought the size 3 Switch, which is about the same size as the Clever. Oh well. First world problems.

As others have mentioned, the Clever is a good foolproof alternative for a decent cup after a long, sleepless night of whatever. Straightforward to use, but I still need to drill into all the untapped potential that I know lies within.

You cant go wrong with this brewer. Its one of the most consistent brewers available in the market. The only thing is finding decent quality melita type filters is not that easy,

This brewer is a bit of a hidden gem amongst brewers... Not to say it isn't well known, but I find a lot the real fanatics (like myself) are searching for more complexity and greater variable control, while this just makes simple good cup of coffee every time with little effort. I got one for when my partner wakes up before me and decides to make us coffee instead of waiting for me to make espresso or V60 ;)

Super impressed with this brewer. I’m a novice when it comes to coffee and could almost immediately make great brews with this with minimal effort. A great “hands off” alternative to pour overs that’s a pleasure to use.