The Odd Ones

There are a few coffee brewers that exist outside the categories I mentioned in my last post that may be of interest to home brewers. While there are many great "hybrid brewers" on the market, these two are definitely among my favorites.

Toddy

The Toddy brewer is an interesting device. While I have never used the home model, I have used it's commercial counterpart extensively, and I must say that I am impressed by its output. The device is essentially a large translucent paint bucket with two filters inside. The first being a reusable mesh filter that has a drawstring. The second is a disposable paper filter bag. You put the coffee in the paper filter, tie it off, then place it in the mesh filter. From here, you submerge the coffee in cold water. That's right, cold water. You then place the lid on the bucket and leave it be for a long while (usually a period of twelve hours). When the time has expired, you simply discard the paper filter full of grounds and serve the coffee. The resulting brew is very low in acidity and is typically very smooth. It is excellent for serving as iced coffee as the brew doesn't suffer from the watery nature that most iced coffees bear. One can also pour hot water into the coffee to serve as a hot beverage, though I feel for all of the hassle, you would be better off just brewing a fresh cup by another means. All-in-all though, this is a fascinating device that might be worth seeking out if you are really into iced coffees.

Abid's Clever Coffee Dripper

This is a really cool device. Like the Toddy, this method also adds a filter to what is otherwise an immersion brewer, but the way it does it is quite ingenious. If you look at the Clever, you'll likely notice that it bears a resemblance to nearly every pour-over brewer in the market. That's because it is, with one key difference. You see, what makes the dripper "Clever" is that the hole on the bottom of the cone only opens when placed on your coffee mug. Because of this you can steep the coffee like you would in an immersion brewer, but avoid any grit in your cup because there is paper keeping it out. It's a pretty brilliant idea. However, the thing that makes it really remarkable is its ease of use. Making drip coffee is a right proper pain in the neck if you don't know what you're doing and even if you do, the constant babysitting of the brewer can be a hassle. With the Clever, there is no real fancy technical process to it. It has definitely jumped up on the list of my go-to brewers recently, and I would strongly suggest it for anyone who is leaning toward a pour-over method for their home.

Remember, if you want to see these things in action, head over to BrewMethods.com

*I apologize for the irregularity of the posting times and content length. In the early summer I'll be switching to a firm schedule of weekly posts. Please bear with me until that time. :)