The “Immersion Funnel” method is an alternative way of brewing coffee that applies special funnels that come in many shapes and sizes. There are also many brands available on the market, but one of the most popular is “Clever Dripper”, which we’ll use as an example for a coffee making recipe.
Technical details
Dripper’s main difference from the classic pour over method is that there is a closing valve at the bottom using which you can stop the flow of the coffee drink at the right time. You can also prepare a “ pour over” with an open valve in the immersion funnel.
The Clever Dripper operates more like a French press due to the brewing time. However, the coffee turns out to be transparent and cleaner because of a paper filter in it.
The extraction doesn't depend on the speed and the way of pouring coffee, therefore the immersion funnel method possesses a significant advantage compared to the classic pour over method. Consequently, the coffee drink turns out to be more dense and the whole process is not hard even for the amateurs.
Finally, the immersion dripper can be prepared using a regular kettle or even a thermos with hot water. Whereas, the pour over method needs a special kettle with a gooseneck.
We recommend learning about the main factors that affect the taste of coffee (regardless of the method) prior to preparing coffee.
Grinding
It's best to grind the coffee as medium or medium fine for the immersion funnel, same as for a pour over. However, you could try using different sizes for a change and settle on the best option.
Dosage
All you need is 15 grams of coffee for 250 ml cup size. In other words it’s 60 grams per 1 L of water. The percentage is calculated differently for each specific case, but the proportion is always the same.
The slightest deviations in proportions significantly affect the result and make it unstable - therefore, we suggest to weight coffee on a scale in 0,1g increments instead of measuring it randomly.
Water Temperature
The best temperature for making naturally processed coffee is 93 °C (199 F) and for washed coffee is 95 ° (203 F). To achieve this temperature the water needs to be boiled and then cooled for a minute. It’s recommended to use a good water thermometer or a kettle with a temperature sensor.
Water temperature is an important factor not only because it significantly affects the taste of a drink but also because it varies depending on the type of coffee.
It's not possible to provide any general recommendations. We can only suggest experimenting with temperature: a difference of one degree can make the taste better, sweeter, more balanced, and/or create an unpleasant aftertaste.
Allocation of coffee in the paper filter
First, you will need to put the paper filter inside the Clever Dripper and rinse it with hot water. Wait a few seconds, then drain the water to make sure the possible taste of paper is gone. Then put the dripper on the scale, reset them to ensure that you have the right amount of coffee, pour coffee into the filter and shake the dripper slightly to distribute the coffee evenly.
Brewing
Reset the scales, then start the timer, carefully pour all the water into the funnel for 25-30 seconds, and leave for 3-4 minutes.
Put the Clever on the cup or a carafe, so that the water begins to flow through the filter into the cup. The total brewing time should be approximately 4 minutes - this time may vary depending on the amount of coffee.
Increase brewing time or reduce the grind of coffee (one at a time), if coffee turns out watery.
On the opposite - if the coffee tastes bitter or is overextracted then you need either reduce the brewing time or increase the grind size.
At last - remove the Dripper from the cup, throw out the used filter, stir the drink to increase the saturation of oxygen, and enjoy the taste!