In our 2022 Gift Guide, I mentioned a nifty little contraption called the ‘Clever Dripper’.

Obviously, I would never recommend a product without getting one for myself and how could I post a recipe without trying it out? So today, we are going to introduce the versatility of the Clever Dripper.

(Note to Reader: There is no secret. It’s all in the name. Clever Dripper)

The Clever Dripper is the result of a love affair between the finesse of a pour over and the robustness of a French Press. And this hybrid therefore has the ability to be everything, to every type of coffee brewer. (Except strictly Espresso Drinkers. You guys have your own classification system).

The Control Freak! Are you someone who likes to have control over every aspect of your coffee brewing process? Then the Clever Dripper is your new best friend. Unlike a traditional Pour Over, where extraction time can be a bit of a guessing game (with grind size, pouring technique and dosing), the Clever Dripper puts the power in your hands. By using a stopper mechanism, it allows you to control the extraction time giving you one more variable to vary in your quest for the best cup of coffee. Bring out the pencil and notebook!

The Nuovo (Nuova) Home Barista! You like the idea of buying fresh coffee beans at the farmers market and to brew a fresh cup of coffee every morning but you don't have all the accessories that are required to master the pour over (gooseneck kettle etc.). You also feel that it is time that you graduated from your french press. Then this is the device for you. All you need essentially, is the clever dripper. Other accessories are reserved for the Control Freak, but you will be able to use your freshly bought artisanal coffee and even play around a bit with dosing and extraction time as you find a new way to explore the wonderful world of coffee.

The Too-busy but I love great coffee person! This person is looking for a convenient alternative to make a cup of coffee without having to wait in the kitchen and pour a dose of water every 30 seconds while remembering to swirl anti-clockwise at the 2 minute mark. Admittedly, they could just use a French Press, but their instagram feed has seen too many pictures of their French Press and could do with a refresh.

Using the Clever Dripper is very simple. Here’s a quick guide to get you started.

1. Grind your coffee beans to a medium-coarse consistency, similar to what you'd use for a French press.

2. Place a filter in the Clever Dripper and rinse it with hot water to remove any paper residue.

3. Add your coffee grounds and pour hot water over them, ensuring all the grounds are saturated.

4. Allow the coffee to steep for a predetermined time, depending on your desired strength.

5. When the time is up, simply place the Clever Dripper on top of your favourite mug, and watch as the coffee effortlessly flows through, leaving behind any unwanted sediment.

6. Savour every sip and bask in the glory of your cleverly brewed creation!

The Clever Dripper is a coffee lover's dream come true. With its seamless fusion of pour-over finesse and French press control, it opens up a whole new world of brewing possibilities. The fact that Hario has jumped on the bandwagon with their Switch speaks volumes about the impact this device has had on the coffee community.

Now obviously we know that I fall into the control freak category of coffee lover, so look out for our next article when I will discuss my preferred method of brewing with the Clever Dripper (after 3 months of tinkering, so that you don't have to).