It’s all in the name. The Clever Dripper is revolutionizing the coffee brewing process, and it’s no surprise it’s been creating a buzz. Making the perfect cup of coffee is an art, and the Clever Dripper has been said to outshine your French press, drip brewer, and pour-over. Even though this coffee maker has some similarities to a Melitta Cone Filter, it comes with some exceptional additions, such as a little coaster for you to put the dripper on and a lid that traps in the heat as the coffee steeps.
You’re probably wondering, ‘what makes the Clever Dripper so clever?’ Well, unlike other manual coffee makers, it has a valve that only opens when placed on a thermos or cup and blocks water flow when you take it off. We have compiled this Clever Coffee Dripper review to help decide whether it’s a worthwhile investment. Check out our complete guide below!
The Clever Dripper is designed to make the manual coffee-making process easy, and it seems to be excelling. Most people confuse it for a standard pour-over coffee maker due to the design, but they couldn’t be more wrong. Since this coffee maker has a valve at the bottom that enables it to hold water in the brew cone, it’s more of an immersion-style brewer. This means that you can make coffee as you would with a French press but without the annoying mess that comes with it.
Don’t confuse immersion-style coffee with drip coffee. With the Clever Dripper, the grounds and the hot water are in contact throughout the brewing process. This means that the filtering only happens after your grind is done steeping. How easy is it to use the Clever Dripper? Does it give you brewing control? Is it durable? We have reviewed this coffee maker so that you can make an informed decision. Keep reading to find out how well it ranks!
Overall, we were impressed by how well this coffee maker balances out functionality. Immersion coffee brewers have always been associated with quality coffee, and the Clever Dripper is no different. It’s undoubtedly one of the easiest and hassle-free methods of making manual coffee. If you’re tired of the thick layer of coffee grounds at the bottom of your coffee mug due to your French press, you’re going to love the Clever Dripper. It uses removable filters that you can simply toss away after you’re brewing your coffee.
The Clever Dripper also has a special valve that makes it easy for you to control the steeping time, comes with a coaster for you to place the dripper on, and a lid that traps the heat as you steep your coffee. Due to its ease of use, this coffee maker is a great option for coffee enthusiasts that are just trying out manual brewing as it gives you the flexibility to be as methodical as you’d like.
Based on its features, it’s perfect for:
The only major functional downside that we noticed is that this manual coffee maker doesn’t offer a lot of flexibility.
Most people tend to overlook the design of their coffee maker and only focus on functionality, but the truth is that both elements matter. Think about it: no matter how well a coffee maker works, would you be comfortable using it in front of guests if it’s not well designed? Probably not!
If we’re being honest, then the Clever Dripper is not the best-looking coffee maker, but it’s not all bad. The manufacturer could have probably spent more time perfecting its build and construction. It’s not the kind of coffee maker that you automatically fall in love with, and its plastic build makes it less striking. Even though this means that the Clever Dripper won’t break into pieces when you drop it, over time, the plastic may chip or wear down.
This coffee model has a conical design and comes in 2 color options: black and clear. Over time the clear model may stain, but this will in no way impact the taste of your coffee. The Clever Dripper also features a valve at the bottom that only opens when you set the device on a thermos or mug. If you don’t care much about aesthetics and are most concerned with utility, the Clever Dripper is a great option.
The Clever Dripper comes in 2 sizes: the large option that holds 18 oz. and the Small size that holds 11 oz. We, however, noticed that the capacity was lower than this as some of the space is occupied by the removable filter cone and the volume of coffee used. For instance, the larger Clever Dripper only yields around 16 oz. of coffee. This makes this model a personal coffee maker. If you only consume about 1 to 3 cups of coffee, this will be a perfect option. On the other hand, if you have a family of coffee enthusiasts, you’ll need a larger coffee maker that can satisfy your needs.
This coffee maker is made with 100% BPA-free Plastic, which means it’s safe for use. According to BBC Trusted Source BBC Two - Trust Me, I'm a Doctor, Series 6, Episode 3 - Should I worry about plastics? Chemicals like BPA and phthalates can get from plastics into food – but is this a problem? www.bbc.co.uk , BPA contains toxins that have been known to cause cancer and is transferable to food. The plastic construction, however, impacts its durability, and over time, it cracks or chips away. On the plus side, you don’t have to worry about breakages when in transit or when you accidentally drop it.
The Clever Dripper is one of the easiest coffee makers to use. When it comes to filter coffee brewing, there are 2 main methods:
Immersion brewing is highly preferred because it’s straightforward, and the Clever Dripper uses this method.
The brew control abilities of this coffee maker are one of the most exciting features. At first glance, you may confuse the Clever Dripper for a large conical pour over, but the nifty valve at the bottom changes everything. While it seems like a simple addition, it, in fact, presents a unique and highly convenient brewing opportunity. It gives you the ability to brew your coffee in an immersion-style as you would with a French press, ultimately giving you more brew control.
You also get brew control in terms of temperature and grind size as you would with other manual coffee makers. This ultimately enables you to brew a full-bodied cup of coffee without the muddy layer of coffee grind remnants at the bottom of your mug due to the paper filter.
If you’re wondering how the Clever Dripper impacts the taste of your coffee, then you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Since you brew your coffee in an immersion style, you get to enjoy the richer notes of your coffee beans, including the early flavors. You should, however, note that the dominant taste will be dependent on your preferred beans. If you use full-bodied coffees, your brew will be stronger.
You’re probably thinking,’ I already get this with a French press.’ Well, while the above elements are standard with immersion brewers, most of them tend to leave your coffee a bit heavy. With the Clever Dripper, you can enjoy the rich flavors of your coffee without the gritty element due to the paper filter.
The Clever Dripper is a perfect travel companion for several reasons;
You should, however, be careful when packing the elements as you may lose or forget the base while the cone sits on as you steep your coffee.
The Clever Dripper is proof that you can get an innovative coffee maker without breaking the bank. While it’s slightly more expensive than some pour over models, this is no doubt due to the complexity of the release mechanism and valve. You’ll only incur extra costs when buying the filters, but the good news is that this model uses standard #4 or #6 paper filters that are readily available and inexpensive.
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It’s relatively affordable and has a ton of amazing features, such as the bottom valve that automatically opens when you place the Clever Dripper on a cup. This coffee maker is also easy to clean and maintain, can be used for th immersion and pour over style brewing, and can fit on most standard coffee cups.
Here’s a step by step guide on how to use his coffee maker;
Step 1: Put a fresh filter into the Clever Dripper’s cone and add coffee into it. For this coffee maker, coarse ground coffee is recommended, and for every 4 oz. of water, you should use 1 rounded tablespoon of coffee.
Step 2: Place the Clever Dripper on a coaster and pour hot water into it slowly and preferably in a circular motion. Allow the hot water to saturate the coffee grounds so as to extract the flavors fully. Let it sit this way for at least 2 minutes.
Step 3: Once the grounds are evenly saturated, place the Clever Dripper on your preferred cup or thermos and the valve will automatically open and dispense your coffee.
Step 4: Remove the dripper when your coffee is full and enjoy your fresh brew!
Based on the above Clever Coffee Dripper Review, it’s clear that the benefits far outweigh the downsides. This coffee maker is very easy to use, clean, and maintain. If you’re constantly on the road, it’s the perfect holiday companion, as it’s small enough to fit in your bag but large enough to make up to 3 cups of coffee. According to CNN Trusted Source Coffee may reduce risk of death from stroke and heart disease - CNN Drinking up to three cups of coffee a day may protect your heart, a new study finds. edition.cnn.com , drinking 3 cups of coffee daily can significantly reduce your chances of cardiovascular diseases. It’s also light and won’t pull out your back if you have to carry it around. Overall, for such a low price, the Clever Dripper is a worthwhile purchase.
