brew
Our coffees are suitable for most brewing methods. Yet we encourage customers to use their familiar recipes first before exploring variations (brew ratios, brewers, filter papers, etc). In general, grind size has the biggest impact on flavor outcomes, and we suggest to begin with a slightly coarse grind then go finer to suit your palate.
Let’s check out our recipes of nextlevel pulsar and conical dripper which are excellent brewers for high and even extractions.
grind
Every dose of coffee grounds contains a spectrum of particle sizes, from fines to boulders. When coffee enthusiasts discuss grind size for certain brewing method, they often use "microns" (µm) which refers to the peak value of a particle size distribution (psd) curve. In fact, no two grinders are identical because psd in reality varies depending on grinder design, burrset specifications, burrs condition, alignment, etc. Having said that, “micron” is still a more effective means of communication as opposed to vague descriptions such as “medium-fine” or “table salt”.
Choosing the right grind size is a matter of finding balance between flavor intensity and clarity. While a finer grind size can improve intensity, it may also induce excessive fines that will clog filter quickly, resulting in bitter and muddy notes. Fines can be reduced by grinding coarser or by adopting specialized low-fine burrsets with calibrated alignment. Besides, glass dosing vessels can also help to reduce fines because the smooth surface can attract fines by static electricity thus can be wiped off effortlessly.
pulsar
Pulsar is a “zero-bypass” percolation brewer meaning that all water must pass through the coffee bed. It comes with a dispersion cap which acts like a shower screen and produces steady, uniform water streams. Therefore, it does not require advanced pouring techniques to produce high quality cups and we highly recommend it for its convenience and consistency.
co:llab’s recipe
Filter: standard pulsar filter paper
Dose: 20 grams, medium grind
Water: 340 ml, 95°c to 98°c
Preheat barrel, close valve and fill coffee grounds
Pour to 90 ml and swirl gently. Bloom for 45 sec
Fill to 140 ml, slowly open valve to 75% and swirl gently
(or adjust valve to target total brew time at 3 min ± 15 sec)
Refill 50 ml when water level drops near the “100” mark
Repeat pulse-pouring until finish at 340 ml
conical
Conical dripper is the most popular brewer of all time. Water percolates through conical coffee bed and can deliver high quality extractions. Compared to pulsar, conical dripper is a bypass brewer where water can escape through the filter without making contact with coffee grounds. As a result, it requires some pouring skills to achieve good balance between water level and agitation consistently. Excessive water above coffee bed may encourage bypass, and excessive agitation may cause filter to clog. On the contrary, insufficient water level may risk unstable coffee bed temperature and channeling. To ensure good extraction evenness, we introduce the “two-stage bloom” method that is very simple and easy to master.
co:llab’s recipe
Filter: filter paper
Dose: 15 grams, medium grind
Water: 255 ml, 95°c to 98°c
Make a divot at the center of coffee bed before pouring
First bloom: pour 45 ml and swirl gently. Bloom for 20 sec
Second bloom: pour 45 ml and swirl gently. Bloom for 25 sec
Begin pouring when water level is slightly above the coffee bed
Pour slowly at 30 ml intervals and swirl gently. Maintain a med-low water level
Repeat pulse-pouring until finish at 255 ml
(target brew time between at 3 min 45 sec ± 15 sec)