Using the April Dripper

The April Dripper is a modern coffee brewing tool crafted for enthusiasts who seek precision and clarity in their cup. It’s designed to complement light, Nordic-style roasts, which highlight vibrant, delicate flavors, making it an essential choice for exploring the nuances of high-quality coffee.

Here’s why the April Dripper stands out:

  • Optimized for Light Roasts: Its design shines with denser, lightly roasted beans, which typically require careful brewing to unlock their full potential.
  • Fast Flow Rate: Paired with April’s thinner filters, the dripper’s fast flow rate supports a clean, consistent brew and quicker drawdown compared to other flat-bottom brewers like the Kalita Wave.
  • Low Thermal Mass: Made from lightweight plastic, the dripper ensures heat stability by minimizing the loss of brew water temperature.
  • Flat-Bottom Design: The wide, flat base, tall internal ridges, and large drain opening prevent clogging and promote even extraction for a balanced cup.
  • Perfect for Smaller Doses: Ideal for brewing with 10g-15g of coffee, the April Dripper is approachable and forgiving, making it a versatile choice for smaller servings.

For those who value precision and clarity in their brewing, the April Dripper offers a thoughtfully engineered experience that makes every brew as rewarding as the last.

Our Standard Brew Recipe

  • Coffee-to-Water Ratio: 13g coffee : 200g water
  • Brew Temperature: 210ºF

Brewing Method:

Three pours. Pour from just below the breaking height of bare kettle stream, at a moderate rate. To better judge your flow rate– the second pour should take almost exactly 10 seconds. Keep an eye for the stream to be “arcing” out of the kettle. You want to agitate the coffee to the depth of the bed, not just the surface.

  1. Rinse filter: Begin by rinsing your filter with hot water (210ºF) to preheat the brewer and your vessels. After draining, add and weigh your ground coffee, gently shaking the brewer to level the coffee bed.
  2. 0:00 - Bloom: Pour 40g of water in a quick, spiral motion to evenly saturate all the grounds.
  3. 0:30 - Second Pour: Pour to 80g starting at the outside and moving inward in a spiral motion.Without pausing, focus the stream on the center of the coffee bed and continue pouring until you reach 150g.
  4. 1:10 - Third Pour: Pour steadily in the center until the total water weight reaches 200g.

Tips for Brewing with the April Dripper

  • No Tapping or Stirring: Avoid tapping, swirling, or stirring the coffee at any point during the brew. Let the turbulence created by your kettle’s pour handle all the agitation.
  • Brew Time: Aim for a total brew time of 2 to 4 minutes.
  • Flat Bed: After the drawdown, a flat coffee bed indicates even extraction.
  • Adjust Grind Size: If the brew time is too long or short, tweak the grind size. A finer grind slows the drawdown, increasing extraction, while a coarser grind speeds it up.
  • Freshness: For optimal flavor clarity, use coffee that’s at least 2 weeks off roast. Beans 3-4 weeks post-roast are often ideal.
  • Adjusting Ratio: To enhance body, increase the coffee-to-water ratio. For a juicier, tea-like profile, decrease the ratio.
  • Water Temperature: While higher water temperatures extract more, they can also draw out undesirable compounds in very fresh coffee. For beans roasted 1-10 days ago, using water at 199-201ºF may yield better results.

Remember: every coffee is unique. These guidelines are a starting point to help you achieve consistently delicious cups with minimal effort. Don’t be afraid to experiment and tailor the process to your taste preferences!