Simple Usage + Filtering Options
Four Options
There are four main ways you can use the Simple Smart Brewer:
Simplest - no metal or paper filter.
With metal secondary filter.
With paper secondary filter.
Double paper filters.
The instructions for each option are below.
If you are interested …. (but you don’t have to read).
The design of the Simple Smart Coffee Brewer separates 'percolation’ from the filtering with paper or metal filters. This is very different from traditional manual pour-over coffee brewing where the two take place simultaneously. With traditional manual pour-over the coffee is in direct contact with the paper or metal filter - this can cause problems.
In the percolation step the coffee acts as the only, or primary, filter. (See Coffee As the Primary Filter on our EPO Brewer Science page for an explanation why this is best for brewing coffee).
Based on user preference, secondary filtering can be achieved using the metal filter supplied with the brewer, or by using 26 gsm paper filters.
If you have issues with too many fines from your grinder, or if you just want an exceptionally clean brew, you can add tertiary filtering by stacking two Adaptors with paper filters.
Simple Usage - Filter with only Coffee
Adding Coffee
Start by removing the metal filter from the Lid and set aside (you may or may not want to use it). It will probably fall out of the Lid when it gets warm because of thermal expansion if you don’t remove it.
Add the desired amount of coffee. Depending on your taste preference this will probably vary between 12 to 15 grams (about 4oz to 5oz).
If you want a recommended weight of coffee for your first use, use -
Dark roast - 12 grams
Medium roast - 13.5 grams
Light roast - 15 grams
We recommend a medium grind (roughly the same a pre-ground coffee). You can vary from this to suit your taste, but if you go too fine the coffee will be too tightly packed and the expansion will choke the flow. If you go too course, the flow rate will be too high and the coffee will be under-extracted.
Level coffee and add Filter Plate
Give the brewer a little shake to get the coffee pretty evenly flat. Do it over the lid to catch any fines particles that fall through. If you have covered the three raised sections in the Brewer Body, you can assume this is flat enough.
IMPORTANT: Make sure that the filter plate is pushed down to touch the coffee. You do not want to try to compress the coffee, just make sure the plate is in contact with the coffee - as soon as a you feel resistance that is good enough.
This is to ensure that when the coffee expands it fully fills the encapsulated space - which closes out any channel formation.
Put on Cup/Mug
In the simplest use, the SSC Brewer is placed directly on an appropriately sized cup or mug, placed on a level surface (e.g. kitchen counter, table, etc.). The minimum capacity of the cup should be 11 fl oz (330 ml).
For this use the cup should have an internal diameter of no less than 70mm (2.75”) and no more than 80mm (3.14”). For most other cup sizes the Adaptor can be used - see below.
To use a different size cup.
If you want to use a cup that does not have the dimensions necessary for the SSC Brewer to sit on it, you can use the silicone Adaptor.
The Adaptor can accommodate cups with a diameter up to 4”.
The Adaptor is also used when you want to use either the metal filter or a paper filter. See below.
Pour Water
Simply add freshly boiled water, from any kettle (no need to use a pouring kettle) to about 1/16 inch (2 mm) from the top. This will be about 300 ml of water.
There is no need to use a temperature controlled kettle, as the volume of stainless steel at room temperature will cool the water to the temperature recommended by the Specialty Coffee Association (195-205 Fahrenheit).
2. Secondary Filtering - Metal Filter
To use the Metal Filter
If you want to ensure that the larger coffee particles do not make it into you cup, you can just pop the 200 micron metal filter into the Adaptor.
You can use any 2.5” (63mm) metal filter used with other coffee making equipment, such as press brewers.
3. Secondary Filtering - Paper Filter
To use a Paper Filter
If you want to remove the finest particles and most of the oils that are not dissolved by the water, you can use a paper filter.
The easiest way is to make the Adaptor slightly wet before putting in the filter paper, so that it adheres to the silicone.
Only use 26 gsm paper filters, as we supply. Similar size paper filters for use in press type brewers are too thick to rely on simple gravity flow - they require the user to push down on a piston to force the water through the paper.
4. Tertiary Filtering - Paper Filters
An Extra Paper Filter
To get the cleanest cup, you can use stacked paper filters (you need to have purchased the optional second Adaptor).
If your grinder produces a lot of fines in a very few instances you may see the paper filter get clogged. In this case the water goes through the drainage holes in the side of the Adaptor (so any blockage doesn’t spill coffee all over your countertop!) this is overspill and it by-passes the paper filter.
If you stack two Adaptors, with paper filters, you filter the coffee three times - through the coffee, then through two paper filters. Any overspill also gets filtered through the second paper filter.