Pour Over Playbook Episode 1: One Style Fits Few

Pour over. Simple right? Actually not quite given the sheer amount of drippers on the market, all touting their own unique flavor profile. When you generalize these two, you'll find them in one of two buckets; flat bottom or v-shaped(often called v60). It's like choosing between pancakes and waffles, but with more caffeine and even more pretentiousness.

Flat bottom drippers, the sturdy workhorses of the pour-over world, are like that dependable friend who always shows up to help you move. They're forgiving, consistent, and about as fussy as a golden retriever. With their wide, flat beds, these drippers are the coffee equivalent of a hug – comforting, reliable, and unlikely to judge you for your bedhead. Some of my favorites include the Orea or the Kalita due to their simplicity and sturdiness and repeatability.

V60s, on the other hand, are the high-maintenance divas of the dripper scene. They demand precision, attention, and probably a therapy session. With their conical shape and spiral ridges, they're like that one friend who insists on color-coding their closet and alphabetizing their spice rack. Sure, they might produce a cleaner cup, but at what cost to your sanity?

Let's break it down further, shall we? Flat bottom drippers, like the Kalita Wave or the Melitta, are all about even extraction. Their flat beds and multiple drain holes distribute water more evenly, like a gentle rain shower rather than a targeted assault. This means you're less likely to screw up your brew, even if you're operating at a pre-caffeine cognitive level.

The V60, with its large single hole and ridged walls, is more like a Formula 1 car – high performance, but one wrong move and you're in the gravel trap. It offers more control over flow rate, which is great if you're the type who enjoys micromanaging your coffee like it's a small nation. But beware – this control comes with a steep learning curve steeper than the dripper's own conical walls.

The Origami

Now, let's throw a curveball into this dripper drama – the Origami dripper. This fancy piece of kit is like the Swiss Army knife of the pour-over world, compatible with both flat bottom and conical filters. It's the coffee equivalent of being bilingual, fluent in both dripper dialects. When you slap a flat bottom filter into this ridge-rich masterpiece, you're getting the best of both worlds – the forgiving nature of a flat bottom with the sleek aesthetics of a conical dripper. It's like putting truck tires on a Ferrari – weird, but oddly effective. The Origami's ridged walls add a touch of V60-esque flow control to your flat bottom experience, making it the perfect choice for the indecisive coffee nerd who wants to have their cake and drink it too. Just be prepared for the confused looks when you explain to your coffee shop buddies why you're using a flat filter in a conical dripper. It's the pour-over equivalent of wearing socks with sandals – questionable in theory, but surprisingly comfortable in practice. Don't get me started on the Hario switch, we'll be here all night and I talk about it more in the immersion and percolation article.

Now, let's talk about the brew itself. Flat bottom drippers tend to produce a cup that's rounder, fuller-bodied, and more forgiving of minor sins like uneven pouring or slightly off grind size. It's the coffee equivalent of comfort food – maybe not the most exciting, but reliably satisfying.

The V60, when you nail it (and that's a big "when"), can produce a cup that's brighter, cleaner, and more nuanced. It's like the difference between listening to music on your phone speaker versus a high-end audio system. But much like that audio system, it requires constant tinkering and adjustment to get right.

Let's not forget about the filters. Flat bottom drippers often use thicker filters, which can lead to a cleaner cup but might hold back some of those precious oils. V60 filters are typically thinner, allowing more oils through but also potentially more sediment. It's like choosing between a sweater and a t-shirt – one's cozier, the other lets more through.

Workflow is another consideration. Flat bottom drippers are the "set it and forget it" option. You can often get away with one continuous pour after the bloom, perfect for those mornings when you're running on autopilot. The V60 demands a more involved process, with pulsed pours and careful attention to timing. It's great if you enjoy a morning meditation, less so if you're trying to caffeinate while getting three kids ready for school.

So, what's the verdict? If you're new to pour-over or value consistency over absolute peak flavor, go flat bottom. If you're a coffee control freak who enjoys the challenge of chasing the perfect cup, the V60 might be your jam.

It ain't spro-bro, so its far from an exact science. When it comes to pour overs your bean quality, grind consistency, and water temperature will likely make a bigger difference than your dripper shape. You're not going to get a good pour over out of your charcoal Starbucks beans. But don't let that stop you from spiraling into an existential crisis in the coffee aisle. The brain rot might be getting to you so just pick a device and master it to your preference. Whether its an Orea or a Origami, fruity or full bodied, adjust things one at a time like an 11th grade chemistry lab. Get brewing.