That cheap pour-over dripper I ignored for months actually makes good coffee

I bought this $12 plastic V60 knockoff on a whim last summer and left it in the back of the cabinet. Tried it last week because my machine broke and I was desperate. The cup came out clean and bright, way better than I expected for something that felt so flimsy. I think the trick is I watched a video showing how to pour in circles slow. Has anyone else had a cheap gadget surprise them like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

kelly611d ago

I gotta respectfully push back on "the cup came out clean and bright" because I think a lot of that is just the excitement of trying something new. Cheap plastic drippers can work fine, but they have trouble keeping temperature stable which can mess with flavor on darker roasts. I've had a few cheap gadgets surprise me too, but it's more about technique than the gear itself.

the_stella1d ago

The Aeropress was my first real "aha" moment for that exact reason, @kelly61. I remember brewing with a plastic V60 for months (you know, the one that came with my starter kit) and thinking it was fine until I tried a ceramic one at a friend's place. The difference in heat retention was honestly night and day for me, especially with darker roasts where that little extra temp drop really hits the bitterness. I used to be all "gear doesn't matter" until I felt how much a cheap plastic cone can suck the life out of a cup.