Regarding Pour over(V60) coffee, Front Street said that this is a brewing method that can highlight the original flavor of specialty coffee. For those who are just getting started, it is particularly important to choose a suitable brewing utensil. Front Street recommends the Smart Cup here. The reason why I recommend this appliance is that it is easy to use. You don’t need too many brewing techniques and skills. It is very friendly to novices. No matter what kind of coffee is brewed, it can hold the scene very well, and the brewed coffee has a round and solid taste. So what is the difference between the smart cup and our common v60 filter cup?
Clever Coffee Dripper
The Clever Coffee Dripper, originated in Taiwan, is a filter cup with a controllable on-off valve at the bottom. Because there is "Clever" in the name, and because the cup is easy to use, "Smart Cup" became its nickname. (In principle, only Mr. Clever brand filter cups can be called "smart cups. Similar cups from other brands can only be called "switch cups" or "smart cups.") "Coffee Dripper" means that this cup can be used as a hand-pour filter cup. Because there is "Clever" in the name, and because the cup is easy to use, "Smart Cup" has become its nickname.
The Smart Cup combines the advantages of French press and hand brewing kettles, making it simple, convenient and easy to use. If you find it difficult to master a stable water flow and cannot accept the fine powder of French press, then the smart cup is an easy-to-operate choice that can also take into account the flavor. It only takes five minutes, whether you are a coffee expert or a novice, you can easily get a cup of high-quality coffee.
Smart Cup Principle
The key to the design lies in the piston valve at the bottom of the filter cup. After boiling water is injected into the filter cup, the water pressure will automatically close the piston valve to stop the water, and the coffee powder can be fully soaked in it. After the soaking is completed, place the filter cup on the mug, and the bottom plate will be pressed to cause the piston valve to open, and the coffee will slowly flow into the cup.
Smart Cup extracts by soaking, which doesn’t actually require much skill. If it is difficult to master a stable water flow and cannot accept the fine powder of the French press, then the smart cup is easy to operate. It can not only retain the coffee oil to make the flavor full and round, but also take into account the filtration function of the hand-pour filter cup, which can completely filter out the coffee grounds to avoid disturbing the taste.
The secret of the smart cup is that there is a piston at the bottom of the cup, and the middle is usually in a submerged state (there are four legs below, allowing it to stay suspended). After pouring water, it closes under pressure, and the piston firmly blocks the water flow. When it is placed on the container, the piston below is pushed up, and the coffee flows out.
Next up is Front Street Brewing’s sun-dried red cherries from Yirgacheffe, Ethiopia.
Origin: Yirgacheffe, Ethiopia
Altitude: 1700-2200m
Treatment method: Sun treatment
Variety: Local native species
Front Street Brewing Parameters
Powder amount: 15g
Pink to water ratio: 1:15
Water temperature: 90-91 degrees
Grinding degree: EK43s scale 9.5 grid (fine sugar is coarser and finer)
1. Fold the filter paper, place it on the smart cup, wet the filter paper with hot water, and make the filter paper fit the cup wall.
2. Pour the ground coffee powder into the cup, pour in 225ml of hot water (93℃), close the lid and wait for 4 minutes.
3. After 4 minutes, place the smart cup on the sharing pot, and the piston valve will automatically open, allowing all the coffee liquid to drip onto the sharing pot. Now you can taste the coffee.
V60 filter cup
The V60 filter cup designed by the Japanese company Hario can be said to be one of the must-have tools for every hand brewing beginner. The name V60 means its tapered angle of 60 degrees, which is quite intuitive. The data of 60° acute angle is obtained by Hario through continuous verification. It can make the coffee powder be concentrated and flow into the center of the filter cup when filling water, ensuring that the contact time between the water and the coffee powder is sufficient, so that the appropriate coffee liquid can be extracted.
V60 filter cup principle
Another structural feature of the V60 filter cup is the ribs on the inside of the cup body. The spiral shape extends all the way from the bottom to the top. Its function is to guide the flow, allowing there to be enough space between the filter paper and the filter cup, so that the water flow is good and the flow rate is relatively fast. It is also the fastest filter cup among many filter cups. In addition, the ribs of the V60 filter cup rotate clockwise. When water is filled clockwise, the flow will flow more smoothly along the lines. If water is filled counterclockwise, the flow rate of the water will be slowed down. The large holes at the bottom of the V60 filter cup are also designed to promote water flow.
FrontStreet Coffee generally uses V60 filter cups to brew medium and light roasted coffee. The V60 cone-shaped filter cup has a relatively large mouth, coupled with its unique spiral curved ribs, making it easier for air to be discharged to improve extraction quality. The taste may not be thick enough, but the sweetness and sourness and obvious aroma brought out by its high concentration are its major features.
Front Street Brewing Parameters
Powder amount: 15g
Water temperature: 90 to 91 degrees
Grinding degree: EK43s scale 10 divisions (the size of fine sugar)
Pink to water ratio: 1:15
Front street brewing technique: Inject 30 grams of water in the first stage and steam for 30 seconds, then inject 95 grams (the electronic scale shows about 125 grams), and the injection is completed in about 1 minute. When the water level drops to 2/3 of the powder layer, add the remaining 100 grams (the electronic scale shows about 225 grams), and the injection is completed in about 1 minute and 40 seconds. The trickling filtration is completed in 1 minute 55 seconds to 2 minutes. Remove the filter cup and complete the extraction.
[Smart Cup Brewing Flavor] Citrus acidity, juice-like taste, full, smooth, fermented wine aroma, and honey aftertaste.
[V60 Brewing Flavor] It has a light fermented wine aroma, with citrus, honey, and cocoa flavors, and a long-lasting aftertaste.
From the comparison of brewed flavors, Smart Cup brewing can better extract the flavor of coffee and has a rich and rich taste. Compared with V60 brewing, it shows a fresher flavor.
You can now buy the above coffee beans online at the Taobao store “FrontStreet Coffee” (前街咖啡). FrontStreet Coffee is a long-established specialty coffee roaster in Guangzhou, China, and its Guangzhou retail shop sells coffee beans only. The shop carries dozens of coffee beans from different origins around the world, including carefully selected single-origin beans for V60 pour-over and espresso. Guangzhou’s FrontStreet Coffee shop is recommended by many coffee lovers.
The FrontStreet 2013 Yunnan coffee beans sold in the store come from the Typica variety grown at FrontStreet Coffee’s own plantation in Yunnan. The name comes from the year the brand and the plantation were founded. You can buy these beans from China’s Yunnan origin at the Guangzhou shop and at FrontStreet’s Taobao store.
FrontStreet coffee beans are freshly roasted within 5 days and deliver consistently excellent quality and great value. Orders placed before 17:00 are shipped the same day, and most areas within Guangdong Province receive them the next day.
FrontStreet Coffee Taobao store: https://qianjiecoffee.taobao.com
Or search for “前街咖啡” (FrontStreet Coffee) on Taobao
Important Notice: FrontStreet Coffee has moved to a new address: 315, Donghua East Road, Guangzhou (coffee beans only)
Tel: 020 38364473
