The Cafec Flower Dripper is a cone-shaped brewer that got famous in Japan back in 2019 when Daiki Hatakeyama used it to win the Japan Brewers Cup. He used this dripper again in the 2021 World Brewers Cup to win runner-up.
Like most recipes for coffee competitions, Daiki’s recipe was made for the specific coffee he used. He also used two different temperatures to brew his coffee – making his recipe difficult to replicate.
So, what recipe can you use to brew any coffee using this dripper? Read on to find out.
Recipe
- Dose (g): 12
- Total amount (ml): 200
- Ratio: 1:16
- Filter size: cup1 size
- Grind size: medium fine
- Water temperature: 96°C / 205°F
- Pouring pattern (ml): 40 – 80 – 80
- Pouring intervals (minutes to seconds): 40s bloom, do the next pour and finish around 1:00. Let it drain and do the last pour around 1:20 and finish by 1:40
- Total time (minutes to seconds): Between 2:35 to 2:50
Dose and brewer size
With cone brewers, I tend to prefer using the smaller sizes to get a wider coffee bed. That said, a smaller brewer size will require a smaller dose.
The same amount of coffee on a larger cone will have a narrower coffee bed. This means more uneven extraction since the layer on top is wider than at the bottom.
That isn’t exactly a bad thing though since that can contribute to more complexity in the cup. With that, though, it’s harder to be as consistent from one brew to another.
Grind size
Similar to a V60, the Flower Dripper encourages finer grind sizes for pour over. But the right grind size for the Flower Dripper isn’t identical with the V60.
Referencing some common grinders, settings would be:
- 1zPresso JX – 54 to 60 clicks
- Comandate C40 – 18 to 20 clicks
- Baratza Encore – 10 to 12
- Wilfa Uniform – 18 to 20
Take note though that these are just ballpark settings. Different grinders will be calibrated a little differently, even if it’s the same model. Different coffees will also have different particle sizes, even when ground on the same setting.
Alternatively, if you have a V60 and have a go-to setting, go one notch finer than your standard V60 grind size as a rule of thumb.
Pouring pattern
Since the Flower Dripper is still a cone dripper, my approach to it is still similar to how I’d brew with a V60. But with some tweaks to adjust to the dripper’s own quirks.
Like most of our recipes, start with a 40ml bloom and wait for 40 seconds to let the coffee degas. Grab the brewer and swirl the coffee bed to make sure the water hits all the coffee grounds.
After the bloom, pour 80ml (target at 120ml on the scale). Pour 70ml in a circle and the last 10ml down the center for a more accurate pour. This pour should be done at the 1 minute mark.
After pouring, do another swirl. Agitating at this part of the brew helps extract more vibrancy. It also helps slow down the flow rate.
Let the coffee drain for 20 seconds and do the last pour at 1 minute and 20 seconds (1:20). For easy remembering, it’s 1:20 at 120ml.
Pouring will be identical to the previous one. 70ml in a circle and the last 10ml in the center. Target reading on the scale is at 200ml.
This pulse should finish by 1 minute and 40 seconds (1:40). No need to swirl the coffee bed after this pour. Otherwise, the coffee would take too long to drain.
Let the coffee drain and serve. Total brewing time should be between 2 minutes and 30 seconds (2:30) to 2 minutes and 50 seconds (2:50), depending on the coffee you have.
Don’t be too worried if the final coffee bed isn’t flat after the coffee draws down. It’s more important to get the coffee bed to be even at the start of the brew than at the end since that’s when most of the flavors get extracted.
Read more about Coffee Extraction
Understanding the Cafec Flower Dripper
Flavor profile
As a cone dripper, brews on the Flower share many similarities with other cones, like the V60 and Origami. Since brews on the Origami taste very similar to the V60, I was expecting the same for this dripper.
Turns out, even with the same V60 recipe, brews on the Flower would naturally produce sweeter brews than the V60. Brews with it are also more balanced in comparison.
On the flip side, however, brews are not as vibrant as with the V60. This is something I had to tweak the recipe for by adding more initial agitation. The result is a vibrant but balanced cup that’s light in body.
Flow rate
The flower-shaped ridges on this dripper aren’t just to make it look pretty. They are there to help prevent the paper filter from sticking to the walls of the brewer.
When the filter gets too close to the walls, it causes an air lock. This slows down the brew because the pressure from the walls will basically create a clogging effect.
Since the flower ridges give the paper filter more room to breathe, water can go through the coffee much faster. Because of this faster flow rate, you can actually grind finer to get more sweetness and higher levels of extraction.
Another reason for the faster flow rate with the Flower Dripper is the paper filters that are supposed to be used with it. You can use the same paper filters as with the Hario and vice versa. But Cafec’s filters tend to be thinner (and arguably better quality) – which allow for a faster flow rate, still.
One downside of the Cafec’s construction though is that it is prone to bypass. Because the paper filter has some space between the walls of the brewer, some of the water you pour might miss the coffee and just flow through the sides of the filter.
One easy workaround to prevent bypass is to fold the excess paper over the top of the brewer walls (like in the preview photo). This works because it forces the filter to sit a closer to walls of the brewer while still giving enough room for air to flow so clogging isn’t an issue.
Material
This brewer comes in plastic or ceramic. Like most drippers, the plastic version retains heat better and produces a better cup overall. But, in terms of design, you’ll only be able to get the clear plastic one since no colored versions are available.
The ceramic version comes in matte black, white, pink, yellow, green, and blue.
There are 2 sizes available for this dripper. Cup1, as the name suggests, makes just 1 cup. And Cup4, makes 1 to 4 cups.
Final thoughts
The Cafec Flower is great if you’re looking for a cone dripper with a lot more balance. Because of this, it’s also easier to calibrate than a V60.
Its brews sit in between a cone (for its light body) and a flat bottom (for its balance). Because of that, it’s a great daily driver of a brewer. It’s also great for beginners who want a more complex cup than with a flat bottom.
About the Author
Daniel Yu
Daniel is the head author of Project Barista. Since 2016, he discovered his passion for specialty coffee. His personal mission is to share everything he’s learned over the years.