A steep-and-release dripper brews by immersion with the valve closed, then drains through paper.
The setting
Medium, similar to a Kalita Wave or a filter machine. Coarse sand.
Why not coarser
Unlike a French press, the brew drains through paper, so fines do not end up in the cup. You can grind finer than press without muddiness.
Why not finer
The draw-down still has to happen. Too fine and the paper clogs, the drain stalls, and the brew over-extracts while it waits.
Target a 45 to 60 second drain after opening the valve. Much longer means grind coarser.
Why grind is not the main lever here
In a percolation brewer, grind controls contact time. In this brewer, you control contact time with the timer.
That makes steep time the primary adjustment:
Sour and thin — steep longer, 2 minutes rather than 90 seconds. Bitter and heavy — steep shorter.
Grind stays put and controls only the drain.
Why this is forgiving
There is no pour technique to get wrong. Every particle sees the same water for the same time, and the paper cleans it up on the way out.
If your pour-overs are inconsistent, this brewer will be consistent tomorrow with no new skill.
The starting recipe
15 g coffee, 250 g water at 94 °C, stir once, steep 90 seconds, open the valve.
Last reviewed 8 August 2026