Stop Buying Brewers: Try Different Filters

I started this episode planning to convince everyone why flatbed brewers are superior to cone-shaped filters because of their more even coffee bed distribution. But after testing both methods over the past few days, I realized I needed to talk about something more important—how to explore different brewing styles without buying more gear. I've been a cone-shaped filter devotee for years, even looking down on flatbed brewers and their ridge designs. But lately, I've discovered that cone filters make my coffee punch way too hard with acidity, while flatbed filters mellow everything out and bring more sweetness into perspective. The revelation here isn't about which brewer is "best"—it's about understanding that our preferences change, and we can experiment with different flavor profiles using simple accessories.

By listening to this episode, you'll learn how to transform your existing pour-over setup using different filter styles without spending money on new equipment, understand how cone versus flatbed filters affect acidity and sweetness in your cup, and develop a more flexible approach to coffee brewing that prioritizes personal taste over online recommendations. I'll share why buying flatbed filters for your current V60 might give you more brewing versatility than purchasing an entirely new brewer.

Chapters

• 0:00 Intro
• 0:42 My Coffee Gear Collection and Setup
• 1:50 How Flatbed Filters Mellow Acidity
• 3:09 Why I Was Wrong About Cone-Shaped Filters
• 4:00 Pushing Your Palate and Trying New Things
• 5:12 The Subtle But Important Differences
• 6:04 You Don't Need New Gear: Use Your V60
• 6:58 Accessories vs. Equipment: The Smart Approach
• 8:30 Why Your Opinion Matters More Than Mine

Transcript

[00:00] I was going to talk about how mostly everybody should be using the flatbed brewer, just because of how more evenly distributed the coffee bed is compared to a cone-shaped filter brewer.

[00:09] But then as I was testing out this theory again for the past couple of days, I think I want to talk about something different, something else, something that is probably more relevant to what you're trying to do in your coffee journey.

[00:40] As you can see back there, or kind of really in front of me, I have a lot of coffee gear. Most of them are cone-shaped filters, cone-shaped brewers, but there are a handful of flatbed brewers that I do have.

[01:45] A lot of us know, and you have the April Brewer and then I have the Origami back there too.

[02:11] And I have a lot of time to do that. Our possibilities of making coffees that we like and enjoy are there. Because that's the biggest thing here.

[02:21] Because there are times that I prefer a cone-shaped brewer over a flatbed brewer. But lately, what I've noticed and realized, at least for me, is that the acidity punches way too hard with a cone-shaped filter.

[02:44] Whenever I use a flatbed, it tones it down. Not in a bad negative way. It kind of puts everything into more perspective, that makes any sense. There's no crazy highlight of acidity here.

[03:01] That just kind of stays and lingers and just does this thing. But it just mellows and smooths it out.

[03:10] Sometimes I can taste a little bit more sweetness from a flatbed brewer than a cone shape. And I don't know if that's more so the coffee. I don't know if that's just me tasting coffee differently now.

[03:26] And this is coming from a person who has been a cone-shaped filter person for a very long time.

[03:37] I was against this whole flatbed thing. I didn't like the way the ridges were and all that stuff. But when you look past that and actually see what we're really trying to do here, it works. It works because we're just trying to make the best coffee for ourselves for that particular time. And when we do that and when we understand that.

[04:00] And I look down at people who were doing the 1-6-8 and I do a 1-6-8.

[04:23] And then even with the coffee thing, I'm like wow.

[04:44] I'm not so much of an espresso guy. I understand it. I get it. But I'm a pour-over guy. I'm not so much of a French press. But when we understand and just try things for what they are to understand and to trust and push our palates, we probably realized that more than anything we probably like that other thing more than we thought that we did.

[05:12] And that's the case here. Like I said, I've been making coffee flatbed for the past couple days specifically. And then I'll switch back to cone and it's kind of trippy really. I think I've talked about how it is always going to be something that we're always going to come back to. But the thing about it is that.

[05:39] This is subtle. The differences is there, it's evident.

[05:46] But it's subtle enough where you can actually understand coffee and prefer something.

[05:53] So that's what I prefer. I don't really have recipes for you.

[05:58] I've tried different things, different pours, different techniques, all of it really works.

[06:03] But one of the biggest things, biggest takeaways here that I want to give you is that if you already have a Hario V60, you're good and golden.

[06:17] So just get a couple different flatbed filters and try them out on your cone-shape brewer because it works. It'll do the same job. It'll get you to see what you like in that particular coffee for that particular moment.

[06:36] And then once you decide on which flavor profile that you prefer for that coffee, then go along with that journey.

[06:46] And I think that's the cool thing about it. Because yes, even though I may think that most people may prefer or should use a flatbed brewer, it's also one of those things where...

[07:16] And I think the cool thing about this is that yeah, is it about gear? Sure. But it's more about accessories to help you get there, especially if you're already using something to an extent.

[07:30] For instance, if you're used to just using a cone-shape filter, you probably realize that it is way too punchy in your mouth, at least for me, as I stated earlier.

[07:47] But then as you get that particular coffee, that exact same coffee and you get it to where it's punchy, but not loud, but smooth, but still talks to you. You can also get something to where it kind of just works.

[08:15] And if we can push ourselves with the accessories, even though it is a part of the gear, but since we throw away the filter every time we use or make a cup of coffee, we can explore that way.

[08:47] And as we understand that, gravitate to that way of thinking, that way of logic, then you'll be able to understand that. And our imaginations are going to take over, our taste buds are going to take us on this journey for whatever we're trying to do.

[09:09] Because I can tell you that this gear is best for this for this reason, or that, or this one sucks because I just don't like it anymore. But that's really irresponsible and irrelevant. It doesn't matter what I say or do.

[09:28] It's all about what you want to do and what you care about and why you care about it. And again, it can change for that moment.

[09:37] It could change forever.

[09:39] But at least we know that we have the possibilities of tasting coffee with whatever gear that we do have. Even if it is this funky design right here, I can take a cone-shape filter and a flatbed filter. You know, it all works. And I think that's the beauty of this and I think that's one reason why I really truly like this one because they leaned into it. They're like, hey, guys, you can use whatever filter you want to for the most part, it'll work in this particular way.

[10:17] So that's my logic. That's my thing. That's what I have for you right now. Do you have different brewers? Are you thinking about getting another brewer because you don't have it? Or somebody's talking about it? If you can, you can. If you already have a $10 Hario V60, I just buy some filters.

[10:51] Some flatbed filters.

[10:55] And just see what it's all about. Because at the end of the day, that's all that we're trying to do. We're trying to see what works for us for that moment.

[11:03] So this is Oki, everyday beans signing off. Let me know what you think. Talk to you later.