CLEVER DRIPPER REVIEW: WHY YOU SHOULD OR SHOULDN’T GET IT

With manual coffee, there is a hard way, and there is an easy way. The Clever Dripper is the easy way.

Photo: Steven Holms (video reviewer)

In my experience, not only does it make reliably delicious coffee, but it’s a fantastic learning tool for anyone interested in the art of pour over brewing.

I spent several months testing it. In this review, I’ll review the pros and cons of its clever design. Let’s find out if it’s the approachable initiation to manual coffee you’ve been waiting for.

The Full Clever Dripper Review

The design of the Clever Dripper simplifies manual coffee, making it one of my favorite pour over brewers. It’s easy to use but still makes a killer cup of coffee, thanks to a valve on the bottom that lets you hold hot water in the cone during brewing, yielding a reliable rich, immersion-style brew.

How We Rated It

• Aesthetic Appeal
• Ease Of Use
• Coffee Flavor
• Portability
• Value for Money

4.3

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Is the Clever Dripper right for you? That depends on your experience level and your preference for consistency versus control. Read on for the details.

Design And Aesthetics

The Clever Dripper consists of a simple conical brewing chamber, with a base to balance it atop a mug or carafe and a handle for easy maneuvering. A locking mechanism in the base holds hot water in the cone until you release it, distinguishing it from standard pour over cones. It also includes a lid – key for heat retention during the steeping time of an immersion-style brew – and a little base to sit on during brewing and catch any drips afterward.

There is no fiddling with little switches or turning tiny knobs. I don’t need that kind of hassle first thing in the morning. Just beware that it only works with mugs or travel mugs between 1.5 and 3.5 inches in diameter.

The Clever Dripper isn’t winning any design awards. It’s not as gorgeous as the Origami coffee dripper. The levers, springs, valves, and vanes give it a visually indistinct look that can’t compare with the clean lines of something like the Chemex or a Hario V60 (1). And it’s not quite funky enough to carry off an industrial-loft vibe.

It’s made from durable BPA-free Tritan plastic, one of the most popular heat-safe plastics in the post-BPA era (2). It’s the same material found in the new Aeropress Clear. It’s available in two colors, clear or opaque black. While the black has a slightly sleeker look, I much prefer the clear model so I can see my coffee brew.

Once upon a time, there were two sizes of Clever Dripper, but the company appears to have made the smart decision to scrap the smaller model. I found the larger (now only) size to be perfectly capable of brewing single cups, so there was really no reason for a smaller model. 

The Clever uses standard #4 filters and, in my experience, is ideal for brewing between 8 and 16 ounces.

How To Use The Clever Dripper

The Clever Dripper is one of the easiest, most hassle-free devices I’ve used to make consistently high-quality manual coffee. With the special locking feature, you can effortlessly control the steeping time and filtration. That means no worrying about your pouring rate, pattern, or smoothness.

Skill-wise, it’s similar to brewing with a French press. You only need to dial in the water temperature (between 195 and 205 F), grind size (medium), the coffee-to-water ratio (I like 1:16), and steep time (between 2 and 4 minutes). 

Compared to more “advanced” brewers like the V60, the Clever offers a lot of leeway when dialing in those variables. You’ll enjoy a tasty cup even if you don’t get them all just right.

Here is the recipe I’ve been using, but you may want to slightly adjust the details depending on your preferences and choice of coffee beans.

1. Place a paper filter in the Clever Dripper set on your mug to open the valve.
2. Rinse the filter, dripper, and mug with boiling water to pre-heat everything.
3. Remove the dripper from the mug and add 20 grams of medium-ground coffee.
4. Add 11 ounces of hot water at 200 F.
5. Put the lid on the cone and steep for 3 minutes.
6. Set the dripper back on the mug to release the brewed coffee.

I experimented with stirring and various bloom times but didn’t note a significant difference in my coffee flavor. Just ensure all the grounds are saturated. 

If you want all the details on how to brew with this dripper, Steven walks you through it step by step in this video:

One potential pitfall is that it is technically possible to accidentally release the coffee if you set the dripper down on something that would trigger the valve to open. Always keep it on a flat surface, like the base it comes with, while it steeps.

A Note On Cleaning

Beware that the Clever Dripper is not dishwasher-safe, so plan on cleaning it by hand. I generally just rinse mine under hot water after brewing. The paper filter does a good job of keeping any grit out of the valve mechanism. Once a week or so, I’ll use warm soapy water to remove any coffee residue.

So, How’s The Coffee?

The Clever Dripper brews excellent coffee. Like any manual brewing method, coffee quality depends largely on your recipe and choice of beans, but thanks to the immersion brewing style, it is very difficult to brew a bad cup of coffee with this device.

Immersion Vs Infusion Brewing

One thing I love about the Clever Dripper is its versatility. It’s essentially two brewers in one, making two different styles of coffee.

When used as intended, it’s an immersion brewer. The ground coffee steeps in hot water throughout the extraction time, yielding a robust and full-bodied cup. 

But if you set it on a mug so that the valve is open during brewing, it becomes an infusion brewer – just like a standard pour over dripper. This method yields a more nuanced and complex cup, perfect for showcasing exotic single-origin beans (3).

The immersion method is very forgiving. It’s perfect for beginners or anyone without coffee gear like a scale, grinder, and gooseneck kettle. On the other hand, the infusion method helps you develop your barista skills, rewarding a steady pour and perfect recipe.

Another fun thing I discovered is that the Clever is great for making iced coffee! With the immersion method, you can easily control coffee intensity. Increase your coffee-to-water ratio and steep time to brew an extra-strong serving, perfect for chilling and serving over ice.

Metal Vs Paper Filters

The immersion brewing method is typically associated with the French press, but don’t expect French press coffee from the Clever Dripper. It uses a paper rather than metal filter, so it produces a cleaner cup than a French press, with a lighter body, less oily mouthfeel, and no silt at the bottom of your mug.

A Great Coffee Maker To Take On The Road

If you travel a lot, the Clever Dripper is a great choice for several reasons. 

• It’s made of BPA-free plastic and weighs about 9 ounces, which is much lighter than ceramic, glass, or metal. 
• It’s substantially more durable than a glass coffee maker, but it can crack if shoved at the bottom of a backpack. So pack with care.
• The forgiving nature of the Clever makes it ideal for situations when you might not don’t have all your coffee gear, like camping. You’ll get a tasty cup even if you eyeball a few scoops of pre-ground coffee.
• I love the Clever for longer trips so I can mix up my coffee routine, swapping back and forth between immersion and infusion brewing.

The only thing to bear in mind when traveling with the Clever Dripper is that it has a few more bits and pieces than a typical pour over cone. Keep an eye on the lid and base so they don’t get lost in the shuffle.

Is The Clever Dripper Worth The Price?

The Clever Dripper is absolutely worth the price, in my opinion. I paid $25 plus tax and shipping, and I’ve seen it on sale for as low as $20. That’s not quite as affordable as the cheapest pour over coffee makers, like the plastic Hario V60 or Melitta cone, but it’s actually better value when you remember it’s more like two brewers in one. 

Considering running costs, the Clever Dripper fits a standard #4 paper filter. These paper filters are inexpensive and readily available.

Brand	HandyBrew	Hario	Kalita	Chemex	Zero	Origami	Hario	Goat Story	Hario	Hario
Model	Clever Dripper	V60	Wave	Chemex	Bee House Dripper	Origami Dripper	Woodneck	Gina	W60	Switch
Coffee Style	Pour over, immersion	Pour over	Pour over	Pour over	Pour over	Pour over	Drip pot	Pour over, immersion, slow drip cold brew	Pour over	Pour over, immersion
Shape	Conical	Conical	Flat-bottom	Conical	Wedge	Conical	Conical	Conical + carafe	Conical	Conical
Flow control	Small hole with valve	One large hole	Three small holes	One large hole	Two small holes	One large hole	One large hole	Small hole with valve	One large hole	Small hole with valve
Available sizes	One size (1-4 cups)	01 (1-2 cups), 02 (1-4 cups), 03 (1-6 cups)	155 (1-2 cups), 185 (1-4 cups)	3 cups, 6 cups, 8 cups, 10 cups	Small (1-2 cups), large (1-5 cups)	Small (1-2 cups), medium (1-4 cups)	Small (1-2 cups), large (1-4 cups)	One size (1-5 cups)	02 (1-4 cups)	02 (1-4 cups), 03 (1-6 cups)
Available materials	Tritan plastic	Plastic, glass, ceramic, stainless steel, copper	Stainless steel, ceramic, glass, Tsubame steel	Borosilicate glass	Ceramic	Ceramic, AS resin	Heat-proof glass	Ceramic	Ceramic	Heat-proof glass
Baseplate included	Yes	Yes	Yes	Includes carafe	Yes	No	Includes carafe	Includes carafe and stand	Yes	Yes
Dishwasher safe	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Filters	Standard conical filters	Conical V60 filters	Flat-bottom wave filters	Double-bonded Chemex filters	Standard conical filters	Standard conical filters	Hario handled cloth filters	Standard conical filters	Conical resin mesh	Conical V60 filters
Weight	9 oz	14 oz	5.6 oz	21.6 oz	7.2 oz	6.4 oz	14 oz	49 oz	17.6 oz	17.6 oz
Dimensions	6" x 5" x 6"	5.5” x 4.7” x 4.0”	2.8’ x 4” x 4.4”	8.5” x 5.3” x 5.3”	3.5” x 4.5” x 4.5”	3.4” x 5.5” x 5.5”	3.7" x 3.7" x 6.6"	6.0" x 6.7" x 13.8"	6.2" x 5" x 4.3"	4.6" x 4.5" x 5.2"
Current Price	$25.00	$20.00	$39.99	$49.50	$23.99	$40.00	$28.40	$190.00	$43.50	$44.50
	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE

Don’t Buy The Clever Dripper If…

• You prefer a glass dripper – Hario has recently released its own 2-in-1 brewer called the Switch, which uses the same glass cone as the Hario V60. Like the Clever, it’s an immersion brewer that doubles as a percolation brewer. Read our Hario Switch review for details.
• You want to brew larger volumes – The Clever Dripper brews a maximum of about 16 ounces – enough for two cups at a time. If you want to serve a crowd efficiently, consider a coffee maker with more volume like the Chemex, which comes in 6, 8, and 10-cup sizes.
• You want something closer to an espresso – The Clever Dripper yields a stronger brew than a typical pour over. But for a concentrated shot more like an espresso, check out the AeroPress, which is a mix between immersion and pump-driven coffee.
• You want a fuller-bodied coffee – When it comes to immersion brewers, most people will think of the French press. It’s as simple to use as the Clever Dripper but uses a metal filter to produce a more robust coffee coffee. Plus, you don’t need to buy paper filters or generate waste.

The Verdict

The Clever Dripper is one of the best coffee makers to buy if you’re ready to take your first steps into the delicious world of manual coffee. Its novel design allows for easy brewing without placing too much emphasis on technique.

You can use the Clever Coffee maker either as an immersion brewer for a no-hassle cup or as a pour over cone to practice and experiment. It’s a brewer that grows with you as your skills develop, making it an exceptional value and one of my favorite coffee drippers.

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