Comment by 🛞 MaAkThRsYoOySrHtKaAm
@Homer Thanks for that. My line of thinking was that if the bitterness goes into the coffee without letting it bloom first, then the first part would have some of that bitterness. However, if the gasses haven't had time to escape into that first pour it wouldn't make a difference. @Half_Elf_Monk I will try this as well. Thanks. I have pour over dripper made by Bialetti. It is just a black resin of some type. They also make a ceramic one in the same shape. It has more of a round design with a fairly large hole. As opposed to those with more of a wedge shape. I use a reusable mesh filter. Whhch could use an upgrade. Itwas a cheap one off the shelf and probably toxic.
2025-11-03 · 6 months ago
5 Later Comments ↓
🛞 MaAkThRsYoOySrHtKaAm [OP] · 2025-11-04 at 08:48:
BTW I tried the first bit from wetting the grounds and it's delicious.
🌲 Half_Elf_Monk · Nov 16 at 00:32:
I tried a reuseable mesh filter once, and it got clogged up after a few uses. I tried a variety of methods of cleaning it (including a couple pages of google results), but to no avail. So it was back to paper filters.
🛞 MaAkThRsYoOySrHtKaAm [OP] · Nov 16 at 14:42:
@Half_Elf_Monk Do you use a very fine ground? I have just gotten a new Zulay stainless steel filter. It feels cool, but I haven't used it yet. I will report back. As far as the grinds I'm using, I have a Baratza grinder set to 20. Whatever that means... Not sure if this is an arbitrary setting or some kind of industry standards are involved. I just know I generally go for more of a medium grind for filters and the cheap reusable one hasn't had issue with clogging. Which would certainly make me want to go back to paper as well.
🌲 Half_Elf_Monk · Nov 23 at 00:43:
@matryoshka - The first time I tried, it was one of those spinning grinders that can't select a size. Later on I got an adjustable grinder, and tried again... The mesh filter still didn't work. I'm not sure what was clogging the fine mesh. Water went through just fine, but nothing with ground beans did. Maybe I'll dig it out and try again after a few years. Idk.
🛞 MaAkThRsYoOySrHtKaAm [OP] · Nov 23 at 10:35:
I have met a half-elf and I have met a monk, but never before, sir, have I met a half-elf monk.
Happy to say that this filter is working well so far. It's almost hard to believe it is stainless steel because it feels like silk. No grounds at the bottom of the mug. No clogging. Just doing what a filter should do. The only part of the process I don't care for is dumping the grounds out after.
The lower quality mesh filter has a plastic frame. This makes it easy to dump the grinds by flicking the frame a couple of times. The new one is a cone shape and being a flimsy cloth-like material, the grounds clump down inside and I have to scrape them out. Then I rinse the remaining bits out in the sink. I don't like doing that because grounds tend to cause clogged drains. So I'm still trying to figure this part out. Maybe submerging with in a bowl of water will work. Yeh... Then I'll just wait for the water to evaporate and VOILÀ!
Original Post
Letting It Bloom — Don't care for bitter coffee? The key to a really good pour-over is a simple technique called letting the grounds bloom. This changed my life. The term refers to the way the grounds look afterwards as they open up a bit from releasing the carbon dioxide. How to Brew an Excellent Cup Every Time Regardless of the $6 Dunkin Grind from Walmart 1. Bring water to boil. Just below boiling point is the perfect temperature. 2. Soak those grounds! Be sure to pour enough to completely...