Correct and Incorrect Brewing Methods for Drip Coffee Bags - Why Drip Coffee Bags Should Not Be Brewed Directly

Introduction

Drip bag coffee is often the first step for many coffee beginners entering the world of single-origin coffee! No complex equipment are needed, and the brewing process doesn't require the same caution as pour-over coffee. With just one drip bag, a pot of hot water, and a cup, you can easily obtain a cup of single-origin coffee with aromatic fragrance and rich, full-bodied taste.

What is a Drip Bag Coffee?

The design concept of drip bag coffee comes from hanging string tea bags, originally named "one-cup extraction coffee." However, coffee grounds cannot be directly soaked in water like tea bags, so the inventor ingeniously simulated filter cup drip coffee by suspending a non-woven fabric filter bag containing coffee grounds in the center of a cup.

After continuous research, two extendable paper pieces were eventually added to both sides of the filter bag. When pulled open, these allow the filter bag to hang suspended in the center of the cup. Because they hook onto both sides of the cup like small ears, people affectionately call it "drip bag coffee."

Incorrect Drip Bag Coffee Brewing Methods

Error 1: Brewing as Instant Coffee

Drip bag coffee is not instant coffee, drip bag coffee is not instant coffee, drip bag coffee is not instant coffee! Instant coffee is made by drying extracted coffee liquid into powder through drying technology, which is why hot water can restore a cup of coffee immediately.

FrontStreet Coffee produces drip bag coffee by grinding fresh coffee beans directly into medium-fine coffee grounds. However, only about 30% of the flavor compounds in these coffee grounds are water-soluble, while the remaining 70% are insoluble woody fibers (also known as coffee grounds). Therefore, if you open the drip bag and pour the coffee grounds directly into a cup for brewing, not only will you get a cup of black coffee, but you'll also get a mouthful of coffee grounds~

Error 2: Direct Soaking

Drip bag coffee is not a tea bag; you cannot simply soak it in water to extract coffee! Because the coffee grounds used in drip bags are ground to a relatively fine consistency, with each package containing about 10 grams. When the drip bag hangs in the cup, the coffee grounds accumulate in the center of the filter bag, forming a relatively thick layer of grounds.

If you don't tear open the seal and pour water into the center of the coffee grounds, but instead directly pour water over the surface of the filter bag for soaking, the center of the coffee grounds layer cannot be wetted, or it would require a long soaking time to become wet. The coffee grounds close to the filter bag will release woody flavors after releasing their flavors. Since not all coffee grounds participate in the entire extraction process, you will only end up with coffee water that is both flavorless and has woody, paper-like flavors (hot water also soaks the paper supports of the drip bag).

Error 3: Pouring Too Much Water at Once

Many people use a kettle directly when brewing drip bag coffee. Because the kettle's spout diameter is relatively large, it's easy to fill the coffee filter bag all at once, causing coffee grounds to leak out along the liquid surface, greatly diminishing the taste when drinking the coffee.

Error 4: Using Too Small/Short Containers for Brewing

FrontStreet Coffee recommends adding 150g of hot water to one 10g drip bag, which can extract about 140-145g of coffee liquid. If the container is too small/short, the coffee liquid level will continuously soak the bottom of the drip bag during brewing. The coffee grounds at the bottom will continuously be extracted for coffee flavor, easily causing the coffee to develop bitter tastes.

Correct Drip Bag Coffee Brewing Methods

Correct 1: Choose a Taller Brewing Container

Try to choose a taller cup or pot for brewing, ensuring there's a certain distance between the drip bag coffee and the extracted coffee liquid level.

Correct 2: Water Temperature for Brewing Drip Bag Coffee Should Not Exceed 92°C or Be Below 88°C

Soluble flavor molecules in medium-fine ground coffee require appropriate temperatures to be better released. FrontStreet Coffee suggests using water temperatures of 90°C-92°C for light-to-medium roast drip bag coffee (with floral/berry/citrus notes); 89°C-90°C water for medium roast drip bags (with nutty/cocoa notes); and 88°C-89°C water for medium-dark roast drip bags (with herbal/spice/dark chocolate notes).

Correct 3: Pour Hot Water in Small Amounts Multiple Times

It's best to have a small coffee pouring kettle at this point, as it can control the water flow to pour into the coffee grounds, ensuring they are evenly wetted and extracted. If you don't have one, it's okay too—just pour water in small amounts multiple times, don't fill the filter bag all at once.

Correct 4: Drip Bag Coffee Brewing Ratio is 1:15

FrontStreet Coffee recommends a brewing ratio of 1:15 for drip bag coffee. For example, FrontStreet Coffee's drip bags contain 10g each, so with a 1:15 ratio, you should add 150g of hot water.

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Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473