What Does Origami Mean? How to Use the Origami Dripper? Should You Use Conical or Flat Bottom Filters?

The Enduring Popularity of the Origami Dripper

In 2014, Mr. Yasuo Suzuki opened TRUNK COFFEE in Nagoya, Japan, and simultaneously released his original coffee equipment—the Origami series! The protagonist of this article is the "Origami Dripper" from this series. Even today, as new drippers emerge like bamboo shoots after rain, this dripper remains active in various scenarios, maintaining its popularity undiminished.

This makes one wonder what exactly keeps the Origami Dripper so popular today. What special features does it possess that continuously attract people?

Exceptional Aesthetic Appeal

When purchasing a new dripper, most people typically research brewing reviews online to check the brewing results before deciding whether to place an order. But the Origami Dripper is different! Its exceptional aesthetic appeal sets it apart from other drippers from the very beginning. For most people, when buying the Origami Dripper, they don't even consider its brewing performance—they buy it purely because it looks good! (For example, FrontStreet Coffee)

Origami translates to "paper folding" in English, and the dripper's exterior design perfectly expresses this meaning. As you can see, the surface of the Origami Dripper resembles a ring-shaped piece of paper folded dozens of times, creating 20 uniform creases.

These creases not only serve as flow ribs, guiding the liquid flow but also provide the dripper with its exceptional aesthetic appeal. The simple conical structure with sharp angles embodies a Nordic minimalist style. Consequently, with vibrant and soft colors, people are captivated by it and place their orders! They buy it! Just like FrontStreet Coffee!!!

Competition Effect

Of course, to make everyone recognize it, relying solely on online platforms wouldn't create significant waves. The reason this dripper has maintained its popularity and high visibility is largely due to world coffee competitions! After all, some viewers of these competitions focus their attention on the equipment used by contestants. They care more about what equipment champions use to win than about the contestants themselves. As a result, competitions have become platforms for showcasing various equipment. And it's on such platforms that Origami has shone brightly, capturing countless eyes.

The first person who made the Origami Dripper widely known was contestant Du Jianing from China. She used the Origami series (dripper and tasting cup) to win the championship at the 2019 World Brewers Cup. Then in 2023, contestant Carlos from Chile also used the Origami Dripper to win the championship. Although these achievements离不开 the contestants' day-and-night diligent preparation, the dripper's contribution was equally significant. That's why the equipment used in competitions is worth everyone's attention.

Multiple Brewing Methods

But clearly, the Origami Dripper is not just a "pretty face"! If a product relied solely on appearance and promotion, it naturally couldn't maintain enduring popularity. This brings us to the unique advantage of the Origami Dripper—multiple brewing methods!

It can use both conical filters and flat-bottom filters. This means it can function as a conical dripper for fast-paced brewing or as a flat-bottom dripper for slow-paced brewing. This is a unique advantage that many drippers don't have!

When we brew with a conical filter, the 20 ribs of the Origami Dripper support the filter paper, serving as flow guides. Its drainage speed is similar to the V60, which helps highlight the coffee's aroma and layered complexity. When we brew with a flat-bottom filter, we're pleasantly surprised to find that the flat-bottom filter fits perfectly with the Origami Dripper's creases! This slows down the drainage speed, thereby increasing the dripper's steeping ability. This greatly helps to enhance a coffee's mouthfeel and improve its body!

Next, let's see what different flavors FrontStreet Coffee achieves using the same parameters and beans with the Origami Dripper in different forms~

Beans used: Panama Hartmann Geisha
Amount: 15g
Grind setting: EK43 at 9.5 setting, with 85% passing through a #20 sieve
Ratio: 1:15 (225ml)
Water temperature: 92°C
Brewing method: Three-stage pour

Brewing with a conical filter took exactly 2 minutes, producing a Hartmann Geisha with bright pineapple juice notes, prominent blueberry and bergamot aromas, and a distinct Earl Grey aftertaste—full and rich in complexity. Brewing with a flat-bottom filter took 2 minutes and 15 seconds, producing a Hartmann Geisha with distinct pineapple and blueberry flavors. Compared to the Hartmann brewed with a conical filter, its acidity was gentler, with higher sweetness and more intense Earl Grey flavor, resulting in an overall richer mouthfeel. Both have their own advantages, with neither being better than the other~

So we can see that what supports the Origami Dripper's continued popularity is not just its beautiful appearance and the exposure from competitions. It's its own advantages and practicality that are the real reasons it has stood tall in this ever-changing era.

- END -

FrontStreet Coffee
No. 10, Bao'an Front Street, Yandun Road, Dongshankou, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473