which pass through the filter. The grounds which pass through the SoftBrew™ filter are all
smaller than 150 microns thus smaller than almost any ground coffee particle. These
particles, technically known as colloids or fines are the suspended particles of coffee solids
that are too large to dissolve fully and are what gives coffee its depth and body. They are
crucial part of the flavor of a sophisticated cup of coffee.
4. How much coffee should I use
The Sowden scoop included with the pot contains roughly 7g of ground coffee (the same
amount used in a shot of espresso).
We recommend starting by using:
- 2 to 3 scoops for the 2 cup MAX 0.4L – 13.5 oz
- 3 to 5 scoops for the 4 cup MAX 0.8L – 27 oz
- 6 to 8 scoops for the 8 cup MAX 1.3L – 44 oz
- 10 to 12 scoops for the 12 cup MAX 1.8L – 61 oz
and adjusting accordingly to suit your own preferences.
5. How hot should the water be
It is generally agreed by industry experts that coffee should be brewed at somewhere
between 93-95°C. If you do not have a variable temperature kettle we simply recommend
waiting a small amount of time before pouring the boiled water over the coffee grounds.
Using water very slightly cooler than 100°C will help avoid preparing an overly bitter cup of
coffee.
Please note that SoftBrew™ is conceived as an extremely direct and also gentle way of
treating coffee so do pour your water in slowly if you can spare the time, watch it bloom…
We believe that slow pouring benefits the overall flavor of the brew.
6. Do I have to stir the coffee after pouring the water
It is not necessary to stir the coffee but if you see clumps forming it will improve the
extraction process to gently stir the grounds into the water, guaranteeing even saturation.
7. How long do I have to wait to drink my coffee
We have conducted considerable amounts of taste testing and found that almost all types of
coffee roasts and all grind size taste best after having infused for somewhere between 4-8
mins. If you use a finely ground coffee the reduced surface area of the particles will allow
for a faster extraction while a more coarsely ground coffee, with its larger surface area, will
take longer.
8. When do I need to take my filter out
There is generally no need to remove the filter from your Sowden pot when preparing
coffee. Unlike tea leaves, which continue extracting even at low water temperatures, coffee
extraction, which is what can cause unwanted bitterness and less varied range of flavours,
slows to an almost negligible rate once the water temperature drops below 85°C. If you are
using an extremely finely ground coffee and do not intend to drink it all immediately you
might want to consider removing your filter once the coffee is ready to drink but otherwise
we do not believe it to be necessary.
9. How long will my coffee remain hot
All Sowden SoftBrew™ pots are made from ceramic (pure Chaozhou porcelain or new bone
china). These materials have been used since time immemorial for preparing hot
drinks and with good reason! No other material insulates as well and as consistently.
Below is a graph which shows how coffee maintains its temperature inside the SoftBrew™
