How to make coffee with a Fellow Stagg?

The Fellow Stagg X and XF drippers are celebrated for their precision and ease of use, making them a favorite for those who appreciate a clean, nuanced cup. The core of the Stagg’s design is its steep-slope interior, which encourages a deeper bed of coffee grounds. This geometry, combined with the specific hole pattern at the base, is engineered to maximize contact time and ensure uniform extraction, even if your pouring technique isn't perfect.

To begin, place a paper filter in the dripper and rinse it thoroughly with hot water to remove any papery taste and preheat the device. Discard the rinse water. Add your coffee, ground to a medium-fine consistency—similar to sea salt. A good starting ratio is 1:16, meaning 20 grams of coffee to 320 grams of water.

Start your timer and pour about 40 grams of water to 'bloom' the coffee, ensuring all grounds are saturated. This allows carbon dioxide to escape, which prevents sour or uneven flavors. After 30 seconds, continue pouring in slow, steady, concentric circles. Avoid pouring directly onto the sides of the filter, as this can cause water to bypass the coffee bed, leading to a weak, watery brew.

Once you reach your target weight, give the slurry a gentle stir or a light swirl to ensure all grounds are settled evenly. The Stagg is designed to drain at a controlled rate, so aim for a total brew time between 2:30 and 3:30 minutes. If the coffee tastes too bitter, try a slightly coarser grind; if it tastes sour or thin, try a finer grind.

In practice, the Fellow Stagg rewards consistency. Because the dripper is insulated, it maintains a stable temperature throughout the brew, which is crucial for extracting the full spectrum of flavors from your beans. By mastering the pour and dialing in your grind size, you can consistently produce a cafe-quality pour-over at home.