Hario Switch vs Clever Dripper + Brew Recipes

Our latest coffee brewer showdown is the Hario Switch versus the Clever Dripper. Both make great coffees, but which is the best one?
As an added bonus, we share our go-to immersion recipes for both.

#coffee #coffeelover
featuring host @BrendanvanSon

[turnbasedtoddy]

Instead of pouring the water out of the clever after you rinse the paper you could put it on top of a cup and let it drain, that would take care of that extra water at the bottom. Also your using filters not designed for the clever so that is also causing extra water.

[BeedeeEx]

Thanks for the video. Well thought out and presented in an easy to listen to manner. Can't you use the Clever for a pour over if you just set it on a cup or carafe? I have before, so I'm not sure why that's an advantage of the Switch really.

[natarajhauser]

Brand new viewer here. You went on at length about the "bubble" of water between the filter and the Clever valve, and how it made your coffee "weaker" or "thinner." Two thoughts: First, I'd wager the same exact thing happens with the Switch, but you don't see it because of the black part (which would make the perceived distinction psychosomatic). I could be wrong, but it would be simple to test. Second, the perceived problem with the Clever is easily resolved by putting your coffee in before pouring the water, exactly as you would do with a true pour-over setup. Then your "bubble" of water would actually be a bubble of pour-over coffee, and therefore perfectly acceptable.

[alexanderhaven]

I tried both before buying and honestly could not tell the difference at all, provided the correct filters are used of course and not the wrong ones as is demonstrated here.

So for me the bigger size of the clever dripper was the deciding factor.

I do grind a lot finer though, setting 28 on a 1zpresso jx-pro. This is according to the manual the range for "moka pot - drip coffee maker". Grind setting for french press would be in the 40's. So, with such a course grind I am not surprised the end result lacks body.

Also, I do coffee first then water. Draw down time is longer, in case you find that important but in the end makes absolutely no difference.

[Norm]

I went with the Clever between these two myself mainly because I already had the right filters for it and wouldn't have had to have different ones. Honestly, I feel like your comparison suffers because you didn't use the right filter paper for the Clever.

[pimacanyon]

I use the switch as a way to do percolation with a small bed of coffee. I'm a caffeine lightweight, so my max amount of coffee is 7 grams. That makes a very small bed for regular pour over. With a small bed, water goes thru too fast to get a fully extracted brew. But with the switch, I put the coffee in the filter (after preheating and pouring off the hot water), switch closed, add 25 grams of water for the bloom, let it sit for 45 seconds, open the switch. At the 2 minute mark, I close the switch, add 50 grams water (total water is now 75 grams), leave switch closed for 30 seconds, then open switch. When all water is drained, leave the switch open and add the last of the water (another 40 grams for a total of 115 grams of water which is about a 1 to 16 ratio). You can play around with steep times, bloom times, etc. with the switch which makes it the perfect device for immersion, pour over, or anything in between.

[Murvalous]

I have and love the clever, not sure if you realised but you used the wrong filters from what I could see, think it was a standard v60 style but it's supposed to be the ones with a flat bottom, that's why you maybe got now water at the bottom, I think you'll still get a little bit but likely a lot less with the right filter.

[cg-este]

The clever takes a #4 melitta... weird not using it??

[beware]

just had a thought Cant you just put the clever dripper on you cup and do a pour over?

[edwardhahn]

Clever user here - very pleased with it. I’m unlikely to want to do pour over so I’m happy with my choice

[frederickvanriper]

After owning 2 plastic Clever drippers with one failing due to heat cycle fatigue cracking, i bought a Clever glass and I love it in every way. Your test method fails in allowing water that never met coffee to sit between filter paper and the valve. Rinse paper with hot water then remove all standing water before adding your grounds. Add your water next on top of the grounds. The Clever gives you infinite control over everything. There is no blame on this brewer for a weak cup, it goes to you!

[AWriterWandering]

There actually is a larger 03 size Hario Switch. Moreover it seems to be possible to take any conventional glass Hario dripper and fit it to the Switch base.

[egauci]

I can get 450 grams of water in a size 3 Hario switch. You may be able to squeeze in a half liter, but that would be just about the maximum

[johnpearson]

Nice comparison. I've used both of these products extensively and there are definitely pros and cons of each. My comment - was interesting to hear your observations about strength and body, but personally it would have been helped if you'd also presented the TDS and extraction of both brews to give a fuller/more objective picture of what's going on. I feel like this is just the territory we're in for the nerdier home brewers these days, for better or worse 😉

[Vegi]

Dude what was that kettle sorcery at 6:30?

[Tony-pysg]

I agree with your experience with the Clever Dripper I have tried every combination of grind size, ratios and drawdown times and it never has a full flavour, pleasant but lacking. After reading some reviews of the Hario Switch and watching this video I got one and bang right from the first cup it had as you describe a much fuller flavour. I really like it and look forward to experimenting with the Switch which brings me to a request could you post a video of how you like to use the Switch as a pour over or hybrid brewer? Keep up the great work. 10:44

[animeanytime]

Thanks for the nice video comparison!

I have brewed thousands of cups on both the Clever and the Switch and I agree with your preference for the Switch but for different reasons: (i) easy use of specialty filters like the Cafec Abaca for faster drawdown and finer grinding and (ii) Switch is dishwasher-safe. That said, I think I prefer higher extracted coffee (or maybe lighter roasted) than you because I grind far finer than you do. Coffees dialed-in to my preferences typically have drawdown times of more than a minute.

[hookedonwood]

Switch user for a year+ brewing 500ml easy - even in the 2cup version.. you can open the valve and add more water during the brew very easy. Takes coffee latest glass of gods recipe is not clogging the filter as much so even quite fast with finer grinds for 30g coffee/500ml water.

[JoeyTen]

Where can I find mug/glasses like those?

[jorhay]

This guy doesn’t even use the right filter for the switch..🤣 He says he’s tried both but in the video names the wrong filter. (It’s a #4 Melita, not a #3 V60 filter)
Yes, when using the Workshop Coffee technique of pouring the water 1st, the tiny amount of water that sits at the bottom will technically function as a dilutor, but saying the switch makes “thin coffee” is about the dumbest thing I’ve heard from a YT coffee channel.

You can make the texture however you like on the switch if you know what you’re doing.

Check out channels like Hoffmann or Workshop Coffee. Hoffman said the liquid that sits outside the paper has never stopped him from getting great results, and even uses a weaker 1/16 ratio than the 1/12 ratio used here . But he’s only a world champion barista, what does he know…

With the Switch, you also get a V60 so you can do 6/4, 5 Pour, ect, and the ability to make cool hybrid methods like Sprometheus and Lance Hedrick ect. It’s also made of glass and looks nicer than the Clever which, lets face it is kinda fugly…

With the Clever you get a fool proof easy way to quickly make a bigger batch of delicious coffee, for when you don’t feel like being a barista, and you just want some GREAT coffee as quickly as possible. It is SO forgiving about water temp, ratio, brew time, grind size, even coffee! it’s REALLY HARD to make a bad cup with the Clever, it’s almost impossible to screw up.

This whole “Heavier and Bright” vs “Clean and Crisp” is all marketing BS. If you want to know about the Clever, go on Reddit and read the hundreds of comments of people who actually have and use both. Most will say, if they wanted to, they could make basically the same brew on either. I have both and would agree, but they are different.
IMHO they’re both great. Just get the one that works for your situation and style.