Choosing the Right Immersion Brewer
Each brewer in this collection uses immersion in a slightly different way. Here's a quick guide:
Clever Coffee Dripper: The best introduction to filter coffee brewing for beginners, and a firm favourite with experienced brewers for its sheer consistency. The Clever looks like a pour over dripper but has a valve at the base that seals during steeping — you pour water over the grounds, wait for your brew time, then place it on a cup to release. The result is a clean, filtered cup with the even extraction of a full immersion brewer. No pouring technique needed. Available standalone (from £25), as the Clever Coffee Brewing Kit with filters and a diner mug, or as the Clever + Filtropa Filter Papers bundle — both great starting setups.
Fellow Clara French Press: A premium redesign of the classic French press with a double-wall insulated body that keeps coffee hot for longer and a refined plunger that minimises sediment and over-extraction. The Clara produces a rich, full-bodied cup with noticeably less grit than a traditional cafetière — the go-to choice for those who love French press coffee but want a more refined result.
Hario Switch V60 Ceramic Immersion Dripper: The most interesting brewer in this collection. The Switch looks like a standard V60 but has a ball valve at the base that you can open or close during brewing — allowing you to switch between full immersion, pour over, or a hybrid of both within a single brew. This gives experienced brewers exceptional flexibility and control. Currently sold out but worth checking back for — it's a genuinely unique piece of equipment.
Pair any immersion brewer with a quality filter grinder and filter papers for the best results. For brewing with more hands-on technique, explore our pour over collection or the versatile AeroPress.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is immersion brewing and how is it different from pour over?
In immersion brewing, coffee grounds are fully submerged in water for the entire brew duration — similar to how tea steeps in a pot. Extraction happens consistently across all the grounds simultaneously, producing an even, full-bodied cup. In pour over brewing, water flows continuously through the grounds rather than sitting in contact with them, giving you more control over extraction variables but requiring more pouring technique. Immersion methods are generally more forgiving and consistent from brew to brew; pour over methods offer more nuance and expressiveness in the cup when technique is dialled in. Many brewers — including the Hario Switch V60 — can actually combine both approaches.
What is the difference between the Clever Dripper and a French press?
Both use immersion, but they filter differently and produce different cups. The Clever Dripper uses a paper filter, which removes most of the coffee oils and fine particles — the result is a clean, bright cup with clarity and no sediment, similar in style to a pour over. A French press (like the Fellow Clara) uses a metal mesh filter, which allows oils and some fine particles into the cup — producing a richer, more textured, full-bodied brew with more mouthfeel. If you like clean filter coffee but want it to be easier to make than pour over, choose the Clever. If you want the richest, most full-bodied cup possible, choose the French press.
How long should I steep coffee in a Clever Dripper?
A standard starting point for the Clever Coffee Dripper is a 3–4 minute steep with a medium-coarse grind. After steeping, place the Clever on your cup or server and the valve opens automatically, releasing the brew in around 1 minute. Total brew time is roughly 4–5 minutes. Adjust steep time based on taste: if the coffee is too weak or sour, steep longer or grind finer; if it's too strong or bitter, reduce steep time or grind coarser. The Clever is very forgiving — small variations in technique rarely produce a bad cup.
What makes the Hario Switch V60 different from a standard V60?
The Hario Switch V60 is a ceramic V60 dripper with a ball valve at the base. In standard V60 mode (valve open), it brews exactly like a regular V60 — water flows through continuously as you pour. With the valve closed, it becomes a full immersion brewer — water sits in contact with the grounds for however long you choose before you open the valve to drain. This lets you brew a hybrid recipe: immerse for part of the brew, then switch to pour over for the remainder. It gives experienced brewers the ability to experiment with extraction in ways no standard dripper allows. The Switch uses standard V60 paper filters and takes the same grind range.
What grind size should I use for immersion coffee?
Grind size for immersion brewing depends on your brew time and method. The Clever Dripper works best with a medium-coarse grind and a 3–4 minute steep. The Fellow Clara French Press uses a coarse grind (similar to rough sea salt) with a 4-minute steep. The Hario Switch V60 in full immersion mode typically uses a medium grind with a longer steep than a standard V60 recipe. In all cases, adjust grind size based on taste — coarser if bitter, finer if weak or sour. A consistent burr grinder is the most important tool for dialling in any immersion method. Browse our filter grinders for recommendations.
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