We Tried It: The $700 Balmuda The Brew Pour-Over Coffee Maker

They call this the “Clear Brewing Method.” It’s different from the Specialty Coffee Association home coffee brewing standard procedure we referenced for our research. Instead of maintaining a water temperature between 194° F and 204.8° F throughout the entire brewing process as the SCA standard dictates, “for the ideal pour over style coffee, a gradual decrease in water temperature within the machine during the extraction process produces more favorable results,” says a representative from the brand.

In our tests, the highest water temperature we recorded was 195.5° F, lower than the maximum water temperature stated on the product website. But we took the temperature of the water as it was released from the water spout, and Balmuda’s testers took the temperature of the water inside The Brew, which likely accounted for this difference.

For the best-tasting cup of coffee, the brand recommends grinding coffee beans to a “medium-fine to medium” consistency. Three coffee sizes ranging from 4 to 12 ounces of hot coffee and 2.5 to 7.5 ounces of iced coffee can be brewed with the coffee maker. As it works, the machine ticks like an old chime clock with a short song playing at the end to let you know it has finished brewing. The manufacturer recommends hand-washing and drying the four removable parts of the machine, plus the scoop, and wiping down the base with a damp cloth after each use. For a more thorough monthly cleaning, the manufacturer recommends brewing a regular-strength, large cup with a mixture of citric acid and water in the water tank, followed by several cleaning cycles until the smell of citric acid is completely removed.