Understanding Flat-Bed Geometry
Flat-bed drippers feature a horizontal bottom surface with multiple drainage holes. This creates a uniform coffee bed depth, meaning every particle has approximately the same distance to travel.
━ Equal depth across bed = even extraction
The Flat-Bed Advantage
All coffee grounds extract under similar conditions. No high-and-dry zones at the top, no over-extracted areas at the bottom. The geometry itself promotes consistency.
Common Flat-Bed Brewers
Kalita Wave
The original flat-bed pour-over
Three drainage holes, wave-pattern filter, minimal contact between filter and brewer walls. Designed by Japanese engineers for extraction uniformity. Available in 155 (1-2 cups) and 185 (2-4 cups) sizes.
Orea V3
Modern flat-bed with flow control
Multiple small holes arranged in a flat grid. Adjustable flow (flat vs steep mode). Designed for specialty coffee and competition use. Uses standard cone filters (modified placement).
Stagg [X] / [XF]
Ratio-controlled flat-bed
Flat bed with steep side walls. Dosing marks for consistent ratios. Double-wall insulation. Designed by Fellow for home brewers seeking repeatable results.
Melitta
The original (1908)
Single large hole in a flat bed. Slower flow than modern designs. Less control but very forgiving. Historic significance—invented pour-over brewing as we know it.
Why Flat-Bed Works
Flat-bed brewers prioritize consistency over expressiveness:
═ Even Extraction
All grounds see similar contact time. No gradients from top to bottom. Produces balanced, predictable cups.
═ Forgiving Technique
Pour rate and pattern matter less. You can pour aggressively or gently—extraction stays consistent.
═ Brew-to-Brew Consistency
Less skill required to reproduce results. Great for dialing in new coffees or brewing for guests.
═ Natural Bed Leveling
Flat bottom means grounds settle evenly without intervention. Less need for swirling or stirring.
The trade-off: less expressiveness. You cannot manipulate extraction as dramatically as with conical brewers. But for many, stability is more valuable than variability.
Brewing Technique for Flat-Bed Drippers
Flat-bed brewing emphasizes simplicity and repeatability:
Kalita Wave Technique Example (20g coffee, 300g water, 1:15 ratio):
Bloom
Pour 50g water. Gentle circular pour to wet all grounds. No stirring needed—flat bed ensures even saturation.
Main Pour
Pour remaining 250g in one continuous pour or multiple pulses. Center pour works fine—no need for spirals.
Drawdown
All water drains. Typical total time: 3:00-4:00. Slower than V60 due to smaller holes, but very stable.
Key principle: Let the brewer do the work. You do not need perfect technique—the flat bed handles extraction evenness for you. Focus on grind size and ratio.