Fieldnotes NO. 2 "When Water Meets Coffee."

Something happens the moment water meets coffee. It is simple, familiar, and yet has a world of hidden detail behind it. I wanted to understand that moment better,,, not through charts or theory, but through experience. 

So I began with the pour over. One I have been using for years, apparently quite nonchalantly. I spent hours, days, month's researching lots of information and my hope is that I can save you time and any unnecessary purchases you may have made otherwise. I found not one dripper... not one method... but several. Different materials, shapes, ridges, filters, and flow rates. Some promise clarity, some richness and some promise "perfect extraction" (when the taste of coffee gets very personal). What I learned is this:

Every dripper creates a different conversation between water and coffee. 

This fieldnote is not a tutorial. It is an introduction into the world of pour over gear in search of the best cup of coffee consistently, one pour over at a time. 

What I Researched and/or Tested: A range of drippers and filters,,, ceramic, glass, stainless steel and yes, plastic: flat-bottom, conical: thick filters, thin filters. Each one changed the pace of the pour and the character of the extracted coffee in the cup.

What Surprised Me: Some drippers slowed the flow and produced a deeper, rounder coffee. Others delivered a bright, clean clarity I didn't expect. Even the paper made a difference,,, texture, weight, tightness of the weave.

What I Learned So Far: A pour over is not about "getting it right". It is about discovering what you enjoy, and letting your curiosity guide you. 

Why This Matters: This isn't about perfection. Coffee taste is very personal. I am discovering what each tool brings to that first connection of water and coffee. As I continue, I will share what I learn, what I enjoy, and what I keep reaching for. 

What's Next: As affiliate gear becomes available, I will include links so you can explore the same tools if you choose. Nothing pushed. Nothing exaggerated. Just honest experience as this journey unfolds. Fieldnotes will grow as we do. One cup at a time. 

Thank you and remember -

"Take time to smell the coffee."   N. Kelleher