Brewing Basics
Percolation
A brewing method where water flows through a bed of ground coffee under gravity or pressure, continuously contacting fresh solvent. Pour-over drippers and batch brewers are everyday percolation devices.
In Depth
In percolation, fresh water constantly passes over the grounds, maintaining a high concentration gradient that drives faster and potentially higher extraction than immersion. This efficiency demands more precise grind size and pouring technique because the water follows the path of least resistance. When executed well, percolation yields a clean, complex cup with well-defined acidity.