Champion Insights on the Femobook A68 with Ply
Ply’s approach focuses on how professional equipment, specifically the Femobook A68, can be leveraged to unlock the complex potential of rare coffee varieties.
Brewing Rare Varieties: Sudan Rume and Panama Geisha
Ply demonstrates the A68’s capability by brewing two of the world's famous coffee varieties, using specific grind settings to highlight their unique profiles.
Colombia Sudan Rume
Sudan Rume is a rare variety known for its distinct botanical notes.
- Grind Setting: 160 clicks (finer side).
- The Recipe: 20g of coffee to 320g of water.
- The Technique: A 60g bloom for 45 seconds, followed by two pours (to 200g, then 320g).
- Flavor Experience: Extracts stronger notes of sage, rosemary, and lemongrass with a refined sweetness.
Washed Panama Geisha from Kotowa
To showcase the grinder's clarity, Ply adjusts his approach for a washed Geisha.
- Grind Setting: 175 clicks (coarser than the Sudan Rume).
- The Technique: The same 3-pour recipe at 92°C.
- Flavor Experience: Emphasizes strawberry, tropical fruit, and jasmine.
Pro Tip: If the brew time is too long (originally 3:45), switching to a faster paper filter can optimize the result to around 3 minutes.
Kenya Black Honey
A unique find processed with Black Honey method, traveling from Kenya to Taiwan, then to Rogue Wave in Canada for roasting.
Two Ways to Brew:
- Acidity-Forward: 180 clicks, 3-pour method. Highlights vibrant acidity and blackcurrant notes (2:30 brew time).
- Body-Forward: 165 clicks, 5 pours (60g every 30 seconds). Creates a syrupy, sweet body.
How Pours and Filter Shapes Change the Cup
Ply explains that the "recipe" isn't just about the ratio; it’s about the physics of the brew.
Flat Bottom vs. Cone Shapes
Ply often switches to an Origami with flat-bottom paper to increase mouthfeel.
- Cone Shapes: Great for complexity, but balance can sometimes be harder to achieve.
- Flat Bottoms: Offer a more identical bed depth, providing better balance and body.
The Power of the Pour
- Increasing Pours: Adding more pours (e.g., from 3 to 5) increases agitation.
- Sweetness without Bitterness: Increased agitation allows for higher extraction and sweetness without needing to increase water temperature.
The Femobook A68: A Tool for Competition and Cafe Excellence
For Ply, the A68 is a fast, versatile machine capable of handling the rigors of a professional environment.
- Tool-Free Maintenance: All-magnetic design for easy cleaning without external tools.
- From Filter to Espresso: Utilized for everything from Ibrik competitions to premium single-origin espresso (SOE) shots.
- Speed and Precision: Efficient for high-end cafe service and delicate manual brewing.
