【Who is Paul Banday?—— A Coffee KOL from Singapore】
Paul Banday is a well-known coffee content creator from Singapore. He focuses on specialty coffee and regularly shares brewing methods, gear insights, and flavor notes—content that has earned a strong following and spark discussion among coffee enthusiasts.
This article recaps Paul’s live demo at World of Coffee, including his review of the Femobook A68 and A4Z grinders, along with the brewing parameters and techniques he shared.
【FEMOBOOK A68 vs. A4Z — Key Differences】
During the demo, Paul brewed with the same parameters and technique, changing only the grinder. This makes it easier to focus on how grind performance can shape perceived differences in the cup.
He also shared how he chooses a grinder based on a coffee’s characteristics (for example, its processing method), pairing different grinders’ cup profiles with different coffees.
【The A4Z: Clean, High-Clarity Profile】
When brewing a washed Geisha, Paul said the A4Z can extract subtle flavors delicately “at each layer of the cup,” resulting in a very clean, high-clarity brew—so notes like white grape come through more prominently.
【The A4Z: Uses ZP6 Burr Set for Pour-Over】
When talking about the burr set, Paul said the A4Z uses the same burr set as the ZP6 [1] and that the A4Z is for filter and pour-over.
He also mentioned that the ZP6 has been used by a World Brewers Cup champion in competition.
He added that the A4Z offers more adjustment steps and finer control. [2]
Frank
Femobook's Editor
The ZP6 burr set is designed for pour-over and is widely praised for its grind uniformity and clean, clear flavor presentation.
The ZP6 grinder was also used by 2023 World Brewers Cup Champion Carlos Medina in his winning routine.
2. The A4Z offers 300+ adjustment steps, with each step as fine as 0.008mm.
【The A68: Suitable for Both Pour-over and Espresso】
Paul said that the A68’s grind helps “extract more flavors.” He also noted that the A68 isn’t just for pour-over—it’s also suitable for espresso. [1]
Frank
Femobook's Editor
【The A68 or The A4Z? — Choosing by Flavor Goal and Coffee Characteristics】
Paul also shared how he chooses a grinder based on both flavor goals and coffee characteristics, using processing method as a key reference:
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Washed coffees: He said he prefers the A68 for washed coffees because it can extract more flavors. He also added that if you’re looking for high clarity in the cup, you may prefer the A4Z.
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Naturals / highly fermented coffees: For naturals or highly fermented coffees, he said the A4Z is the better fit, because it comes out cleaner with higher clarity.
【Femobook grinders: Easier to Dial In】
Paul mentioned that compared to grinders he used previously, Femobook is easier to dial in — even on a first use, he could more quickly find a suitable grind setting.
【Paul Banday’s Pour-over Recipe】
Paul used a UFO dripper and a three-pour approach:
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Brew ratio: 1:17
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Pour 1 (bloom): 60g, bloom for 50 seconds to 1 minute
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Pour 2: use Melodrip to pour up to 150g total
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Pour 3: use Melodrip to pour up to 255g total
【Paul’s Brewing Tips】
1. Ultra-light roasts: use higher water temperature to bring out flavor
Paul said that for very light roasts, he uses a higher water temperature to extract flavors more effectively.
2. Melodrip: more even pouring, less agitation, lower risk of over-extraction
Paul used a Melodrip for the second and third pours. He explained it helps keep the pour more even and avoids accidentally creating too much agitation. If you pour directly onto the bed, agitation can increase and the cup may become more prone to over-extraction.
【Paul’s take on Femobook A68 vs. A4Z Electric Grinders】
Paul’s comparison centered on each grinder’s cup profile:
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The A4Z: leans toward a profile that is clean, delicate, and high in clarity—well-suited if your goal is to identify individual flavor notes more clearly.
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The A68: helps extract more flavor (complexity), and can cover different needs across filter brewing and espresso.
In terms of pairing logic, he shared his preference:
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For washed coffees, he tends to choose A68 to bring out more flavor (complexity).
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For naturals / highly fermented coffees, he tends to choose A4Z to keep the cup cleaner and clearer.
Finally, he added that compared to grinders he had used before, Femobook made it easier to find an appropriate grind setting—even on first use, he could reach a workable setting more quickly.
