Brew Method
April Brewer: Filters, Ratio and Two-Pour Technique
The April Brewer is a flat-bottom pour-over family. Match the paper to the model, then repeat a measured pour sequence. This guide uses a small two-pour example and explains what to change when the coffee drains too slowly or tastes weak.
On This Page11 Sections
Key Takeaways
- 1Match the filter to the model: April recommends Large for its plastic brewer and Small for glass and ceramic. Hybrid adds flow control and needs its own instructions.
- 2The example below uses 12 g coffee and 200 g (7.1 oz) total water: two 100 g (3.5 oz) pours, each split into 30 g (1.1 oz) circular and 70 g (2.5 oz) central pouring.
- 3Water added is not coffee collected. Keep dose, paper and pour sequence fixed while adjusting grind; a fast or slow finish alone does not establish quality.
Highlights
- Method
- Flat-bottom paper-filter pour-over
- Example input
- 12 g coffee + 200 g (7.1 oz) water
- Input ratio
- 1:16.7, rounded
- Named timing
- 2:30–3:00 from first pour
- Reference serving
- 240 g (8.5 oz) plain brewed coffee
- Generic nutrition
- 96 mg caffeine · about 2 kcal · 0 g sugar
What Is the April Brewer?
April Coffee Roasters makes a family of flat-bottom drippers. Coffee sits in a wave-shaped paper filter, and water passes through the bed into a cup or server. This is gravity-driven pour-over brewing.
The useful distinction is the combination of brewer, paper and pouring method. A flat base does not guarantee even extraction, and two April materials need not drain identically. Standard plastic, ceramic and glass models drain freely; the Hybrid adds immersion and flow control. Keep those workflows separate.
Versions: Which April Brewer to Choose
Check your exact product before buying refills. These are the maker's current standard model recommendations; special editions and older versions may differ.
| Model | Paper and practical distinction |
|---|---|
| Plastic | April Large paper. The current white model is polycarbonate; April says to rinse after use and not put it in a dishwasher. |
| Ceramic | April Small paper. Handle as breakable ceramic and use a stable receiver. |
| Glass | April Small paper. Glass brewer with a separate plastic base; check both pieces before brewing. |
| Hybrid | Adds immersion and flow control. Confirm its current paper recommendation and use a Hybrid-specific recipe. |
Small and Large describe the paper, not a fixed number of drinks. April lists Small at 4.5 cm (1.8 in) base width and 5.5 cm (2.2 in) high; Large at 5.7 cm (2.2 in) base width and 6 cm (2.4 in) high. A similar-looking paper can change bed shape or collapse against the brewer. Start with the recommended fit.
April Brewer Recipe: Ratio, Grind and Time
This home interpretation follows April's El Morito washed Pacamara recipe. It is a small starting batch for the standard pour-over brewer; it does not describe a valve-closed Hybrid brew.
| Variable | Starting point |
|---|---|
| Coffee and water | 12 g coffee; 200 g (7.1 oz) total brew water, approximately 1:16.7 by mass |
| Temperature | 93°C (199°F) |
| Grind | Start with a filter grind and adjust. The source's EK setting 11.3 is specific to its equipment, not a universal grind size. |
| First pour, from 0:00 | Add 30 g (1.1 oz) in circles, then 70 g (2.5 oz) into the center; scale reads 100 g (3.5 oz). |
| Second pour, from 0:35 | Add another 30 g (1.1 oz) in circles, then 70 g (2.5 oz) into the center; scale reads 200 g (7.1 oz). |
| Finish | Source guidance: 2:30–3:00 elapsed from the first pour. Record actual drawdown and taste. |
There is no extra bloom: the first 100 g (3.5 oz) pour begins the brew. The 200 g (7.1 oz) is water input, and some remains in the wet grounds; measure the coffee collected for a precise serving.
Source timing and our adaptation
April's El Morito source prose starts the second pour at 35 seconds, while its short schedule says 30 seconds. This guide follows the prose and consistently uses 35 seconds. The source does not specify a brewer material; the pictured setup uses a compatible Plastic brewer.
How to Brew with the April Brewer
Recipe
April Brewer: 12 g Two-Pour Recipe
- Makes:
- 1 small batch; collected coffee is less than 200 g (7.1 oz)
- Time:
- 2:30–3:00 from the first pour, plus setup
Ingredients
- 12 g filter-ground coffee
- 200 g (7.1 oz) brewing water at 93°C (199°F), plus separate filter-rinse water
Equipment
- Standard open April Brewer with matching paper (not the Hybrid valve model)
- Heatproof receiver, grinder, scale, controlled-pour kettle and timer
Method
- Prepare. Put the brewer securely on a heatproof receiver. Seat the correct paper, rinse with hot water and discard the rinse. This rinse is separate from the 200 g (7.1 oz) brew water.
- Dose and tare. Add 12 g ground coffee and gently level the bed. Set the scale to zero with the brewer and receiver in place.
- Start at 0:00. Pour 30 g (1.1 oz) around the bed, then 70 g (2.5 oz) into its center. The cumulative reading is 100 g (3.5 oz). Wet the bed without pouring directly down the paper wall.
- Repeat at 0:35. Add the next 30 g (1.1 oz) in circles, then 70 g (2.5 oz) centrally. Stop at a cumulative 200 g (7.1 oz); do not add another 200 g (7.1 oz).
- Let it drain. Aim for the source’s 2:30–3:00 reference from first water, record the actual time, remove the brewer carefully and mix the coffee before tasting.
Recipe notes
Based on April’s El Morito washed Pacamara guide. This sequence follows its 0:35 second-pour prose; its short schedule says 0:30.
The 200 g (7.1 oz) total includes both pours and excludes rinse water.
For technique, see the grind-size guide and coffee bloom guide. A larger dose changes bed depth and flow: doubling 12 g does not prove the same timing will work. Repeat the small batch or choose a larger-batch recipe that fits your brewer and receiver.
April Brewer Troubleshooting
I write the paper next to the grind setting in my brew notes. Two filters can look like an easy swap, but once the flow changes, I want to know which part of the setup I'm actually adjusting.
| What you notice | What to check next |
|---|---|
| Slow drainage or a stalled bed | Check paper fit and excess agitation; try a slightly coarser grind next time. Do not add water just to keep the bed full. |
| Fast finish with a thin or sharp cup | Confirm dose and total water. Then try grinding slightly finer while keeping the two pours consistent. |
| Dry or harsh finish | Check roast preference, grind and pouring force; try less agitation or a coarser setting rather than assuming every long brew is the cause. |
| Results vary between cups | Use the same paper and dose, tare correctly, and record pour starts. Check scale readings are cumulative. |
Remove spent grounds and paper after cooling. Rinse the plastic model after use as April directs; avoid a dishwasher. Follow the care instructions for other materials.
April Brewer vs. Similar Brewers
Choose by workflow and refills. Kalita Wave is another flat-bottom system with size-specific papers. Hario V60 uses a cone and matching cone paper. Orea has model-specific bases and paper options; Stagg XF is a taller column brewer with a larger named batch example.
April suits someone who wants to practice a two-pour method and can reliably buy matching paper. Compare refill availability and care before choosing a material. The Hybrid is relevant when you want to pause or control flow; that function is not needed for the open-dripper example above.
How It Tastes
Paper filtration and coffee choice shape the cup. Start with a coffee you enjoy and compare small grind changes. For a first setting, our grind-size guide suggests medium for many flat-bottom brewers.
Darker roasts work too. Choose coffee for your preferences and adjust preparation instead of treating roast color as a compatibility rule.
Serving, Caffeine and Calories
Serve black or measure milk and sugar separately. For an iced version, follow a coherent Japanese iced coffee preparation: ice changes the water balance and should not simply be added on top of a hot-brew formula.
A 240 g (8.5 oz) serving of plain brewed coffee has a generic USDA reference of 96 mg caffeine, about 2 kcal and 0 g total sugar. This is not an assay of April coffee or the stated yield of the 12 g example.
Serving assumptions and calculation
USDA Standard Reference record 14209, brewed coffee prepared with tap water (page 546; caffeine on page 548), lists 40 mg caffeine, 1 kcal and 0 g total sugars per 100 g. Multiplying by 2.4 gives 96 mg caffeine and 2.4 kcal for the named 240 g reference. Milk and sugar additions are excluded.
Common Questions Before You Brew
Can You Use Kalita Filters in an April Brewer?
For a reliable starting fit, use April Large paper in the plastic brewer and Small in the glass or ceramic model. A Kalita wave filter needs its base, height and support checked against your particular brewer; matching the wave shape alone is not enough. Keep the dose fixed and recheck drainage after a paper change.
Is the First Pour a Separate Bloom?
In this example the first 100 g (3.5 oz) is the first brewing pour. Do not add a bloom before it: that would change the 200 g (7.1 oz) total.
Should Every April Brew Finish in Three Minutes?
Use 2:30–3:00 from the first pour as the starting reference for this 12 g recipe. If it finishes much faster or slower, check the grind and filter fit, then taste before adjusting. Do not squeeze the paper or add water just to hit the clock.
Editor's Take
Sources and Further Reading
7 references
External links open in a new tab
- April Coffee RoastersEl Morito coffee and filter recipeCurrent 12 g/200 g recipe, 93°C and 30 g/70 g pour split; timing discrepancy disclosed above.(opens in a new tab)
- April Coffee RoastersApril paper filterSmall/Large recommendations and paper dimensions.(opens in a new tab)
- April Coffee RoastersPlastic Brewer – WhitePlastic model, Large paper and no-dishwasher guidance.(opens in a new tab)
- April Coffee RoastersCeramic Brewer – WhiteCeramic model and Small paper.(opens in a new tab)
- April Coffee RoastersApril Glass BrewerGlass body, plastic base and Small paper.(opens in a new tab)
- April Coffee RoastersApril Hybrid BrewerImmersion and flow-control distinction.(opens in a new tab)
- USDA Standard ReferenceBrewed coffee, NDB 14209Original USDA tables, pages 546 and 548, for the generic serving arithmetic.(opens in a new tab)