Hand-brewed coffee pot (gooseneck kettle) detailed introduction

The gooseneck kettle is perhaps the most iconic symbol of contemporary craft coffee brewing. The elegant swan neck shape, ergonomic handle and tapered spout allow you to achieve the ideal precision extraction. Their eye-catching and modern design makes them the perfect representative of the third wave of craft coffee movement. They are a deadly combination of fashion and high practicality in today's coffee culture that is irresistible.

I believe that as long as you spend a few minutes watching the short video of hand-poured coffee, you will have an impulse: "Should I also buy a gooseneck kettle to make hand-poured coffee?"

Is a gooseneck kettle a luxury?

The answer is no.

Please don't think that if you don't have a gooseneck kettle, your hand-made coffee will be different. Maybe you can try more and better novel extraction methods. The gooseneck kettle is a special tool that helps you maintain the consistency of the process when making hand-made coffee, which is a luxury for handmade coffee. So even if you don't have a gooseneck kettle, it won't prevent you from making a great cup of coffee.

What can a gooseneck kettle do?

On the other hand, a gooseneck kettle is not like a cool leather apron for baristas, it serves a specific purpose. It is to extract coffee, for a good cup of coffee. That's why we strive for a uniform grind size, and when we make hand-poured coffee, we don't just pour water on the coffee grounds randomly, but should pour it gently and purposefully.

Whether you use a gooseneck kettle or not, a rough pouring method will over-stir the coffee grounds and cause the coffee to be extracted unevenly. The gooseneck kettle, when used correctly, will allow you to have greater fun in controlling the flow of water during extraction. You can control the flow of water by tilting your wrist. A regular kettle requires a little more arm strength, endurance and concentration to control the water flow, and even then there will be fluctuations in the water flow.

When should you use a gooseneck kettle?

Not all manual coffee brewing requires a gooseneck kettle. Before you buy or use a gooseneck kettle, you need to find out whether your chosen method requires this tool.

Soaking Extraction

There are no obvious reasons for using a gooseneck kettle for immersion brewing, but there is one exception: the AeroPress. There are many ways to use the AeroPress, some of which are even a little crazy, and some advanced methods pay special attention to the stirring of the coffee powder.

Some manual coffee methods that do not require the use of a gooseneck kettle: French Press, Clever (when you use the immersion extraction method), Syphon, Cold Brew. If you use a French Press or Clever at home, there is really no need to buy a gooseneck kettle. Of course, if you insist on buying one, we will not stop you.

Hand-drip extraction

The gooseneck kettle features will help you extract when you make hand-poured coffee. Some techniques and recipes are almost impossible to make without using a gooseneck kettle.

For example, Blue Bottle's flannel method has very specific requirements for extraction time and water injection: the first injection should slowly inject 45 grams of water within 45 seconds. As for how to skillfully control the gooseneck kettle until the water is like a trickle, it takes some practice, otherwise when you use the gooseneck kettle, it will be no different from using an ordinary kettle, which will make you feel a little disappointed.

These devices work best with a gooseneck kettle: Kalita Wave, Bee House, Chemex, Hario V60, Nel Drip As mentioned before, please don't let these suggestions stop you from trying other brewing methods and techniques.

Which gooseneck kettles are worth buying?

When you decide to buy a gooseneck kettle, I think there are some high-quality products worth considering. There may also be brands that I am not familiar with, which are also worth looking forward to. You need a kettle that is comfortable and convenient to use, and allows you to control the minimum amount of water.

Here are some of the most popular products on the market:

Hario V60 Cloud Pot 1.2L

This is the most popular gooseneck kettle. It has a large capacity and can be heated electrically, which is very convenient. It can also be used as an electric kettle. Its appearance, price and function are its popular advantages.

Bonavita 0.6L Temperature Control Gooseneck Kettle

This is also a very popular product, especially in coffee competitions in recent years, with a high exposure rate. Many people think that it is too troublesome to boil water with an electric kettle and then pour it into a gooseneck kettle, and there is almost no temperature control function. They want to find a product that combines the two. The Bonavita temperature control kettle can select or adjust the temperature you need, and it keeps this temperature continuously. This is why most coffee shops and enthusiasts like it now, because it saves a lot of processes. All you need to do is select the desired temperature and start boiling water. You can prepare other things, and it will make a "beep" sound to remind you when the water temperature reaches it.

Takahiro Gooseneck Kettle

Takahrio comes in several sizes, 0.9 L for 1-4 cups, and 0.5 L for 1-2 cups. It is smaller and lighter than the Cloud Pot in the same capacity, which means it has better flow control than the Cloud Pot. The accuracy and consistency of water injection make it a pleasant experience for both experts and beginners. It just needs an additional thermometer and kettle, and the price is relatively high.

Kalita Wave Crane Bill Kettle

This kettle is designed to match the Kalita Wave filter cup, which is a very practical choice. The material is all stainless steel, with a similar aesthetic to Takahiro. The Kalita Wave does not use a narrow mouth like the above models, but uses a crane mouth, which makes it suitable for a variety of hand-brewing methods. And the handle is wrapped with wooden material, which feels more comfortable when holding it.

Do you have a favorite kettle? A gooseneck kettle or some other coffee making device? I'd love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to leave a comment below to discuss.