Coffee Gear

Bee House Coffee Dripper Review

A few years ago, a friend gifted me a Bee House Ceramic Coffee Dripper, knowing my love for coffee. It was my first device for brewing coffee at home. Eventually, I got into high-tech coffee gadgets like the Hario V60 and Origami, so the dripper ended up tucked away in a drawer. However, last weekend, while reorganizing my kitchen, I stumbled upon this forgotten gem. Curious, I decided to give it another try, and to my surprise, I rediscovered its charm. As I brewed my morning coffee with this simple yet effective tool, I was reminded of why it had been one of my favorite coffee makers.

The ease of use, the consistent results, and the beautiful design all came rushing back to me. This unexpected rediscovery inspired me to dive deeper into the history and features of the Bee House dripper, and I couldn’t resist sharing my newfound appreciation for this understated yet reliable coffee brewing tool.

Bee House Ceramic Coffee Dripper

Bee House is a Japanese brand known as Zero Japan in the U.S. The Bee House Ceramic Coffee Dripper is an excellent pour-over coffee maker that features an ergonomic handle.

The interior is designed with vertical ribbing and two drain holes to regulate the outflow, ensuring even extraction and a satisfying cup of coffee, regardless of your pouring technique. Even without a gooseneck kettle, the Bee House dripper can help you consistently brew a great cup of coffee, unlike some other manual brewers.

A particularly nice feature of this dripper is its see-through base design, allowing you to see how much coffee is in the cup without lifting the dripper. This helps prevent overflowing the cup. Read More Information Here

Pros:

Made in Japan
Stable temperature retention due to ceramic construction
Prevents overflowing your cup
Uses standard, flat-bottom cone filters
Good for beginners
Brews great coffee without a gooseneck kettle
Dishwasher Safe

Cons:

Heavier than other options
Less control over water flow than other pour-over brewers
May not fit all mugs

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Features & Benefits

The Bee House Dripper’s dual holes regulate brewing speed for balanced extraction, allowing you to experiment with flavors, and consistently brew great coffee even without a gooseneck kettle.

History of the Bee House Dripper

The Bee House coffee dripper was designed and is manufactured by Zero Japan Inc., a company based in Mino, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. Specializing in high-quality ceramic tableware and accessories for tea and coffee, Zero Japan is renowned for its craftsmanship. The Bee House dripper, one of their flagship products, has gained widespread recognition for its quality, functionality, and aesthetic appeal.

Founded in 1992, Zero Japan has consistently followed a philosophy of creating products that combine practicality with beauty. The Bee House coffee drippers exemplify traditional Japanese craftsmanship infused with innovative design.

Design Features

The Bee House coffee dripper is a simple yet highly effective tool for brewing pour-over coffee, and it has become a favorite among coffee enthusiasts for good reason.

Material

Crafted from ceramic, the Bee House dripper is designed to maintain a stable temperature throughout the brewing process. When you pre-wet the paper filter with hot water, the dripper itself heats up, ensuring even heat distribution during brewing.

Innovative Design

Inside the Bee House dripper, you’ll find ridges resembling a washboard on both sides of the brewing chamber. These ridges work in harmony with the paper filter, creating an efficient drainage system for the brewed coffee. The raised ridges contact the filter in such a way that they draw liquid like a magnet, allowing it to collect and flow smoothly through the two holes at the dripper’s flat bottom.

These two holes help regulate the brewing speed, allowing you to experiment with different flavor profiles by adjusting the grind size and pour rate. The flat bottom with two small holes promotes balanced extraction, regardless of your pouring technique. Even without a gooseneck kettle, the Bee House dripper can help you brew a consistently great cup of coffee, unlike some other manual brewers that can be unforgiving of pouring mistakes.

The base of the Bee House dripper also features two windows on each side, letting you monitor the brewing process and prevent overflows.

Another practical feature is the side handle, which makes it easy to place the dripper on top of your favorite coffee mug. This handle is especially useful for holding the dripper steady during brewing.

If you appreciate variety, the Bee House dripper comes in 10 different colors, so you can choose one that complements your kitchen decor.

Compatible Filters

The larger Bee House dripper is compatible with #2 and #4 filters and can brew up to 5 cups of coffee. The smaller version uses #1 filters and is ideal for brewing one or two servings.

Convenience

The Bee House Dripper is dishwasher safe, making cleanup a breeze.

Affordable and Accessible

With its reasonable price, the Bee House dripper is accessible to a broad audience of coffee lovers, offering great value for its quality and performance.

Drawbacks

While the ceramic construction is both beautiful and functional, it is not as lightweight or as durable as pour-over brewers made from plastic or metal. Additionally, the dripper’s diameter may not fit all mugs, which could be a limitation for some users.

Brewing Guide Bee House Coffee Dripper

Small Bee House Dripper

Small Bee House Dripper
Coffee beans: 12-15 g (medium grind)
Water: 200-240 ml (92-96°C)
Paper filter #1

Steps:

Prepare the Dripper and Filter:
Insert a #1 paper filter into the dripper and rinse it with hot water to remove any paper taste and preheat the ceramic. Discard the rinse water.
Add the Coffee:
Measure out 12-15 g of medium-ground coffee and place it in the center of the filter. Give the dripper a gentle shake to level the coffee grounds.
Bloom:
Pour 30-40 ml of hot water over the coffee grounds, just enough to wet them evenly. Allow the coffee to “bloom” for 30-45 seconds, releasing carbon dioxide and preparing the grounds for even extraction.
Main Brewing:
Slowly and evenly pour the remaining water in circular motions, starting from the center and moving outward to the edges. Continue pouring until you reach a total of 200-240 ml. The entire brewing process should take about 2-3 minutes.
Wait and Serve:
Allow the coffee to fully drip into the cup. Remove the dripper and enjoy your freshly brewed coffee.

Large Bee House Dripper

Large Bee House Dripper
Coffee beans: 28 g (medium grind)
Water: 450 ml (92-96°C)
Paper filter #2 or filter #4

Steps:

Prepare the Dripper and Filter:
Insert paper filter filter #2 or filter #4 into the dripper and rinse it with hot water to remove any paper taste and preheat the dripper. Discard the rinse water from the cup or carafe.
Add the Coffee:
Measure out 28 g of medium-ground coffee and pour it into the filter. Gently shake the dripper to evenly distribute the coffee grounds.
First Pour (Bloom):
Slowly pour 60-70 ml of hot water over the coffee, ensuring all the grounds are evenly wet. Allow the coffee to “bloom” for 30-45 seconds, releasing carbon dioxide.
Second Pour:
After the bloom phase, slowly and evenly pour 100-120 ml of water, starting from the center and moving in circular motions toward the edges. This pour should take about 30-40 seconds. Let the water fully drain through the coffee.
Third Pour:
Repeat the process by adding another 120 ml of water in the same circular motion. It’s important to maintain a steady pace and pour slowly to ensure even extraction. Wait for the water to completely pass through the coffee.
Fourth Pour:
The final pour should be around 100-120 ml. Pour the water in the same manner, slowly and evenly, starting from the center and moving outward. This pour completes the brewing process, which should take about 3.5-4 minutes in total.
Wait and Serve:
Allow all the coffee to drip into the carafe or cup. Remove the dripper and serve the freshly brewed coffee immediately.

Conclusion

The Bee House Coffee Dripper, with its flat bottom, steep walls, and ceramic body, allows you to brew consistently delicious coffee every time, even if your pouring technique isn’t perfect. However, it doesn’t offer the same level of precise control over water flow as other pour-over options like the Hario V60 or Chemex. Despite these minor limitations, the Bee House dripper remains an excellent choice for those seeking a reliable, aesthetically pleasing, and easy-to-use coffee brewing tool.

Things to Consider Before Buying the Bee House Dripper

Before buying a Bee House Dripper, consider its ceramic construction, which offers excellent heat retention but is heavier and more fragile than other options. Additionally, it provides less control over water flow compared to some other pour-over brewers.

Sasha Pavlovich

Hi, I'm Sasha Pavlovich and welcome to my blog about coffee! As an experienced barista, I have a deep passion for coffee. I love to share my knowledge and enthusiasm with everyone, and I never get tired of talking about it. Whether you're a novice or a connoisseur, I'm sure you'll find something on my site that will make you appreciate the wonderful world of coffee even more.