What are drip bags?
Drip bags are small filter paper pouches filled with ground coffee single serve sachets. These bags are convenient and portable, roasted and prepackaged in set quantities of usually 11-15g for the consumers as single serve pack. It needs only hot water and a mug to prepare. Each bag is made of filter paper made from quality materials that make sure the paper will not dissolve on contact with water when being brewed.
Who made drip bags?
The first drip bags came out of Japan during the 1970’s and looked like a teabag filled with ground coffee. The product itself failed but the concept was born. Drip bags grew in popularity in the 80’s after investments from Yamanaka Industrial co. They were considered as an easier version of the Filter (pour-over) coffee. In the early 1990s, drip bags were mostly used in hotels as an easy way for guests to have great coffee and in offices for corporate workers who did not have the time to make pour over coffee. The modern drip bags came to popularity during the 2010’s again in Asia thanks to its convenience, gradually becoming more popular worldwide. Many have placed patents for the design but usually Saitoh Mitsunori and Miyahara Fumio are given credit for the final design.
How do you use drip bags?
Using a drip bag is easy enough.
- Tear open the drip bag.
- Place it over your cup using the pre-attached paper handles.
- Pour hot water over the coffee grounds.
- Wait for the coffee to drip into your cup (this takes about 2-3 minutes).
- Enjoy your freshly brewed cup of coffee!
And just like that you have an easy filter pour over made with barely any equipment.
Common mistakes one can make while brewing drip bags is adding too much water and uneven pouring, leaving the bag in the water for too long and not following the brewing instructions. Using low quality water and the wrong water temperature can also affect the taste of the coffee.
Try to use 200ml water that has heated to 90-96 °C, A rule of thumb you can use is to take the water just before boiling and giving it a minute to cool. Give the coffee time to bloom by adding the water in stages starting with 30 – 40 ml. If you add too much, the coffee will taste weak. Too little water and the coffee will taste overly strong.
Is this the future of single serve coffee?
Convenience has always been an important aspect to consumers when it comes to their spending power. With drip bags, Consumers get a higher quality brewing option without having to go to a café. Due to its portability and how travel friendly drip bags are, they are a great option for anyone who wants specialty coffee on the go.
For roasters this is a great way to give out samples of their coffee to new customers. The pouches can contain blends or single origins and after they try, consumers can always come back for more, thus helping to increase their customer base.
Single serve coffees are constantly evolving. What started as a concept of a teabag version of coffee in the 1970’s has evolved into sample packets and convenient low equipment coffee servings for travelling coffee lovers and filter coffee beginners. Roasters have already begun producing their own drip bags expanding their brand awareness.
Flava makes drip bags for both our Signature Blends and our Single Origins, find out more Here.
Read more about how our Drip & Sip collection helps busy professionals Here.
