Hudes Interview with Jay Kim, Co-Founder of UFO Dripper, How UFO Dripper Influences Manual Brewing Trends
We had the opportunity to interview Jay Kim, co-founder of UFO Dripper, a product currently gaining significant popularity among manual coffee brewers globally. The dripper’s was used by Wataru Iidaka, 2024 World Brewers Cup runner up during the competition. In our discussion, we explore how this dripper has influenced global trends in manual coffee brewing and examine how its design affects the quality of the coffee brew. Join us as Hudes presents an insightful interview with Jay Kim.
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HUDES: How did the idea for creating the UFO Dripper originate, and what motivated its development?
JAY KIM: When Kenzie Chay, my business partner, initially reached out to me wanting to make a dripper, I told him I’m not interested. I’d already owned 20 or more different drippers when Kenzie reached out. I found the market to be flooded with useless drippers that exist just to exist, and I had no interest in contributing to the madness. Then, Kenzie proposed the 80 degree wall angle which had never been done before.
The 80 degree wall angle would provide a new level of even extraction and clarity to a conical brewer. That’s when I was interested in this project and joined to eventually co-found UFO Dripper.
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| JAY KIM - With Wataru Iidaka | photo: doc. Jay |
JAY KIM: UFO Air Channel design was not our original idea. There have been inverted rib designs in the past. However, none have executed the concept the way we did, utilizing large blocks for the filters to sit on top of with the ideal depth and width of air channels to create beautifully balanced brews. We foresee other drippers to also catch on to this wider conical angle design which by design allows for more even extraction and when paired with the air channels, it becomes the most consistent conical brewer in existence. We’ve seen more and more consumers seeking this level of consistency in other brewing tools. Whether that be in the drippers themselves, pouring devices, or even, filter quality, consumers are demanding consistency in performance.
HUDES: How many UFO Drippers have been reported in use to date, and what has been the feedback from users?
JAY KIM: It’s difficult to say, but there are now well over a 1.000 UFO V2’s out in the world alongside well under a 100 UFO V1’s. The feedback has been incredible and everyone has enjoyed the profiles and diversity in filter usage the UFO offers.
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| photo: @sibaristcoffee |
HUDES: What plans are in place for future improvements to the UFO Dripper to enhance its functionality or design?
JAY KIM: No plans at the moment, we’ve worked on the design of the V2 extensively and we will stick to this design for the foreseeable future. We are, however, always working on new things and new ideas.
HUDES: Are there any plans to manufacture the UFO Dripper using other materials such as ceramic or metal? If so, how are these material changes expected to affect the performance and aesthetics of the coffee dripper?
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| photo: @brewedbyjay |
JAY KIM: It’s no secret ceramic and metal are inferior materials for thermal stability in comparison to plastic. We understand that plastic usage drives some folks away, but our material of choice is Tritan for a reason. It’s BPA free and incredibly durable.
If we were to create a dripper in a different material, it’ll likely be for aesthetic reasons. Performance will not increase given same design to change material to ceramic or metal.
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To provide additional information for readers, here are some advantages of the UFO dripper that we obtained from the official website.
Geometry
Conical drippers are known for their high complexity and pleasant acidity, but reduced consistency when compared to flat-bottoms. The dripper goal was to create the cup profiles they love from other conicals, while greatly improving consistency. UFO is designed to be the most forgiving conical brewer, using an unprecedented 80º interior angle. This slows down the brew to maintain a respectable contact time even with the air channels, and means that it's less sensitive to smaller doses. This is because the shallower the brewer walls, the less the bed depth changes with varying doses. The angle also contributes to greater accumulation of fines above the bed, further increasing clarity.
Air Channel Technology
UFO incorporates air channels instead of protruding ribs, which combined with the Disputer tool allows for the perfect filter set and consistent bypass. The air channels also contribute to equalizing the air pressure above and below the carafe, mitigating any risk of stalling.
Thermal Stability
UFO extensive thermal testing has led the founder of the dripper to the current single-walled, solid Tritan design for the V1, a choice which carried over for our injection-molded V2. It maintains superior thermal stability in the slurry, while also being extremely resistant to warping at boiling temperatures.
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