I’ve seen the pourover advice given and referenced unquestioningly: always pre-wet your paper filter. But why? What is the benefit of doing this step?
Papery taste, according to James Hoffmann.
Help the paper stick to the dripper body, remove manufacturing dust, and reduce/remove possible paper taste. Using hot water also helps pre-heat the dripper reducing heat loss during the brewing process.
Don’t use paper filters, but I’d assume to avoid channeling in the coffee grounds. Water will always go through the path of least resistance, maybe by having the entire filter wet you lessens the chances of overextracing some parts of the grounds and underextracting others.I did read that some people do it to remove paper taste, but that seems a little weird. Edit: i was wrong.
It’s exclusively to remove paper flavor. There are microparticles stuck to the filters you don’t want in your drink.
Channeling on the other hand happens when you have irregular grind size and distribution in your grounds. Stirring them pre-pour and pouring gently in consistent motions helps with that, as does a proper blooming phase. Wetting the paper has no effect there.
Ah, well, interesting. Thanks for clarifying.
