LOCA

Purifying the coffee

02

在各種煮咖啡的方法裡,最喜愛的還是滴漏式的。從磨咖啡豆子開始,溫了咖啡壼跟咖啡杯,看著吸著熱水的咖哩豆吐氣呼吸,深深地感受到自己每一個動作,都影響了成品的香氣與味道,因此特別定下心神、特別用心。

做滴漏咖啡的過濾器,有紙製的、布製的,也有不鏽鋼的,在日本還能找到以陶製的咖啡過濾器——LOCA。LOCA是在有田燒的產地生產的,只經過素燒而沒有塗上任何釉藥的陶瓷器物,如果燒成的溫度不足又或者時間不夠,器物之上會留下肉眼看不到、極微細的氣孔。若用來做成杯碗的話,會有漏水的問題,然而,將這燒成方法加以改良及善用,卻能造成功能極佳的過瀘器。日本的信樂地區生產的淨水器,使是以相近的原理造成的,LOCA亦是同樣。

以LOCA做滴漏咖啡,就像是將咖啡淨化般,它能夠過濾咖啡及水中的雜質,而與紙及布製的過濾器相比,更能提取出咖啡豆中的油份,因此沖煮出來的咖啡,比一般紙或布製過濾器做出來的,味道甘甜,而苦味則會減弱,口味較為柔和。

LOCA的另一個好處是,只是好好保養,就像永久使用,每天早上煮咖啡時,就少生產一件紙張垃圾,心情負擔也減少了。

Drip coffee is the brewing method I like the best. From grinding the beans, warming the coffee pot and cup to seeing the hot water seeping through the coffee powder and dripping down… I can vividly feel how every step can bring a slight difference to the aroma and the taste. Just by thinking about this, I would stay focused on performing every step with perfection.

Coffee filters can be made of various materials such as paper, cloth and stainless steel. What you may not have heard of is perhaps the ceramic filter by the Japanese brand LOCA. The ceramic coffee filters are made in the same area as Arita ware. Since the pottery is made without glazing, pores can be formed if the firing temperature or duration is not up to standard. Although the pores are not visible to human eyes, water can still seep through, which makes them difficult to be used as bowls or cups. However, the firing technique can be optimized to create a highly functional filter. In fact, water filters produced in the Shigaraki area in Japan are also made using a similar method.

LOCA has sort of a purifying effect as it can cleanse impurities from coffee and water. Comparing to paper or cloth coffee filter, the ceramic filter has better potential in extracting the oil from coffee powder. As a result, the coffee made with LOCA has a milder taste, which is sweeter and less bitter.

LOCA is also an excellent choice for environmental protection. A well-maintained LOCA coffee filter can basically last forever, which makes it a perfect alternative to the single-use paper filters.

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