Sometimes a coffee, especially a natural or fruit-forward light roast, can brew a little too intense, heavy, or concentrated. Adding a small amount of hot water after brewing can open up the cup dramatically. This process is called bypassing.
By diluting the concentrate slightly, you lower the intensity of the sweetness and fruit notes, letting more florals, clarity, and acidity come forward. Instead of muting flavors, a good bypass can actually make a coffee taste more nuanced, balanced, and transparent. It’s a simple trick to bring a strong or dense coffee into a more elegant, drinkable place without needing to re-brew.
Tips & Tricks
1. Always taste as you go
This is a great general rule anytime you're brewing, but especially when you're dialing in, making recipe changes, or trying a new technique.
2. Start small
Just adding a few grams (5-20g) of hot water can shift the flavor of the cup:
- 5-10g → slight lift, more clarity
- 10-20g → noticeably brighter and more delicate
3. Use hot water (not room temp)
Use water around 195°F-205°F so you don’t shock the coffee by changing the temperature drastically.
4. If the coffee feels “muddy,” bypass can add clarity
Too much body or muted flavors? A small bypass thins out the cup and can open up the coffee.
5. Brew slightly stronger on purpose
This gives you more control over the final brew and texture. Especially recommended on coffees that are natural or anaerobic processes.
Brew at a lower ratio (1:14-1:15)
Then, bypass to your target strength (1:16-1:17)
6. Amazing for coffees that are fruit-forward in flavor
A small bypass can make them feel lighter, cleaner, and more aromatic without losing character. Naturals often have dense sweetness, heavy texture, and high intensity - which makes bypassing a great solution to achieve a more balanced cup.
7. Avoid bypassing if brew tastes hollow/empty
If the brew is watery, sour, or under-extracted, bypassing will make it worse. In that case, I recommend altering your recipe to increase the brew time instead of attempting bypass brewing. This can be achieved by adjusting the grind size to a finer setting.
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