Hario V60 02 with Cafec Abaca: hollow, not exactly weak

[Lentil Asana]

Brewer and filter: Hario V60 02 plastic; Cafec Abaca 02
Grinder, burr and calibration: Baratza Encore ESP; M2 conical burr; setting 24; internal calibration middle
Bean, roaster, process and roast date: Kenya Nyeri AA; Square Mile; washed; roast date 2026-08-24
Dose and water mass: 15.0 g coffee; 250 g water
Temperature and water profile: 93°C; remineralized RO, about 60 ppm GH / 25 ppm KH
Pour/agitation schedule: single continuous main pour after a 45 s bloom; one small excavation with spoon only if dry pockets remain
Drawdown time: 3:45
Expected and perceived flavour: expected cocoa and red fruit; perceived cup is thin despite adequate extraction time
Changes already tested: tested one brew with remineralized water while keeping the recipe fixed

I had this working two brews ago and now I am getting the problem in the title. I wrote the numbers down because otherwise I know we will spend ten replies discovering I changed three things at once. What would you change first?

[Lentil Asana]

I tested one change from the opening post and it moved the cup, but did not finish the job. Next variable: increase dose by 0.5 g while keeping water fixed. Why: that isolates flow resistance without changing the whole extraction at once. Expected result: less bitterness in the last third of the cup. I will report the actual result rather than stack another change on top.

[Fermenter]

Same Hario V60 02 plastic and grinder here, different but similarly light coffee. Change: reduce the final pour by 20 g. Why: this coffee may still be releasing enough gas to disturb the early extraction. Expected result: less bitterness in the last third of the cup. That should tell you whether the behaviour belongs to the setup rather than this exact bag.

[Adam Guitar Shruti]

One variable only: lower water temperature by 2°C. Why: it changes concentration while leaving the rest of the recipe readable. Expected result: more even early flow and a sweeter cup as it cools. I would not buy anything until that test gives you a direction.

[Lentil Asana]

One variable only: extend the bloom by 15 seconds. Why: this coffee may still be releasing enough gas to disturb the early extraction. Expected result: less bitterness in the last third of the cup. I would not buy anything until that test gives you a direction.

[Lentil-Seamstress]

I have used Kenya Nyeri AA on the same Hario V60 02 plastic / Baratza Encore ESP combination. Change: grind one small step coarser. Why: pour rate can move drawdown even when the grind setting is identical. Expected result: a clear change in flow speed if the paper is part of the problem. Keep everything else exactly where it is for one brew. Hope that helps.

[Tofu-Tails]

Controlled-test suggestion: lower water temperature by 2°C. Why: the last part of the brew may be adding dryness without useful sweetness. Expected result: slightly more body without making the cup muddier. Do two brews if you have enough coffee, one current recipe and one changed variable, and taste them side by side as they cool. Hope that helps.

[Type-Yogi]

One variable only: use the same water but shorten the main pour. Why: this coffee may still be releasing enough gas to disturb the early extraction. Expected result: more even early flow and a sweeter cup as it cools. I would not buy anything until that test gives you a direction.

[Lentil-Seamstress]

One variable only: extend the bloom by 15 seconds. Why: the present agitation can be creating fines migration and choking the bed. Expected result: a clear change in flow speed if the paper is part of the problem. I would not buy anything until that test gives you a direction.

[Lentil-Seamstress]

One variable only: change only the filter paper. Why: paper speed is an easy hidden variable to rule out before blaming the grinder. Expected result: more even early flow and a sweeter cup as it cools. I would not buy anything until that test gives you a direction.

[Fermenter]

One variable only: grind one small step coarser. Why: the current cup sounds more like excess late extraction than a lack of strength. Expected result: more even early flow and a sweeter cup as it cools. I would not buy anything until that test gives you a direction.

[Adam Guitar Shruti]

One variable only: remove the final swirl. Why: that isolates flow resistance without changing the whole extraction at once. Expected result: less bitterness in the last third of the cup. I would not buy anything until that test gives you a direction.

[Lentil Asana]

One variable only: change only the filter paper. Why: pour rate can move drawdown even when the grind setting is identical. Expected result: similar total time but less stalling near the end. I would not buy anything until that test gives you a direction.

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