Dead simple to operate. But presents a crazy amount of experimentation.
That’s the new Ceado Hoop, winner of the 2023 SCA Best New Consumer Product at the World of Coffee Show in Athens. Ceado is a well known grinder manufacturer, so this is definitely a departure into a new space for them. They obviously did well because this won best of show.
The Hoop is a deceptively simple brewing device with some smart engineering. It is a no-bypass brewer, which is the new rage, but it also promises to deliver a superior quality pour over coffee with almost complete hands off brewing.
To brew with the device, install the paper filter into the bottom of the Hoop, and screw the flow tower into the centre of the Hoop. Optionally pre-wet the filter (one really should), then add 15 to 20g of coffee. Shake to level the coffee. Then add up to 300g of off-the-boil water to the outer Hoop.
Then walk away. Yep, walk away. Come back 5-6 minutes later, and there’s an excellent cup of coffee to drink. At least that is what Ceado promises!
Ceado promises this because of two things: first, the Hoop is a no-bypass filter design with the same diameter as an AeroPress (more on that below), which promises good extraction rates. Second, Ceado designed 12 flow holes around the inner tube, or ‘flow tower” to evenly introduce water from the outer hoop to the inner brewing chamber in a nicely paced amount. Liquids self-level in the brewer, so new brewing water only makes its way into the brew chamber to even out brewed coffee dripping out of the bottom.
I mentioned the AeroPress above because all filters designed for the OG AeroPress work with the Ceado Hoop: AeroPress’ own paper filters, their own metal filter, and third party filters like the Able Brewing DISK. This is pretty cool because it may be hard to get Ceado’s own paper filters down the road, but AeroPress paper filters are even available in Walmart these days.
I should note Ceado’s paper filters are thinner and finer than the AeroPress versions, which will affect flow rate and brew times.
No ByPass But Different
Most no-bypass brewers require you to either pour all your brewing water into a central chamber, usually via a water dispersion device up top, in one go (which is pretty close to a full immersion brew), or be hands on and pour in stages from a kettle. Indeed, it’s often best to do the staged pour if you’re using an AeroPress as a no-bypass open brewer.
The Ceado Hoop is different. Its design and engineering allows you to add all the brewing water in one go, but the water you add remains separated from the main brewing chamber, only introducing fresh water (and a bit of agitation – not too much!) as the overall water levels decrease while brewed coffee steeps out of the bottom of the filter paper. In effect, fresh water is constantly being introduced to the slurry of ground coffee and brewing water for the entire brew at declining temperatures, via 12 small holes in the flow tower.
Experimentation
The design of the Ceado Hoop presents a lot of experimentation possibilities. Double up the paper filter to further control and limit the extraction (and get a higher ratio’ed brew, ideal for iced coffees). Use metal filters for a different pour over style. I have one of the old gold plated Able Brewing DISK FINE filters and you bet I’m going to try that one with the Hoop. Heck, one could also use the round cloth filters from a siphon coffee maker for a clean cup with more of the aromatic and volatile oils, fats and lipids that paper blocks.
More possible experimentation: try pouring into the main chamber to increase agitation (nb, some coffee with evacuate to the outer hoop if you do this). Try a two staged brew, letting the puck of coffee dry out before adding your second volume of water to the outer hoop.
That’s just a few ideas.
The Ceado Hoop comes in a variety of colours, but the two most common ones will be all matt black, and the “ghost” model in the photos above.
We’re working on a Snapshot review of the Ceado Hoop, and adding it to our forthcoming feature on no-bypass brewing. For now, the Hoop is available in the USA and Canada from Whole Latte Love for just $40. If you love experimenting with coffee, get one. If you love completely hands off pour over that tastes great, you should also get one.
Mark has certified as a Canadian, USA, and World Barista Championship Judge in both sensory and technical fields, as well as working as an instructor in coffee and espresso training. He started CoffeeGeek in 2001.
4 Responses
Very interesting brewer. My brother has a Ceado grinder he bought several years back and loves it except for some issues with static. I wonder if he knows about this coffee maker. I like that a constant low flow of fresh water is introduced to the brewing coffee. I might have to get one!
Gimme that review!
Sorry, this is getting ridiculous
I received my hoop several days ago, made about 5 cups of coffee that showed promise. The water streams shoot out across the grinds very nicely. 4 minutes is about how long it took to make the cups with 16g/255g.
But last 3 cups this morning it took 5 minutes. So I looked at the water streams, which only dribbles down the sides of the grind holder and misses the center of the grind bed. Coffee did not taste good.
I cleaned the holes with a pipe cleaner but did not fix the problem.