“Ever since I started using the UFO, I’ve hardly touched any other dripper,” says Filip Vu, our roaster, quality control specialist, and Czech Brewers Cup finalist. The South Korean UFO dripper represents the latest significant milestone in the evolution of conical drippers. Let’s take a look at what its advantages are and why it’s becoming a trend.
Where did the UFO come from?
Behind the creation of the UFO dripper are American expert Kenzie Chay, a specialist in 3D printing and industrial design, and Jay Kim, a renowned barista and winner of the 2024 US Coffee Championships Prelims. The project arose from the need to address the natural tendency toward uneven extraction and the susceptibility to filter clogging that suffers classic 60-degree drippers, while preserving their ability to produce a complex, sensorially rich cup with high acidity.
Why did the creators name the new dripper “UFO”? Perhaps because its lower, flatter shape somewhat resembles a flying saucer. And perhaps also because the flavor profile that the UFO can draw out of coffee is a bit out of this world?
The dripper has been on the market for about two years and has already seen several versions made from the modern material Tritan (versions V2 and V3) as well as an elegant ceramic variant.
Our roastery is currently the proud exclusive importer for the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland. We’re ready to make it as easy as possible for you to get your hands on this dripper. You can find it right now in our e-shop or at our retail partners, such as Kofio.cz and others. Of course, we also showcase this dripper at coffee festivals and competitions.
Why is the UFO exceptional?
The UFO dripper’s design features three key innovations:
A unique 80° internal wall angle: The wide conical shape optimizes the contact time between water and coffee and creates a low coffee bed. In practice, this combines the advantages of both conical and flat-bottom drippers.
Air channels instead of traditional grooves: These improve the smoothness of extraction and prevent the filter from clogging.
Thermal stability: The plastic version, made of lightweight Tritan, retains heat exceptionally well. The ceramic version, thanks to its thinner material at the top and the absence of a solid base, is able to ideally utilize the rising heat from the server below it.
The story: from fan to finalist
Filip: I first became aware of the UFO dripper when Wataru Iidaka won 2nd place with it at the 2024 World Brewers Cup in Chicago. I then started watching videos by Jay Kim, co-founder of UFO (@brewedbyjay), who regularly works with this dripper.
What caught my attention most was the UFO’s unique design—something I don’t think we’ve seen before. There are countless drippers that copy the classic conical shape of the V60 with a 60-degree angle. Even among flat-bottom drippers, individual models often differ only in minor details, such as the size of the hole or the angle of the walls, but the extraction principle remains very similar.
The UFO dripper takes a completely different approach. Its conical shape with an 80-degree angle creates a wide and shallow coffee bed that resembles a flat-bottom dripper while retaining the character of a conical shape.The result is a very well-balanced cup—exactly the kind of profile I personally prefer.
I had so much confidence in the UFO dripper that I used it this year at the Czech Brewers Cup competition and finished in 6th place in the finals.
Petr, the roastery owner, adds: “We subsequently conducted many tests at our roastery, including blind taste tests comparing the UFO, SOLO, and V60. Based on taste, the UFO was the clear winner.”
World Leader in 2026
At the recent World Brewers Cup 2026 in Brussels, barista Nas Jaafar from Malaysia took the overall title using the UFO V3 dripper, which he combined with the Hario Switch base. This success will certainly make the UFO a highly sought-after accessory among baristas.
A barista’s perspective: How to work with filters
Filip: With most alternatives, I always ended up going back to the classic V60 over time. But with the UFO, thanks to its design, I have no reason to use anything else. It combines the character of a conical dripper with the qualities of flat-bottom brewers. The resulting brews are beautifully clean and transparent, yet rich and very sweet, which works great for me, especially with modern, light & ultra-light roasts.
I also enjoy how much you can change the character of the brew just by choosing different filters. Here are my recommendations:
UFO Type F filters: I use these when I want to enhance the coffee’s clarity and achieve a faster water flow.
UFO Type A filters: These work well for me when I want sweeter, slightly rounder cups with longer contact time between the water and the coffee.
Sibarist FAST Filters: I use them when I want to experiment more with turbulence or higher brew energy during the pour, without the risk of the cup losing its clarity.
An investment in the perfect cup
The higher price of this premium product reflects the sophisticated design process and the high quality of the materials used. Just like with other top-of-the-line barista tools, you’re not paying for a simple piece of plastic or ceramic, but for technology that gives you absolute control over the extraction. For anyone who wants to get the most out of specialty coffees, the UFO is a sensible investment in your daily coffee ritual.
In conclusion
We recommend all UFO drippers for home brewing, competition use, and the demanding daily operations of specialty coffee shops.
Be sure to check out our educational video series on Instagram, where Filip shares his favorite recipes and the latest tips on coffees roasted for pour-over.
We hope your coffee stays out-of-this-world good.
