[METRO]

Brew Delicious Coffee with a Hand Drip

These days, with specialty coffee shops popping up on every corner, many baristas turn to hand-drip techniques to differentiate themselves. Yet, hand-drip coffee hasn’t become truly mainstream. For today’s busy consumers, machine-brewed coffee often feels more convenient and consistent.

True coffee lovers, however, seek perfection—carefully adjusting the amount of coffee, grind size, water volume, and temperature. One misstep, and the coffee's flavor falters. Achieving a well-balanced cup requires precise control over every factor. Hand-drip, in particular, is said to reflect the “touch” of the brewer—each person’s method can lead to slightly different results. Though drippers provide a simple way to brew consistently, the taste can still vary depending on who’s brewing.

If you could achieve a consistent hand-drip flavor, that would be great news for coffee lovers. That’s where The Gabi, led by Dr. Nam Sang-woon, steps in. In 2016, the company introduced a new kind of hand-drip set: Master A. Designed to simplify and stabilize the hand-drip process, Master A lets you enjoy quality coffee anywhere—at home, in the office, camping, traveling, even on a plane. Just pour hot water (about 90℃), and the device handles the rest. No need to worry about water flow or technique.

Nam Sang-woon explains that while hand-drip methods have grown globally, offering an alternative to machine-brewed coffee, he believed true mainstream adoption was still lacking. The biggest reason? "Too much inconsistency, despite time and effort." That’s why his team dedicated years of testing and development to create Master A.

Master A is made from polycarbonate—the same material used in baby bottles—for safety and durability, with a heat resistance of 140–150℃. It’s also built entirely on Korean technology and includes four patented innovations. As the first product from The Gabi, Master A sets the stage for future releases of drip and Dutch brewing devices powered by this technical foundation.

— Reporter Choi Gyu-chun (ch9720@)