Dripper Structural Engineering: A Technical Whitepaper
Vihi Design Coffee Research Lab ｜ Technical Whitepaper 2025
Preface: Why Dripper Geometry Matters More Than We Think
A dripper is not simply a “holder for paper.”
From an engineering perspective, it is a micro-scale fluid dynamics device.
Its geometry determines:
- Flow rate
- Bed stability
- Pressure distribution
- Flow pathway
- Drawdown time
- Extraction clarity
Different drippers = different extraction physics.
Chapter 1: Core Structural Variables
1. Cone Angle
Affects pressure profile, flow concentration, and bed height.
2. Flat-bottom vs Conical
- Flat-bottom → stable, even, controlled
- Conical → fast, pressure-focused, sensitive
3. Rib Structure
Determines whether water escapes smoothly along the paper wall.
4. Drainage Hole Design
Controls resistance and drawdown dynamics.
5. Paper Contact Area
Higher contact = higher resistance; inconsistent angles = inconsistent flow.
Chapter 2: Major Dripper Families
V60
60° cone, fast, center-driven flow.
Origami
20 ribs, high-velocity outer channels, highly paper-dependent.
Kalita Wave
Flat-bottom, stable, industrial-like extraction —
but highly sensitive to paper angle inconsistencies.
Chapter 3: Filter Paper Geometry
Filter geometry is the hidden extraction engine.
- Angle deviation affects resistance
- Fold alignment affects fines accumulation
- Paper stiffness affects expansion behavior
Wave papers can deviate by ±3–8°, causing:
- 8–15% flow variation
- Clogging in late stages
- Uneven pressure distribution
This is why V-Fold exists.
Chapter 4: Bed Stability
- Center channeling
- Outer-wall acceleration
- Edge clogging
Each corresponds to a different dripper geometry.
Chapter 5: Fluid Dynamics Overview
Manual brewing is gravity-driven low-Reynolds-number flow,
but dripper geometry creates localized high-shear and high-resistance zones.
- V60 → fast central stream
- Origami → wall acceleration
- Wave → flat, even laminar flow
Chapter 6: Why 3D Printing Is the Future
- High geometric complexity
- Instant iteration
- Experimental validation capability
These are the foundations of Vihi’s engineering approach.
Chapter 7: The Future of Dripper Engineering (2025–2030)
- Filter geometry must be controlled
- Engineering-first designs will dominate
- Fines control becomes central
- Flat-bottom systems will rise again
- 3D printing becomes the primary innovation driver
Conclusion: A Dripper Is an Extraction Engine
Dripper geometry defines extraction behavior.
Paper defines resistance.
The bed defines stability.
Vihi Design will continue advancing brewing through engineering,
because the future of coffee tools will be shaped not by aesthetics,
but by scientific understanding.
Vihi Coffee Research Lab ｜ vihi.design ｜ support@vihi.design
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