Is the Ikea 3.9 funnel easy to make coffee filter cups? Why did IKEA's funnel suddenly burst into flames?

Recently, many friends have read such posts on the Internet: the funnel produced by Ikea is used as a coffee filter cup! The cause is that in the 2025 WBrC event, a contestant from Indonesia, Amadeo Yurcel, used this funnel instead of a filter cup to make hand-brewed coffee!

His goal is very simple, which is to focus people's attention not only on the equipment, but also on the basic principles of cooking. Then he made it to the finals and got a good result in sixth place. Although this achievement is also closely related to the quality of beans, but because the "filter" is too special, so the focus is still on the funnel. When the event was broadcast, the funnel, made by Ikea for only 3.99, was snapped up by coffee lovers. After all, it has become a competition-level filter cup readily available to everyone, so no accident, Qianjie also spent a lot of money to put it in the bag (without blinking an eye when paying), just want to experience the effect of the competition-level filter cup. (in terms of materials, Ikea officially introduced the use of food-grade PP material, which can withstand temperatures up to 100 °C. )

But if you have specifically searched for relevant reviews, Qianjie believes that it should not be difficult to find that nearly half of the bloggers are complaining about the use of this funnel. Because it is found that its flow rate is extremely slow when in use, there is a very high chance that the coffee will be over-extracted. Through many tests, Qianjie found that the reason for this is mainly because the filter paper we use is too high with the funnel, which leads to the flow rate is too slow!

What kind of filter paper should be used in the funnel? Qianjie explained in detail in the article "four differences between filter cup and filter cup" released two days ago that most filter cups have protruding ribs or concave grooves. The main reason is to increase the gap between the filter paper and the filter cup, so that the coffee liquid can have more flow space.

If a filter cup has neither protruding ribs nor concave grooves, the filter paper and the filter cup will fit perfectly and the liquid can only seep from the part of the bottom filter paper that is not attached to the filter cup. Although this will be a "by-pass" filter cup, its flow rate will be very slow. And Ikea's funnel is on this point! Although its cup wall seems to have ups and downs, it can create a lot of flow channels between the filter paper and the cup wall. But in fact, because the groove is too shallow, it cannot form an effective channel. Then, if the funnel is matched only with folded tapered / fan-shaped filter paper, the filter paper will enter the water extremely slowly because it fits perfectly with the filter cup. (add: because the funnel is not the 60 °C angle design of a conventional tapered filter cup, it can only be used by folding tapered / fan-shaped filter paper)

It has been tested in the front street that the funnel can only achieve a maximum flow rate of 3ml/s when using only folded tapered / fan-shaped filter paper, which is consistent with the launching speed of the infinite filter cup, which is known for its very slow flow rate. If you do not adjust the extraction parameters, then it is easy to have the situation of extraction. (Qianjie brewed a pot of 15g shallow roasted coffee with conventional parameters and three stages, the extraction time was as high as three and a half minutes, and the bitter and miscellaneous taste was prominent and obvious.)

So, if you want to use this Ikea funnel instead of a filter cup to make good coffee, there are three options: ① adjusts the brewing scheme: reducing the overall extraction efficiency by adjusting the roughing and grinding, lowering the water temperature, and reducing the number of segments. Because the extraction time will be at least 3 minutes (if only folded tapered / fan-shaped filter paper is used), we need to reduce the extraction efficiency of other parameters to prevent coffee overextraction. ② uses Lili beads: the use of Lili beads can increase the gap of air circulation, so that hot water can have more space to flow. Through the test in the front street, it is found that after using Lili Zhu (conventional version), the launching rate of the funnel will increase by about 5ml/s, which is similar to that of the Kono filter cup. But it is very troublesome to do so, not only to buy extra Lili beads, but also to fold filter paper! Therefore, Qianjie recommends the third method! ③ uses cake filter paper: because the "opening" of the funnel is larger, it can be used with model 01 cake filter paper. We just need to put the filter paper in and wet it with water, and the funnel becomes a "flat filter cup".

Compared with the former two, cake filter paper is much more convenient to use. Not only does not need the tedious folding filter paper, also does not need to purchase the additional equipment. The most important thing is that the launching rate can also be increased to 7ml/s, which can be said to be quite practical! Of course, only if you have cake filter paper. If the cake filter paper is used with the funnel, then we do not need to make adjustments in cooking, we can still use the original parameters and methods. However, it should be noted that because the funnel has a long diversion tube, we need to be equipped with a higher sharing pot, or a bracket, otherwise we will not be able to use the short sharing pot because it cannot hold up the funnel.

But then again, Qianjie doesn't think it's necessary to buy a funnel to use as a filter cup. After all, there is a specialty in the art industry, and the funnel is still unable to replace the professional coffee filter cup, whether in terms of convenience or practicality. As you can see from the introduction on the front street above, the funnel is not easy to use. The reason why the contestants use the funnel instead of the filter cup is mainly to let everyone not focus on the equipment, and the basic theory of coffee extraction is also very important, so the cheapest prop with holes that looks like a filter cup is used to make coffee. Even if it is not a filter cup, you can make good coffee. Therefore, his thinking is the key, not the funnel itself. In the end, whether to buy or not depends on your own will. after all, the funnel is not expensive, and it's a good pastime to take one home when you pass by Ikea.

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