NextLevel Pulsar Brewer Coming Soon!
When we released the NextLevel LVL-10 brewer, we were happy with the results and enjoyed how easy it was to yield delicious, even and high extractions. At NextLevel we strive to constantly improve, so we brought on coffee-obsessed astrophysicist Jonathan Gagné to the team to help develop our new brewer, the Pulsar.
Jonathan suggested adding a variable flow-rate valve as well as several other small modifications to the LVL-10, and we’re thrilled with the results! The valve allows the option of a long “steeped” bloom for more efficient prewetting of the coffee grounds. The valve and the “no bypass” brewer design provide an unlimited number of possible combinations of immersion and percolation. You imagination is the only limitation.
Initial Thoughts on the Pulsar Brewer
"I'm very happy with the versatility and evenness of extraction that the Pulsar offers. It is the first time I use a dripper that does exactly what I want it to do: it offers me complete control over agitation and flow rate, and makes it easy to retain water during the blooming phase. Paired with the high quality paper filters of the Next Level team, I have obtained my favorite and most easily repeatable brews with the Pulsar. Even better, the pairing of a valve with a no-bypass dripper allows me to try some wilder experiments that I'm looking forward to share."
I am one of the lucky few that gets to beta test the prototype of the next level Pulsar. And I have to say it produces one of the best quality extractions of any Brewer that I have used.
Very much looking forward to helping @nextlevelbrewerco & @jgagneastrocoffee sell this thing. Extraction quality is extraordinary.
Very much looking forward to helping @nextlevelbrewerco & @jgagneastrocoffee sell this thing. Extraction quality is extraordinary.
Pulsar Benefits
Flow Control
The Pulsar brewer offers complete control over agitation and flow rate, and makes it easy to retain water during the blooming phase.
Diffused Pouring
Start a controlled brew with a uniform wetting of the grounds with the carefully designed dispersion cap.
High Versatility
The valve and the "no bypass" brewer design provide an unlimited number of possible combinations of immersion and percolation.
No Water Bypass
Eliminate the unknown amount of water bypassing the coffee bed (Easily control the strength with brew ratio)
Heat Retention
The combination of thermal stable plastic and dispersion cap give this brewer the advantage of higher slurry temps.
Tea Brewing
The ideal dripper for steep & release tea brewing. Gong-fu tea brewing is a traditional Chinese method of making tea.
Steep-and-Relealse
Perfect for simple brews 'steep-and-release' brews.
Made in the USA
All parts manufactured in the United States of America!
Suggested Pulsar Recipes
Pulsar | Batch Brew | 1:17
Mostly Percolation / Balanced Extraction
Dose: 40g
Water: Brew 580g
Beverage Size: 600g
Grind: 1000 – 1,300 microns
Instructions
Rinse filter, close valve, add dispersion cap, and tare scale.
- Start: Add approx 120g | Add coffee (WWDT)
- 0:30 – 1:00: Open valve.
- Next: Pour in the center of the cap in multiple pours, keeping the brew water column between 200-300ml, pouring until the total is 620g (accounting for dose).
- TBT: 4:30 – 5:30 (depending on valve/grind)
- End: Remove brewer, tare scale and add 100g dilute to brew.
Pulsar | Steep & Flush | 1:17
Faster Brews / Higher Body / Balanced Extraction
Dose: 20g
Water: Brew 340g
Beverage Size: 295g
Grind: 600 – 800 microns
Instructions
Rinse filter, close valve, add dispersion cap, and tare scale.
- Start: Add approx 100g | Add coffee (WWDT)
- Next: Add water up to 190g
- 1:30 – 2:00: Open valve. (Partially?)
- Next: Cool kettle 10º – 15º (F) Pour in the center of the cap in multiple pours, keeping the brew water column between 3 and 1 centimeter above the bed, pouring until the total is 360g (accounting for dose).
- TBT: 3:30 – 4:30 (depends on valve/grind)
Pulsar | Dry Filter | 18/305
Mostly diffusion / Larger bloom / Higher Sweetness
Dose: 18g
Water: Brew 305g
Beverage Size: 260g
Grind: 800 – 1,000 microns
Instructions
- Dry Filter, Close Valve, Add Coffee
- Start: Bloom with 100g (WWDT)
- 1:00: Open valve.
- 1:30: Pour up to 200g.
- When the brewing water is about a centimeter above the bed, pouring until the total is 305g.
- TBT: 4:00 – 5:00 (depending on coffee)
Pulsar | Basic Recipe | 1:17
Mostly diffusion, Higher clarity / Higher acidity
Dose: 20g
Water: Brew 340g
Beverage Size: 295g
Grind: 800 – 1,000 microns
Instructions
- Dry Filter, Close Valve, Add Coffee
- Start: Bloom with 60g (WWDT)
- 0:30 – 1:00: Open valve.
- Next: Pour in the center of the cap in multiple pours, keeping the brew water column between 3 and 1 centimeter above the bed, pouring until the total is 340g.
- TBT: 4:00 – 5:00 (depending on coffee/grind)
Frequently Asked Questions
A slower flow thru a level bed that’s a uniform thickness combined with a partially saturated brew water produces a “sweet” balance of immersion and diffusion brewing.
This design nearly eliminates channeling and uneven extraction. No Bypass Brewing, a brew method that can be difficult to conceptualize but easy to execute, producing consistently great coffees!
AeroPress is an Immersion style brewer, while LVL-10 is more of a Diffusion/Percolation style brewer. The dispersion cap also gives LVL-10 another layer of control. Also the larger filter area and brewing volume allow greater experimentation with different brewing ratios / grind sizes.
The white/black material used for the base and cap ring is a specially formulated Soft-Touch Food Safe TPE. The transparent material used for the dispersion cap, barrel, and filter support is a clear, durable BPA Free copolyester – Tritan®.
This would depend on water quality and roast level somewhat, but we have successfully brewed batches of 50/1000g by using a brewing ratio of 1:12
We’re working on a method to brew fully immersive that will add versatility to coffee brewing (both hot and cold) plus a paper filters tea brewer.
Yes! The LVL-10 brewer really shines with this drink. Simply brew into ice! Using ice (Measured by weight) in place of the dilute water.
Yes! The dispersion cap allows for a faster pour and it’s possible to add all the water in one pour if that better fits the bar workflow. Also there’s no need to ‘babysit’ the NextLevel brewer during the draw-down thereby freeing up a barista to do other things.
While this isn’t strictly necessary, it is based around the theory that the majority of the extraction has taken place within the first couple minutes of the brew. This combined with the correlation between grind size and brew ratio is part of the beauty of this “Vertical Water Path / No-Bypass” brewer concept. This gives us a lot more brewing parameter options to work with, or better said, more control of the dilute ratios. Using a brew ratio of 1:12 / dilute ratio of 1:5, most of the brews we test have Extraction Yields of 20 – 22%. Higher EY’s can be achieved with a finer grind but this doesn’t usually translate to a better cup.