AD Cafe | The Creative Duo Bringing Specialty Coffee to a Wider Audience

AD Cafe is a coffee-focused media brand founded in 2018 by Adi, who comes from a music background, and Mumu, who studied chemistry. By blending music, science, and coffee culture, the duo has built a unique approach to sharing coffee knowledge and experiences.

Today, AD Cafe has grown to more than 200,000 followers across social platforms, with over a million views on YouTube, continuing to introduce more people to the world of specialty coffee.

During a live brewing session at the 1Zpresso booth at the Taiwan International Coffee Show, Adi demonstrated the ZP6 hand grinder and showed how grinding and pouring structure can be used to shape the final flavor profile. 

The ZP6: Grind Characteristics and Flavor Profile

Grind Characteristics: High Uniformity, Low Fines

When introducing the ZP6, Adi highlighted its excellent grind uniformity.

• The particle size distribution is relatively concentrated, with particles falling within a similar range and a lower proportion of fines.

After grinding on site, he showed the audience the grounds, noting that the particles were clearly uniform with minimal size variation.

He also mentioned that this high uniformity and low fines content provide more “brewing flexibility,” allowing for more aggressive extraction methods, such as the stirring technique he demonstrated that day.

Flavor Profile: Emphasis on Acidity and Aromatics

Regarding flavor, Adi gave the ZP6 a very clear positioning:

• The overall cup profile is very clean.
• If you enjoy acidity and aromatics, this is likely a grinder you will appreciate.

This flavor profile comes directly from its uniform and tightly distributed particle size.

However, Adi also shared that this type of grind characteristic and flavor profile may not suit everyone. Higher uniformity leads to a cleaner cup, but it may also reduce perceived body or complexity, depending on personal preference.

AD Cafe’s Pour-Over Recipe and Pouring Method

Brewing Parameters

• Coffee dose: 20g
• Grinder: ZP6
• Grind setting: 4.5
• Water temperature: 93°C
• Total water: 300g
• Total brew time: under 2 minutes
• Dripper: 1Zpresso Dripper

Brewing Steps

• Distribution: Use a spoon to create a small hole in the center of the coffee bed
• Bloom: 50g water for 30 seconds
• 2nd pour: up to 200g total water, stir briefly with a spoon
• 3rd pour: up to 250g total water
• 4th pour: up to 300g total water

AD Cafe Adi’s Brewing Tips

1.  When using a V-shaped dripper, creating a center hole improves bed uniformity

The dripper used in the demonstration was a V-shaped dripper.

Adi pointed out that with this type of dripper, the coffee bed is thicker in the center and thinner around the edges.

To address this, he gently creates a small hole in the center before brewing, helping equalize bed thickness and improving extraction consistency.

2. Stirring method: higher uniformity allows higher extraction intensity

In this demonstration, Adi used a stirring method early in the brew.

He explained that a grind with high uniformity and low fines makes it possible to use more aggressive extraction techniques.

3. Timing of stirring affects flavor expression

Beyond grind quality, Adi emphasized that timing is critical:

Early-stage stirring tends to highlight acidity.
Mid-stage stirring may enhance sweetness.
Late-stage stirring tends to bring out bitterness and harsher notes.

Final Thoughts on the ZP6 Manual Grinder

Adi views the ZP6 as a grinder centered on grind uniformity.

In terms of flavor, it clearly leans toward a clean profile. If you enjoy acidity and aromatics, this is likely a grinder you will appreciate.

On the other hand, higher uniformity and a cleaner cup may come with less perceived texture and complexity, depending on personal preference.

Additionally, due to its low fines production, the ZP6 offers more flexibility in extraction. For example, it allows for higher-intensity extraction in the early stage of brewing to enhance overall flavor strength.