SOFI IS BACK, and better than ever! Rich, syrupy and incredibly sweet with a velvety mouthfeel unlike any other — SOFI produces the smoothest brews using a unique combination of very finely ground coffee and slow percolation. Inspired by the South Indian Filter, a brewer that dates back over a century, our goal was to take this brewer we love and fix everything about it that annoyed us. We’ve worked our butts off for the better part of a year conceptualising, designing and manufacturing this product that we couldn’t be more proud of and here are some the reasons why you should care…
BRAND NEW DESIGN
We’ve designed SOFI to look more modern without losing the essence of the original – eliminating unnecessary curves, tapers and protrusions to create a much cleaner form.
NO MORE STALLED BREWS
One of the biggest and most frustrating issues with the original South Indian Filter is stalling due to air lock. SOFI now sports air vents on both the lid and collection chamber ensuring good air flow through the brewer at all times. This feature alone is worth the upgrade in our opinion.
Portable
SOFI needs no coddling – it’s tough and small and requires no electricity. Whether you’re on a business trip or hiking to the remotest corner of the world, just throw it in your bag and you’re good to go.
Experiment
SOFI is extremely versatile. It’s capable of a wide variety for brews ranging from the traditional kaapi, to flat-whites all the way to more pour over style drinks using longer ratios and light roasted single origin coffees. So experiment and find what works for you.
Share Recipes
South Indian Filters come in all shapes and sizes, making it near impossible for people to share and replicate recipes. SOFI however, is standardised and consistent unit to unit. Recipes are also backward compatible with the previous version as we’ve kept all the dimensions the same.
Built To Last
SOFI now uses a higher grade and higher gauge stainless steel 304 giving it a much more premium look and feel. You’ll notice this the moment you pick it up as SOFI is 50% heavier than it’s predecessor. So with a little bit of care, it will last you a lifetime.
Details Matter
We’ve streamlined and automated the bulk of the manufacturing process which has dramatically reduced variance between units. Every SOFI is made with 0.8mm gauge food-grade SS304 and has a 72.5mm filter with 129 evenly spaced, 0.8mm machine-punched holes.
Improved Handling
SOFI ships with a heat resistant band that makes handling the brewer a lot easier when brewing.
WDT Tool
This game-changing distribution tool plays a key role in removing clumps and levelling the bed of coffee before brewing to ensure the most even extraction.
HOW TO USE SOFI
The video below features the previous version of SOFI but the the detailed guide on how to brew is still completely relevant to this new version. The only thing you no longer need to worry about is putting the parts of the brewer together too tightly. The new air vents prevent any stalling due to air-lock.
Community
Hey SOFI enthusiasts, users, and curious onlookers! We’ve created a group where we share all things SOFI — brews, experiments, troubleshooting etc. You don’t have to be a SOFI owner to be a part of this group. There’s no question that’s too stupid to ask, so click below to join and post away.
Gallery
FAQ
What is SOFI and why is it different from other brewers?
SOFI is Aramse’s standardised South Indian filter. This standalone stainless steel, no-bypass brewer requires no electricity or paper filters to brew a delicious cup of coffee. You just need access to great coffee and hot water, and you’re all set! You get modern design, premium build with upgraded materials, air flow slits that prevent stalling, a WDT tool to distribute the grounds, and a silicone band to make handling easier. We would be devastated to see this nifty little brewer with so much potential beyond its current use become a relic of the past. The South Indian filter absolutely has a place in the world of modern coffee and we are on a mission to ensure that happens!
Why is standardisation so important?
The traditional South Indian filter comes in varying sizes, shapes, dimensions and even materials in stores across India. Eliminating the variances from one brewer to the next means that people around the world can now create their own recipes and share it with others. SOFI is an attempt at raising the bar of what is currently available, through standardisation of sizes (72.5mm diameter filter). The goal behind this effort in reimagining the South Indian filter for the modern world of coffee is to promote innovation around brewing with this device.
Why is it called SOFI?
It’s just short for South Indian Filter.
What does the WDT tool do?
The Weiss Distribution Technique (WDT) is widely considered the most effective method of distributing coffee grounds. The WDT tool is a game-changing accessory that uses 0.25 – 0.4mm needles to break up any clumps in the grounds and helps create a well-distributed bed to ensure that water can extract all of the coffee evenly
Why do I get a lot of sediment in my brews?
As with all brewing methods there are some challenges The best way to reduce sediment is to pour more gently. Use ‘the spoon technique’ (as outlined in our user manual) or a Melodrip to achieve this. You can also try swirling less aggressively. Lastly, pour the brewed coffee out of the bottom chamber slowly and stop just as you see any sediment.
Why are my brews stalling despite the air flow vents?
The air flow vents only prevent stalling due to air-lock. There are a few other reasons why this could be happening:
- Your grind size is too fine, try going coarser
- You are pouring too fast from too high — again lower pour height and speed and also try the spoon technique.
- Your grinder is producing too many fines.
- You’re swirling too aggressively — trying being more gentle and red
- You’ve dosed too high — try reducing the dose. The ideal range 15 – 20g.
Why are my brews dilute?
Increase coffee dose or reduce amount of water used.
What is a no-bypass brewer?
Pour over brewers like the V60 have ridges which create gaps between the filter paper and walls of the brewer. While brewing, some of the water above the coffee bed slips out through the paper and down these gaps making little to no contact with the coffee. This phenomenon, called bypass, leads to lower extractions, and is why low or no bypass brewers like the KŌNO and Tricolate are gaining popularity. The South Indian filter has been around forever and is also a no-bypass brewer that ensures all of the water to passes through the bed of coffee with no opportunity to go around it.
Is the band heat resistant?
While the band does significantly improve handling of the brewer it can become fairly warm if the top chamber is filled up with very hot water. This scenario shouldn’t arise when brewing the recommended dose of 15 – 25g.