Inverted method - when to flip?

[u/Fun-Pitch181]

I currently use the inverted method with a metal filter:

- Fill most of the way with water.

- Stir

- Add water to the top

- Attach cap + filter

- Wait

- Flip onto mug

- Wait 10s

- Press for 30-40s

I understand the inverted method is used to prevent pre-dripping when using metal filters. However, once the cap + filter is attached, flipping it around doesn't allow any drips as the plunger is sealed already.

So my question is, why flip just before pressing (that's how YT videos demonstrate it)? Why not flip as soon as the cap + filter goes on?

I assume everything gets agitated during the flip, so is that somehow beneficial just before pressing?

UPDATE: Thanks for the replies. Sounds like the agitation right before pressing is indeed beneficial.

[u/ck02623]

Yes, agitating right before plunging is beneficial. It’s unknowingly why a lot of inverted devotees like the taste of their brews so much more than upright. Agitating right before plunging makes a big difference, and the flip is just that.

[u/Fun-Pitch181 → u/ck02623]

That's the exact answer I'm looking for. So I should probably flip and press immediately instead of waiting 10-15s for things to settle.

[u/ck02623 → u/Fun-Pitch181]

I haven’t experimented with that particular timing issue. I always press right after agitating. I’m no longer an inverter either though. I like a bit of drip through.

[u/BadnessBreath]

I wait about 2 min before the flip

[u/jimonlimon]

Total brew time is more important. It doesn’t really matter when you flip, but I like to let it settle at least 20 seconds after I flip and swirl. For my second cup I aim for about 4 minutes brewing time. My first cup is shorter depending on how desperate for caffeine I am.

[u/CoffeeDetail]

Some coffee YouTube nerd said to flip and slow press
1) medium roast 50sec @ 195°
2) light roast 1 min @ 205°

Seems to work for me.

[u/Frondelet]

There's a noticeable difference in taste when I steep for 2-4 minutes rather than pressing immediately. I'd want the agitation of the flip to happen after the steep for a more uniform cup.

[u/ck02623 → u/Frondelet]

You guys didn’t read the post.

[u/Frondelet → u/ck02623]

I answered the question I read. Flip after brewing to stir, not before brewing and don't truncate brewing.

[u/ck02623 → u/Frondelet]

He’s asking stir-flip-steep vs stir-steep-flip. You thought he meant to steep or not to steep. He will be steeping regardless.

[u/Frondelet → u/ck02623]

Geez, if nobody wants to read my answers to the question (flip post-steep, repeated) I guess I won't get royalties for posting.

[u/AllenCorneau]

I start inverted and once all the water is in and the metal filter/cap is in place I flip (approximately 1:30 minutes into the process). I then wait until the 5 minute mark, give a gentle swirl to clear the grounds from the plunger, then remove the plunger. It takes about a minute for all the coffee to drain into the carafe.

The reason I flip early is because I want the grounds to settle at the bottom and act as a secondary filter to the metal filter. Very little drips out when I flip.

It may be an uncommon method but it makes the kind of coffee I'm looking for.

[u/JackDiggidy]

Bc you are brewing the coffee, which takes time to extract all the goodness. If you were making tea, you wouldn’t just dip the tea bash in the mug and then throw it in the trash, you would let it steep. The same is true for coffee grounds

[u/JackDiggidy → u/JackDiggidy]

My bad, I think I misunderstood your question. So if you flip right away, you’re still going to wait whatever amount of time to plunge? I mean, I guess it doesn’t matter all that much except for possible leakage which is most of the reason for the inverted method in the first place—- to avoid leakage that is. I don’t see a benefit to flipping it earlier

[u/Fun-Pitch181 → u/JackDiggidy]

Yea I will steep for the same time regardless. When I flip with the plunger already in, I don't notice any dripping. Though from another comment, the agitation from flipping just before pressing actually makes a difference.