Pour-Over Coffee: In-Depth Guide

What’s the most effective way to make pour-over coffee? With so many devices, techniques, and variations, it’s hard to identify a single “best” method.

While it’s impossible to cover every aspect of pour over coffee, we aim to provide a general overview of the process, its benefits, the most popular brewing devices, and key factors to consider when making it. Regardless of the device you choose, this guide will set you on the right path.

What is Pour-Over Coffee?

Pour over coffee is a catch-all term that describes any handmade brew method where you're pouring water over coffee grounds, the water then drips through the grounds, extracting the flavors and aromas, and resulting in a fresh cup of coffee. 

Why pour over though? Well pour over gives you the opportunity to dial in your brew exactly how YOU like it, not how some machine thinks it should be made. It also lets you make the exact amount of coffee that you want which can help decrease waste and keeps it as fresh as possible.

What You'll Need to Make Pour-Over Coffee

To make pour over, you will need freshly ground coffee beans, a pour over device (such as a V60, Kalita Wave, or Chemex), a paper or metal reusable filter, a kettle for heating water, a scale for measuring coffee and water, and a timer (your phone should work).

Pour-Over Devices

There are various pour over devices available, each offering a slightly different brewing experience. Popular options include the Hario v60 pour over, Chemex pour over, Kalita Wave, and AeroPress. Experiment with different devices to find the one that suits your taste preferences. 

However, I personally prefer touse the Chemex with a metal reusable filter as this helps me reduce paper usage and I love the flavors that the chemex pour over device provides.

Water to Coffee Ratio

The ideal water to coffee ratio for pour-over coffee is typically between 1:15 and 1:17, depending on your preferred strength. Start with a 1:16 ratio (1 gram of coffee to 16 grams of water) and adjust according to your taste.

Steps to Making Pour Over Coffee

1. Bring water to a boil and let it cool slightly to around 200°F (93°C).

2. Place a filter in the pour over device and rinse it with hot water to remove any paper taste.

3. Add freshly ground coffee to the filter, ensuring the grounds are evenly distributed.

4. Start the timer and slowly pour water over the coffee grounds in a circular motion, ensuring all the grounds are saturated.

5. Allow the coffee to bloom for 30 seconds, then continue pouring water in a slow and steady stream.

6. Once all the water has passed through the grounds, discard the filter and enjoy your freshly brewed pour over coffee.

Brew Time for Pour-Over Coffee

The total brew time for pour over coffee is typically between 2 to 4 minutes. Adjust the grind size, water flow, and pouring technique to achieve the desired extraction and flavor profile.

Now that you have a better understanding of pour-over coffee, why not try your hand at brewing a delicious cup at home? Our Ethiopia Dogo Sogu Single-Origin beans are amazing with pour-over due to being growing in high altitudes. Experiment with different coffee beans, grind sizes, and pouring techniques to find the perfect balance that suits your taste buds. Happy brewing!