What is Pour Over Coffee?
Pour-over coffee is a manual brewing method where hot water is poured over coffee grounds in a filter. Unlike automatic drip machines, you control the water flow rate, pour pattern, and brew time, resulting in a clean, nuanced cup that highlights the coffee’s unique flavors.
Equipment You’ll Need
- Pour-Over Dripper – Hario V60, Chemex, Kalita Wave, or Melitta ($10-50)
- Paper Filters – Match your dripper type
- Gooseneck Kettle – Essential for controlled pouring ($30-100)
- Coffee Scale – Measures coffee and water ($15-50)
- Burr Grinder – Fresh ground coffee is crucial
- Timer – Built into most scales or use your phone
- Fresh Coffee Beans – Light to medium roast
The Perfect Pour-Over Recipe
Ratio: 1:16 (15g coffee to 240g water for one cup, or 30g to 480g for two)
Grind: Medium (like table salt)
Water temp: 200°F (93°C)
Total time: 2:30-3:30 minutes
Step-by-Step Pour-Over Technique
Step 1: Prepare Your Setup
Place filter in dripper, rinse with hot water to remove paper taste and preheat the vessel. Discard rinse water. Place dripper on scale, add ground coffee, and tare to zero.
Step 2: The Bloom (0:00-0:45)
Start timer. Pour 2-3x the weight of your coffee in water (30-45g for 15g coffee) in a gentle spiral, ensuring all grounds are saturated. Wait 30-45 seconds while CO2 releases and the coffee blooms.
Step 3: First Pour (0:45-1:15)
Pour in a slow spiral from center outward to 60% of total water (about 150g for a 240g brew). Maintain a steady, gentle pour. Avoid pouring directly on the filter.
Step 4: Second Pour (1:15-2:00)
Once water level drops to about 1 inch from the grounds, add remaining water in the same spiral pattern, reaching your target weight (240g total).
Step 5: Drawdown (2:00-3:00)
Let the water drain completely. Total brew time should be 2:30-3:30. If faster, grind finer. If slower, grind coarser.
Pro Tips
- Water quality matters – Use filtered water
- Pulse pouring – Some prefer 3-4 smaller pours instead of continuous
- Stir the bloom – Gentle stir ensures even saturation
- Preheat everything – Keeps brew temperature stable
- Experiment with ratios – Try 1:15 for stronger, 1:17 for lighter