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Pour Over Coffee Brewing Guide

Person pouring coffee into mug
Pour Over Coffee Brewing Guide

Pour over coffee is a staple of artisanal coffee shops the world over. Making pour over coffee is a standard skill for gourmet baristas, but with a little practice and the right tools you can make a delicate, complex cup of pour over coffee from the comfort of your kitchen.

What Is Pour Over Coffee?

Pour over coffee is precisely what it sounds like — a process of making a single cup of coffee by pouring hot water over the coffee grinds and a filter by hand. Many elements are necessary to make consistent cups of flavorful pour over coffee, but by following this quick guide you can begin your journey from pour over novice to handmade coffee master.

Materials Needed:

Gooseneck Kettle

Water

Coffee - Ground

Tablespoon

Timer

Hario V60 Brewer

Coffee Filters

Brew Time:

3 minutes

How to Make Pour Over Coffee

  • Boil water to about 200 degrees Fahrenheit. You can accomplish this by bringing water to a boil and then letting it sit for about 45 seconds, or you can use a smart kettle to get the water to an exact temperature.
  • Fold your coffee filter into a cone shape and rinse the filter in the Hario V60 with hot water for about five seconds to remove the paper taste. Do this into the mug or carafe you plan to brew into in order to warm it up. Discard the water from the cup.
  • Pour a medium grind of coffee into the filter, and tap the Hario V60 gently to even the grinds. Jump down below for an evaluation of what grind to use (and why).
  • Now for the tougher part: pour about two ounces of hot water over the grounds, starting at the outer rim and moving in a spiral toward the center while wetting all of the grounds. Pour in a counter-clockwise direction. You want to pour just enough to wet all of the grounds.
  • Once you have done this wait for 15- 30 seconds. This is known as the “blooming” process, which is important to remove carbon dioxide from your grounds so the water can fully penetrate — you’ll notice the coffee bed rise up and bubble a bit.
  • After blooming begin pouring the rest of the water. Start at the center and pour at a slow, steady rate, moving to the other rim and back to the center. You will want to do this in stages, adding water every 10-15 seconds for an even extraction.
  • Once all of the water has been poured you are ready to bask in the glory of your first cup of homemade pour over coffee! The entire pouring process should take about three minutes.

What Is the Best Pour Over Coffee to Water Ratio?

To get the ideal pour over coffee ratio of water versus coffee use about 12 ounces of boiling water, or 1 1/2 cups. The taste of your cup of pour over coffee will be mostly influenced by your technique, the beans you choose, and the grind you use, but too much water can create a weak cup of coffee.

What Grind Makes the Best Pour Over Coffee?

A grind that is too coarse or too fine will sully the experience and the flavor — you want something right in the middle. A goldilocks grind that’s “just right.” Plus, if you use too fine of a grind you will clog your V60.

Make the process easy and order pre-ground coffee from The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® like our satisfying House Blend Coffee or the fruity and light Kenya AA Coffee. Or you can choose whole bean coffee like our elegant, full-bodied Sumatra Mandheling Coffee and grind it yourself with a hand burr grinder.

A cup of dynamic pour over coffee allows home baristas to be bold, daring, and experimental with their kitchen caffeine creations.