How To Do a Proper Pour Over Coffee

Close-up of hot water being poured over ground coffee in a paper filter for a pour-over brew on a coffee dripper. | Hustle Coffee

Pour-over, or hand-brewed, is a coffee brewing method that involves the manual pouring of hot water over a bed of coffee grounds placed on a filter. It differs from traditional drip coffee makers, where water pours steadily over the coffee bed. The pour-over method gives you complete control over the coffee extraction process. It has gained popularity recently because it is one of the most delicious coffee-making methods.

How to Make Pour-Over Coffee

a person pours coffee into a coffee maker | hustle coffee

After some preparation, you will do four timed and weighed pours. Each pour will extract the maximum flavor from your coffee grounds. This recipe is intended for a single serving in a standard coffee mug. You can use a French press to make more than one cup at a time.

Don't worry if you don't get your pour-over coffee exactly right the first time. It takes practice! Even if your weights are slightly off, your coffee will still taste great. Just do your best today and try again tomorrow.

Tools

You will need a few things to make a delicious pour over coffee:

  • Firstly, a pour-over coffee dripper is vital. This device holds your coffee filter in place while pouring water over the grounds. There are many sizes and styles, but the size 02 dripper is an excellent option for beginners.
  • A swan-neck or gooseneck kettle is another essential tool for making a perfect pour-over. This type of kettle features a curved, narrow spout that allows for precise pours when brewing your coffee.
  • To ensure you are using the correct amount of coffee and water, it's a good idea to weigh each pour. A simple digital kitchen scale will do the trick, but apour-over scale with a timer is even better.
  • Finally, don't forget the coffee filters! You need filters to brew your coffee, no matter which pour-over dripper you choose.

Making Pour-Over Coffee

a person pours coffee into a coffee maker on a table | hustle coffee

The recommended ratio of coffee-to-water when making pour-over coffee is 1:15. Meaning you need to add 15 grams of water for every gram of coffee.

Brew time: 2.5-3 minutes.
Coffee amount: 30g.
Grind size: sea salt.
Water amount and temperature: 600g (20oz) at 205°-210°.

Step One

Bring 600 grams (20oz) of water to boil. While heating, weigh 30 grams of coffee beans.

Step Two

To make the perfect cup, you need to grind the beans to a medium-grind size, which should resemble the sea salt texture. Use a high-quality burr grinder for this purpose. If you use blends, you should use 30 grams of coffee. However, if you want to enjoy the delicate flavour of a lightly roasted single-origin coffee, then it is suggested to use 22 grams of coffee for every 350 grams of water.

Step Three: Wet Your Filter

To wet the filter, first place it in your pour-over dripper. Then, hold your dripper over a sink and gently pour hot water from your swan kettle over the filter in a spiral motion until the entire filter is wet. Let the excess water drain through. Pre-wetting the filter ensures that it stays in place during your four pours and that your coffee has no papery taste.

Step Four: Scale and Supplies Ready

Place the dripper on your preferred mug or beaker to make a delicious cup of coffee. Add the grounds to the pour-over dripper with a wet filter and put it on your scale. (We recommend using a digital kitchen scale, but an analog scale might work, too). Make sure to tap gently to level the surface of the coffee ground. After that, set your scale to measure grams and tare it so the scale measures 0 grams with all the pour-over setup on top. This will ensure you have the perfect amount of coffee in your cup.

Step Five: The Bloom Pour

coffee bloom pour close up | hustle coffee

In making pour-over coffee, you will do a total of four pours. Start your timer. Begin slowly pouring water over the coffee, starting at the centre, then moving steadily towards the edge of your coffee bed and back again. When the digital scale reaches 60 grams, stop pouring. Make sure all the grounds are saturated. During this first pour, you will notice that the coffee grounds will rise a bit, which is called the bloom. The fresher the coffee, the more bloom there is.

The bloom pour should take approximately 15 seconds. After that, give the coffee 30 seconds to bloom before proceeding to the next pour.

Step Six: The Second Pour

Again, with a spiral motion, pour water from the centre towards the rim and back towards the centre. Add roughly 90 grams of water on the second pour, bringing the total to 150 grams. The objective of the second pour is to submerge all of the coffee grounds on the surface, creating a gentle turbulence that helps extract the flavour evenly. Allow the mixture to sit for 45-65 seconds before moving on to the next pour.

Step Seven: The Third Pour

As the water and coffee mixture comes close to the level of the grounds and drops to the bottom of the filter, pour another 100 grams of water using the same spiral pattern as the second pour. This brings the total to 250 grams. The third pour should take 15-20 seconds.

Step Eight: The Final Pour

Once the water and coffee from the third pour have passed through and settled at the bottom of the filter, proceed with the fourth and final pour. With the same spiral motion as the previous steps, add 100 grams of water to bring the total to 350 grams. This last pour should take around 20 seconds to complete.

Step Nine: Enjoy Your Perfect Pour-Over Coffee

After completing the pour-over making process, gently remove the dripper and dispose of the filter in the compost. Carefully lift your mug off the scale. Congratulations! You have just brewed yourself a perfect cup of coffee. Enjoy!

Husle Coffee Tip: Consider using a coffee mug warmer to ensure your fresh cup of pour-over coffee stays warm throughout the morning.

Our Coffees

Explore the perfect Hustle Coffee flavour to get the most enjoyable pour-over! The pour-over method paired with our coffee beans ensures every cup of coffee will be delicious.

Pour-Over Coffee FAQs

a person pouring coffee into a cup on a table | hustle coffee

Can I use pre-ground coffee?

You can use pre-ground coffee, but we highly recommend grinding your coffee beans yourself for a fresher pour-over taste.

Can I still make a pour-over without scale?

Sure! The recommended ratio for coffee to water is around four tablespoons of medium-ground coffee per 1 1/2 cups. However, you can constantly adjust the ratio to suit your taste preferences. Remember that while the ratio is crucial, timing is the more significant in brewing the perfect pour-over coffee.

Do I need to use filtered water?

The quality of water you use can have an effect on the taste of your coffee. We recommend using filtered water, but tap water is also acceptable.

Why does my pour-over taste weak?

If you find your coffee tastes weak, try using a finer grind. Additionally, brewing too quickly will only partially extract the flavour from the bed of coffee grounds. Aim for that 2-minute and 30-second mark from the first pour to the final cup.

Why does my pour-over taste bitter?

If you find your coffee too bitter, try a coarser grind. Additionally, slow brewing can lead to an over-extracted and bitter-tasting final product. Timing is critical, so experiment and practice to find your perfect pour-over.

Can I use a Chemex?

This recipe can be used for a Chemex, but if your Chemex pour-over maker is designed to make more than three cups of coffee, you must multiply the recipe by the number of cups your Chemex makes.

Last Words

a person pouring coffee into a cup | hustle coffee

When preparing pour-over coffee, the two most important factors to consider are the quality of the beans and the purity of the water. However, paying attention to every detail of the pour-over can make a massive difference in the taste of your cup. Consistent grind coarseness, accurate measurements, and ensuring the water temperature is appropriate are all crucial factors that can enhance the flavour of your cup.

The pour-over ritual is a meditative experience. It involves simple tools and no machines, cords, or flashing lights to distract you. Unlike a drip coffee maker, the result is a delicate and complex pot of coffee.

We invite you to try our pour-over method, which is easy to master and perfect for beginners and experienced coffee lovers. Take a few minutes to slow down and observe the bloom. As you pour the water, you will notice the coffee grounds swell, and the steam will begin to release. The flow rate and the spiral of each pour will alter the flavors in the final cup. You are in for a treat if you have never tried this method!

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