Tips for Making the Perfect Pour Over

One of the most popular methods for making coffee at home is the pour-over method. Brewing methods have a big effect on how your coffee tastes, and knowing how to brew your coffee properly can really transform your cup of Joe into something special.

The pour over method is extremely popular among connoisseurs and regular coffee drinkers alike because it produces a very flavorful and clean-tasting brew. To make good pour-over coffee, you will need a large mug, carafe, or pot, a filter cone, and a paper filter. Making the perfect pour over isn't hard but does require you to be aware of what you're doing so you can make adjustments as needed. Follow the instructions below:

Making the Perfect Pour Over

1. Grind the Coffee

   You'll want to use a fine to medium-ground coffee for the pour-over method; grounds about the size of sugar crystals should be about right. For stronger coffee, use a slightly finer grind, and for milder coffee, use a slightly coarser grind.

2. Set Up

   Get your equipment set up by placing your filter cone on top of your carafe or pot so that it fits together properly. Bodum makes an excellent pour over coffee maker for under $20. Then place the paper filter into the filter cone.

3. Heat the Water

   Next heat your water until it is almost—but not quite—boiling. Water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit, and the best temperature for making coffee is around 195 to 205 degrees, so be sure not to pour boiling water into your cone. When the water is too hot, you may scorch the beans and lose out on a whole range of flavors.

4. Rinse the Filter

   Before you add any coffee, gently pour a little of the hot water into the empty filter to wet and rinse it. This will help both to remove the “papery” taste of the filter and to warm the pot. After you have wet the paper filter, be sure to pour out the water that filtered through. As additional methods to minimize any potential papery taste, you may want to experiment with using unbleached, brown filters instead of bleached, white ones; stainless steel filters are also available. Metal filters have the advantage of being reusable, but the disadvantage is that they must be washed, unlike paper filters, which can be thrown away.

5. Measure the Coffee

   Add one generous, heaping tablespoon (or, if you want a more precise measurement, use two level tablespoons) for each six-ounce cup of coffee that you want to make.

6. Make the coffee “bloom”

   Next, pour a little hot water over the coffee in the filter. Pour just enough to thoroughly wet the coffee. You may notice that the coffee bubbles and expands. This is referred to as the “bloom” and occurs when freshly ground beans release CO². Once you have poured in your water, let it stand for 30 seconds to allow time for the water to soak in.

7. Pour in the remaining water

   The water pour is considered the most important part in making the perfect pour over. Very slowly pour in the remaining water to make the desired amount of coffee. Pour the water using a spiral motion, starting in the middle of the ground coffee and working your way outward. Buying a goose neck kettle is well worth the investment as it gives you needed precision. Don’t pour any of the water onto the edge of the filter; instead, make sure you are pouring directly onto the coffee grounds.

   Remember to take your time as this is definitely not a brew method to be rushed. Sure, it takes longer than tossing in a reusable K-cup with fresh grounds, but the enhanced coffee experience it delivers is worth it. depending on how much coffee you are making, this step may take two or three minutes.

8. Enjoy

   Allow all the water to drip through the filter, and then enjoy your perfect cup of coffee!

Note: There are many different ways to make the perfect pour over. After all, the word “perfect” is a subjective term when it comes to personal taste preferences. There are literally hundreds of major and subtle variations of this process. Check out the videos below to see what I mean.

And there you have it. Making the perfect pour over isn't nearly as hard as some people make it sound. Sure, you can really meticulous about it but that's only if you want. We encourage you to experiment with different variables and see their effects on your coffee's flavor. After all, part of why pour over brewing methods are so popular is because it allows you such fine control over so many different aspects of the brew process. For the coffee drinker looking to get more out of his or her coffee experience, the pour over brew method also offers the perfect introduction into the world of “coffee geekdom”. Cheers!

Note: If you're an on the go coffee drinker who likes pour over coffees, you should check out the single serve pour over delivery form. They are small pouches of coffee with foldable paper tabs. These tabs extend out so the pouch of coffee is suspended over the mouth of a coffee mug. From there, you'd brew your coffee just like you would a regular pour over. You just need water.

Image provided by Muhlhaus Coffee