Pour over coffee has seen a resurgence in popularity over the past decade, particularly among specialty coffee shops and discerning home brewers. The first pour over dripper, the Melitta, was patented in 1908, and quickly spread through Europe and America as an inexpensive and consistent way to brew filter coffee at home.
In recent years, coffee enthusiasts have come to appreciate the control and customization that pour over offers, allowing them to carefully highlight the unique flavors of single origin beans. The hands-on ritual of manual pour over brewing also provides a rewarding, meditative experience for many coffee lovers. As pour over continues to gain devotees, even high-volume coffee shops are finding ways to integrate this craft brew method on their menus.
Choosing Your Coffee Beans
The quality and flavor of the beans you choose for pour-over coffee makes all the difference. Single origin coffees allow you to highlight the unique flavors and qualities of beans from a specific region or farm; light and medium roasts in particular help bring out the subtle complexities that can get lost in darker roasts.
It's also crucial to grind beans fresh before brewing. Pre-ground coffee quickly loses its aromatics and flavors due to oxidation. Using a quality burr grinder allows you to grind beans to the perfect consistency for pour over: a medium-fine texture that's not too powdery or chunky. This helps extract the optimal flavor and body from the grounds during brewing.
Brewing Equipment You'll Need
To brew pour over coffee at home, you'll need some basic equipment:
- Pour Over Cone - This is the funnel-shaped vessel that will hold the filter and coffee grounds. Popular options are the Kalita Wave, Hario V60, and the Chemex.
- Coffee Filters - You can use either reusable metal drippers or disposable paper filters, cut to fit your pour-over cone of choice. Paper filters allow for better filtration but some claim metal filters enhance body and oils.
- Kettle - A gooseneck kettle like the Fellow Stagg gives you precise control over water temperature and pour rate, and includes additional features like brew timers and hold options.
- Kitchen Scale - Using a scale ensures you accurately measure coffee and water amounts. A high-end model like the Acaia Pearl Model S includes real-time flowrate displays and step-by-step coffee brew guides, but the more affordable OXO Precision Scale will measure beans and water just as accurately.
- Coffee Grinder - Grinding beans fresh right before brewing is ideal, and a grinder like the Opus Conical Burr Grinder will provide a consistent grind at any level.
Preparing the Coffee Grounds
When preparing coffee grounds for pour over, using the proper grind size and coffee to water ratio is key for optimizing extraction. The recommended grind size for pour over is a medium to medium-fine consistency. This allows the hot water to flow through steadily without too much resistance or bypassing the grounds completely. Dialing in the right grind setting may take some trial and error, but is worth it to get the perfect cup of pour over with Paradise Roasters coffee.
The standard coffee to water ratio for pour over is around 1:15 or 1:16. This means using 1 gram of coffee for every 15-16 grams of water. Weighing out the coffee grounds is important for an accurate ratio and proper extraction.
Pour-Over Brewing Technique
The actual pour over brewing process requires care and precision to fully extract the flavors from the coffee grounds. Here are the key steps:
- First, rinse the filter and pre-heat your pour over gear with hot water right off the boil. This removes any paper taste from the filter and warms your brewer.
- Next, "bloom" the coffee grounds by pouring a small amount of water over them - about 2 times the weight of the coffee dose. Let this sit for 30 seconds. The blooming agitates the grounds and releases carbon dioxide to prepare for full extraction.
- Now begin your main pour, adding water in a slow, consistent stream in a spiral motion from the center outward. This spiral pouring technique evenly saturates all the grounds. The water should drop from a few inches above the grounds for full extraction.
Aim for a total brew time of 2:30-3:00 minutes. This gives enough contact time for the water to fully extract flavors from the grounds. But don't go over 3:00 minutes or the coffee may become over-extracted and bitter.
Enhancing Your Pour-Over Coffee
The beauty of pour over coffee is that it allows for easy customization and experimentation to find your perfect cup. With pour over, you can enhance the flavor and change up your routine in many ways.
One of the easiest ways to modify your pour over is to try different Paradise Roasters single origin coffees - an exciting variety of single origin beans from around the world, featuring unique flavor profiles based on the region, altitude, processing method, and more. Try the fruity and complex Yellow Bourbon Natural from Hawaii or the rich, chocolatey Tanzanian Peaberry for completely different pour over experiences.
You can also adjust your grind size, coffee dose, and water temperature to fine-tune the flavor to your preferences. Grinding slightly coarser or finer and using a little more or less coffee can dramatically impact the final cup. Lower water temperatures around 190°F tend to highlight fruity flavors, while higher temps around 205°F bring out more roasty notes.
Finally, don't be afraid to add milk, spices like cinnamon or cardamom to spice things up. Follow your creative inspiration to concoct delicious pour over coffee creations.
Paradise Roasters Coffee Selection
Paradise Roasters offers a wide range of single origin coffees perfect for pour over brewing, highlighting the nuanced flavors that shine through with the pour over technique. Some top recommendations include:
- Kona Extra Fancy - Light roast with hints of honey and citrus in the aroma, leading into a cup with a brown sugar-like sweetness and a lush mouthfeel. Notes of orange, dark chocolate and cashew linger after the last sip.
- Ka‘ū Wood Valley Peaberry - A lively, full-bodied cup with a crisp, citrusy acidity, flavors of honey, baking spices, and molasses.
- Honduras Santa Lucia Gesha - A Lively Cup, delicate and Tea-like with notes of candied lemon, honey and white tea, with aromas of bergamot and coriander.
- Colombia Granja Paraíso - Aromas of lychee, peach, and osmanthus blossoms. A creamy mouthfeel in the cup with flavors of milk tea and strawberry yogurt with a caramel-like sweetness that fades to peach tea as the cup cools.
- The Single Origin Discovery Tour coffee subscription is also a great option to try a variety of different single origin coffees perfectly suited for pour over.
With so many options, you're sure to find your perfect single origin coffee for pour over brewing. The light and medium roasts especially allow you to highlight the subtle flavors and aromas of these exceptional coffees.
What Makes Pour-Over Coffee Special?
Unlike automated drip coffee makers, the pour over method allows for a level of control that enables you to highlight the subtle flavors and nuances of single origin coffees that might get lost using other brew methods. By carefully considering your coffee beans, brew gear, and technique, you can unlock the subtle flavors and aromas of each origin.
Follow our guide on proper grind size, brew ratios, and pour technique, and you'll be making cafe-quality pour over coffee from the comfort of home. The next time you're craving a more artisanal coffee experience, give pour over a try!
Pour-Over Coffee FAQ
What is the best grind size for pour-over coffee?
The recommended grind size for pour over coffee is medium to medium-fine. This allows the hot water to flow through the grounds at the right rate for optimal extraction.
How much coffee should I use for pour-over brewing?
A common ratio is 1 gram of coffee per 15-16 grams of water. So for a 12 oz (354 ml) cup, you'd use around 22-24 grams of coffee grounds.
What type of coffee is best for pour-over?
Light and medium roasted single origin coffees are ideal for pour over as they allow the unique flavors and nuances of the beans to shine through. Darker roasts can mask these subtle notes.
Do I need any special equipment for pour-over coffee?
Yes, you'll need a pour over cone or dripper, filters, a gooseneck kettle for precise pouring, a burr grinder, and a scale to accurately measure coffee and water.
How long should the pour-over brew process take?
The total brew time for pour over should be around 2:30-3:00 minutes. Any faster and the coffee is under-extracted, any longer and it can become over-extracted and bitter.
Paradise Roasters Offers The Most Exclusive & Rare Coffees
Our specialty coffees have been rated 93 - 97 points by Coffee Review on over one hundred occasions since 2002!
Paradise Coffee Roasters combines passion and precision in every cup. Our selections are characterized by their unique identity, seasonal flair, and the stories of budding origins. We believe in fostering direct relationships with our farmers, ensuring every bean is sustainably cultivated. Each cup of Paradise coffee is a fresh narrative, as we roast to order exclusively for you.
For a taste of paradise delivered to your door, start a coffee subscription today!
Did you enjoy this article? Good news - it was just a taste. For more caffeinated wisdom, click here:
- Why Specialty Coffee is in a League of its Own
- Light Roast Coffee - A Subtle Symphony of Flavors
- The Complex Delights of Single Origin Coffee