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.
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.
To brew pour over coffee at home, you'll need some basic equipment:
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.
The actual pour over brewing process requires care and precision to fully extract the flavors from the coffee grounds. Here are the key steps:
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.
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 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:
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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