Pour over is a way to brew coffee by hand. You pour hot water over ground coffee, and it slowly drips through a filter into your mug or carafe. That’s it.
There’s no machine doing the work. You control everything… the water, the speed, the amount, the grind. That’s why it’s known for bringing out clean and layered flavors.
It’s not faster than a regular drip machine, but it gives you more control. And when done right, the taste is smooth, clear, and never bitter.
Pour over works great with single-origin coffee or balanced blends. If you’re using something like Mélon Verde with bright, fruity notes, you’ll really notice the difference. The method lets those lighter flavors shine.
If you like your coffee simple, flavorful, and made with care, pour over is worth learning.
What You Need
You only need a few tools to get started:
- A pour over dripper like a V60 or Chemex
- Paper filters that fit your dripper
- A gooseneck kettle for better control
- Fresh coffee beans
- A burr grinder
- A scale
- Hot water
- A mug or carafe
That’s it. If you already have a kettle and mug, the rest is easy to add. For beans, something like Amber Grove or Nocturne Blend works great for a balanced cup.
How It Works
You place the dripper over your mug and line it with a paper filter. Add freshly ground coffee inside.
Next, you pour hot water in circles over the grounds. The coffee drips through the filter and collects below. You control how fast or slow the water flows.
That speed changes how long the coffee brews. And that changes the flavor.
It’s all manual.
You’re in charge of the timing, the pour, and the taste. It’s simple once you get the hang of it.
Step-by-Step Brewing Guide
Boil water: Heat it to about 200°F.
Set up your dripper: Place it over a mug or carafe with a paper filter.
Rinse the filter: Pour hot water through to get rid of the paper taste. Then dump the rinse water.
Grind your coffee: Medium grind works best.
Weigh your coffee: Use 15 to 18 grams for one cup.
Add grounds to the filter
Start your timer
Bloom: Pour a small amount of water (about twice the weight of the coffee) and wait 30 seconds. This releases trapped gas.
Pour the rest slowly: Use a spiral motion and keep it steady. Total brew time should be around 3 to 4 minutes.
Remove the dripper and enjoy.
Coffee Grind Size and Why It Matters
Grind size controls how fast the water flows through the coffee.
If the grind is too fine, the water takes too long and the coffee turns bitter.
If it’s too coarse, the water runs through too fast and the coffee tastes weak.
For pour over, go for a medium grind… something like sea salt. It gives the water enough time to pull out flavor without overdoing it.
Always grind fresh. Pre-ground coffee goes stale fast. Using fresh beans like Charbon Doux can make a big difference, especially with pour over.
Best Coffee-to-Water Ratio
The sweet spot for pour over is 1 gram of coffee for every 15 to 17 grams of water.
If you don’t have a scale, that’s about 2 to 3 tablespoons of coffee for 1 cup of water.
Want a stronger cup? Use a 1:15 ratio.
Prefer it lighter? Go with 1:17.
Measure both your coffee and your water. Guessing throws everything off. A digital scale keeps it consistent and easy.
Pouring Technique
How you pour changes how your coffee tastes.
Start with a slow spiral, working from the center out. Keep it steady. Don’t rush. Let the coffee bloom for about 30 seconds first, then continue pouring in slow circles.
Avoid pouring all at once. Do it in stages. Think of it like watering a plant… not too fast, not too hard.
Aim for an even bed of grounds. No dry spots. No splashing the sides.
The goal is full contact and even extraction. That’s where the flavor comes from.
How to Control Brew Time
Brew time is the total time water touches the coffee. For pour over coffee, it should be 3 to 4 minutes.
Too fast? Your grind is probably too coarse or your pour too quick.
Too slow? Your grind may be too fine or you’re pouring too much at once.
Use a timer. It takes out the guesswork.
Make small changes, adjust your grind or pour speed one at a time. That’s how you find your ideal cup.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Using the wrong grind: Too fine clogs the filter. Too coarse brews too fast.
Skipping the bloom: Always bloom your coffee for 30 seconds. It helps with flavor.
Inconsistent pouring: Pouring too fast or in random spots ruins the balance. Stay steady.
Wrong water temp: Boiling water burns the coffee. Lukewarm water under-extracts. Stick to around 200°F.
Using old coffee: Fresh beans matter. Pre-ground coffee loses flavor fast.