How to Brew Pour Over Coffee
Pour over is the gold standard for clean, bright, nuanced coffee. By controlling every variable -- water flow, temperature, and timing -- you unlock flavors that other methods cannot match.
Why Pour Over?
A paper filter catches oils and fine particles, giving you the cleanest cup possible. Pour over highlights the origin character of the beans -- floral aromatics, citrus acidity, and delicate sweetness come through with clarity you will not find in immersion methods. It is the preferred method for light roast single origins, where every nuance matters.
Ratio
1:16
Grind
Medium-Fine
Water Temp
200-205°F
Brew Time
3-4 min
What You Need
Pour over requires a bit more gear than other methods, but the investment pays off in cup quality and control.
Pour Over Dripper
Hario V60, Chemex, or Kalita Wave
Gooseneck Kettle
Electric or stovetop with temperature control
Burr Grinder
Set to medium-fine, like table salt
Digital Scale
Accurate to 0.1g for consistent dosing
Paper Filters
Matched to your dripper size and shape
Timer
Phone timer or scale with built-in timer
Step by Step
Follow these steps for a clean, bright pour over every time.
- 1
Heat Your Water
Bring water to a boil and let it cool to 200-205°F. If you do not have a thermometer, let the kettle sit for 30-45 seconds after boiling. Water that is too hot will over-extract and taste bitter; too cool and the coffee will taste sour and flat.
- 2
Rinse the Filter
Place the paper filter in your dripper and pour hot water through it to rinse. This removes paper taste and preheats the dripper and mug. Discard the rinse water before adding grounds.
- 3
Measure and Grind
Weigh 20g of coffee for a single cup (about 320ml of water at a 1:16 ratio). Grind to medium-fine consistency -- similar to table salt or slightly finer. The grind should feel gritty between your fingers, not powdery.
- 4
Bloom the Coffee
Add the grounds to the filter and create a small well in the center. Start your timer and pour 40-50g of water (about 2x the coffee weight) in a slow spiral from the center outward. Wait 30-45 seconds as the coffee degasses -- you will see it bubble and expand. This bloom releases CO2 trapped during roasting.
- 5
The Main Pour
After the bloom, begin pouring in slow, concentric circles starting from the center and working outward, then back to the center. Keep the water level consistent -- never let it rise more than halfway up the filter. Pour in 2-3 stages, pausing briefly between each to let the water draw down slightly.
- 6
Finish and Serve
Your total brew time should be 3 to 4 minutes. When the last of the water has drained through the grounds, remove the dripper. Give the cup a gentle swirl to mix the brew, and serve immediately.
Troubleshooting
If your cup is not tasting right, here is where to start.
Brew finishes too fast (under 3 minutes)
Grind finer. The water is passing through the grounds too quickly, resulting in a weak, under-extracted cup.
Brew takes too long (over 4 minutes)
Grind coarser. The bed is too dense and restricting flow, which leads to bitterness from over-extraction.
Coffee tastes bitter or harsh
Lower your water temperature by a few degrees or grind slightly coarser. Bitterness is the hallmark of over-extraction.
Coffee tastes sour or thin
Increase your water temperature or grind a touch finer. Sourness indicates the water did not extract enough from the grounds.
Uneven extraction or channeling
Pour more evenly in circles and make sure the coffee bed stays flat. Avoid pouring directly on the filter walls.
Best Beans for Pour Over
Pour over excels with light roast single origins that have bright acidity and complex aromatics. These beans reward the precision of manual brewing.
Ethiopia Yirgacheffe
Floral, citrus, and jasmine notes with a tea-like body. The benchmark pour over experience -- clean and aromatic.
Kenya Nyeri
Bold blackcurrant acidity with a wine-like depth. Kenya beans have a complexity that pour over reveals beautifully.
All of our single origin beans are roasted in-house and ship with a roast date so you always brew at peak freshness.
Shop Single OriginsReady to Brew?
Grab fresh beans roasted for pour over and start brewing your best cup today.