Pour Over Brewing – Why It Stands Out
Pour over brewing offers more control than many other brew methods. You can fine-tune your coffee to water ratio, grind size, and brew time to match your preferred tastes in the final cup.
Pour Over – A Gateway to Good Coffee
If your goal is good coffee every morning, learning the brew process of a pour over is a great start. It’s simple enough for beginners but offers endless depth for experimentation.
Coffee Grounds and Their Role
Fresh, whole bean coffee grounds are essential. Grinding just before brewing with fresh beans helps preserve flavor clarity and prevents under extracted or stale-tasting coffee.
Coffee Bed – The Foundation of the Brew
A level coffee bed ensures water flows evenly during the brew process, preventing over extraction or under-extraction.
The shape of the filter and dripper, whether cone, flat-bottom, or cupcake-style, also plays a crucial role in directing water flow and influencing extraction.
Brew Time – Balancing Flavour
Brew time influences your final brew. Too short, and you risk a weak, under extracted coffee. Too long, and you may end up with a bitter cup due to over extraction.
Kalita Wave – A Flat Bottom Alternative
The Kalita Wave uses a flat bottom design, encouraging even water flow and making it easier to achieve consistent results.
The Kalita Wave is available in metal, glass, and ceramic versions, with each material affecting heat retention and durability.
Brewing Coffee with the Right Tools
Brewing coffee with a pourover coffee brewer is easier when you have the right gear: a gooseneck kettle, paper filter, and a precise scale. Some pour-over brewers are made from plastic, which makes them more affordable and portable.
Dark Roasted Coffees in Pour Over
Dark roasted coffees can work well in pour overs when brewed carefully—slightly cooler water temperature and shorter brew time help maintain sweetness.
Coffee Beans and Roast Level
Your choice of coffee beans—light, medium, or dark roast—affects the brew process and final cup.
Pour Over Brewing for Flavor Clarity
One of the strengths of pour over brewing is the ability to highlight flavor clarity, bringing out bright acidity, fruitiness, and subtle sweetness.
Some pour over brews can even emphasize bright, citrusy notes reminiscent of lemonade, making the coffee taste especially refreshing.
Coffee to Water Ratio – Finding Your Balance
The right coffee to water ratio ensures you extract the right amount of flavour. A common starting point is 60g of coffee per litre (grams of water).
Pour Hot Water with Control
Using a gooseneck kettle allows you to pour hot water precisely, hitting every part of the coffee bed evenly. Pouring slowly and evenly helps ensure proper extraction.
Great Tasting Coffee Through Small Adjustments
Small adjustments to grind size, pour speed, or brew water temperature can transform your brew from average to exceptional.
If your coffee tastes sour, it may be under-extracted and require adjusting your grind size or brewing parameters to achieve a more balanced flavor.
Final Brew and How to Judge It
Your final brew should match your taste goals—sweetness, acidity, rich flavors, and balance.
Take a sip to assess the flavor balance and overall quality of your coffee.
Brew Water Temperature
Water temperature matters: too hot and you risk bitterness; too cool and you risk under extracted flavours.
Maintaining consistent heat during brewing is crucial for optimal extraction and balanced flavor.
Brew Process Step-by-Step
The brew process for a pourover coffee brewer usually takes about five minutes, from the first pour to the final cup.
Coffee Professionals and Competition Brewing
Many barista champion routines feature pour overs for their ability to showcase flavor clarity and good coffee.
Hot Water Quality
Always use clean, filtered hot water to avoid off-flavours in your final brew.
Dark Roast Tips
When brewing dark roast, use less bloom water and slightly coarser grind size to avoid bitterness.
Final Cup Assessment
Your final cup is the best measure of success—does it have rich flavors, sweetness, and balance?
Take a moment to enjoy your drink and savor the results of your brewing efforts.
Water Temperature and Extraction
Adjust water temperature for different roast levels to get the most from your coffee beans.
French Press vs Pour Over
While french press produces a fuller-bodied brew, pour over coffee delivers cleaner, brighter flavours.
Making Coffee with a Paper Filter
A paper filter removes oils and fine particles, producing a cleaner final cup. Rinsing helps remove any papery flavor.
Grams of Water – Precision Brewing
Measuring grams of water helps keep your brew process consistent.
Brew Time and Pouring Technique
Your brew time should match your recipe—a slow, steady pour leads to great tasting coffee.
Bloom Water and First Pour
The bloom stage uses bloom water to release trapped gases from the coffee grounds, improving flavor clarity.
Barista Champion Tips
A barista champion might recommend a slightly finer grind size for lighter roasts to enhance acidity.
Grind Size – Your Main Adjustment Tool
Grind size controls extraction speed and total brew time. Just like sugar dissolves faster or slower depending on how fine it is and how much you stir, adjusting grind size changes how quickly flavors extract from coffee grounds. Adjust it based on taste feedback.
Papery Flavor Prevention
Rinse your paper filter with hot water before brewing to remove any papery flavor.
Over Extraction Signs
Bitterness, dryness, and astringency are all signs of over extraction.
Next Pour Timing
Time your next pour to keep the coffee bed saturated without flooding it.
Pouring too quickly can cause overflow, making a mess and negatively affecting brew quality.
Gooseneck Kettles – Pouring Precision
Gooseneck kettles give you control over flow rate and direction, essential for a balanced brew.
Flat Bottom Brewers
A flat bottom design like the Kalita Wave can be easier for beginners than conical drippers.
Our Bean Bros Pourover Coffee Brewer Selection
At Bean Bros, we offer a curated selection of pourover coffee brewers to suit every style. Many of our brewers come with carafes, which help preserve aroma, maintain temperature, and are convenient for serving multiple cups—making them ideal for both solo coffee lovers and those serving guests.
We also feature the Kalita Wave, available in glass, ceramic, or metal. The glass version stands out for its lightweight durability and aesthetic appeal, making it a favorite among coffee enthusiasts.
FAQ – Pourover Coffee Brewer
Q: What is a pourover coffee brewer?
A: It’s a manual coffee-making device where you pour hot water over coffee grounds in a filter, letting gravity brew the coffee.
Q: Is pour over coffee better than French press?
A: Pour over coffee offers cleaner, brighter flavours, while french press gives a heavier body.
Q: What grind size should I use?
A: Medium-fine is common, but small adjustments help match your beans and taste preference.
Q: How long should pour over brewing take?
A: Around three to five minutes, depending on your brew time recipe.
Q: Do I need special equipment?
A: A gooseneck kettle, scale, and quality filters help achieve great tasting coffee.
