The Complete Pour Over Guide

Pour over brewing is one of the most rewarding ways to make coffee. It gives you complete control over every variable, producing a clean, bright cup that highlights a coffee's unique characteristics.

What You'll Need

Dripper: Hario V60, Kalita Wave, or Chemex
Filter: Paper filter matched to your dripper
Kettle: Gooseneck kettle with temperature control
Scale: Accurate to 0.1g
Timer: Built into most coffee scales
Grinder: Burr grinder for consistent particle size

The Recipe

For a single cup (250ml):

| Parameter | Value | |-----------|-------| | Coffee | 15g | | Water | 250g | | Ratio | 1:16.7 | | Grind | Medium-fine | | Temperature | 200°F (93°C) | | Total time | 2:30–3:00 |

Step-by-Step

1. Prepare (30 seconds)

Fold and place your filter in the dripper. Rinse with hot water to remove paper taste and preheat your vessel. Discard the rinse water.

2. Bloom (0:00–0:45)

Add ground coffee to the filter. Start your timer and pour 30g of water in a spiral motion, saturating all grounds evenly. Wait 30–45 seconds for CO2 to escape — you'll see the grounds bubble and expand.

3. First Pour (0:45–1:15)

Pour in a slow, steady spiral from center to edge, adding water until you reach 150g total. Keep the pour steady and avoid pouring directly on the filter walls.

4. Second Pour (1:15–1:45)

Continue pouring in a gentle spiral to reach 250g total. Maintain a consistent flow rate.

5. Drawdown (1:45–3:00)

Let the water drain through the grounds. The total brew time should be 2:30–3:00. If it's too fast, grind finer. Too slow? Grind coarser.

Troubleshooting

Sour or thin taste: Grind finer or increase water temperature
Bitter or harsh: Grind coarser or decrease water temperature
Uneven extraction: Improve your pour technique — keep it slow and steady
Channeling: Make sure your coffee bed is flat before pouring

Tips for Better Pour Overs

Always weigh both coffee and water — eyeballing leads to inconsistency
Use freshly roasted coffee (2–4 weeks from roast date is ideal)
Grind just before brewing for maximum freshness
Experiment with water temperature: lighter roasts often benefit from hotter water
Keep a brew journal to track what works for each coffee