Pour Over Coffee Explained | What Is It & How’s It Made
Pour over coffee is a time-honored brewing method and have been around in several third wave coffee shops. But the drink gained popularity in recent years for its ability to produce a clean and flavorful cup of coffee. Unlike traditional drip coffee or French press, pour over coffee requires a hands-on approach and a bit of finesse to extract the full potential of the beans.
So, all those coffee connoisseurs who demand precision and quality know why pour-over brewers are taking off in homes and specialty coffee shops. But, if you’re still mistaken, let us break it down for you.
Pour over coffee is a manual brewing method that involves pouring just enough hot water over coffee grounds placed in a filter to extract the coffee oils from the beans.
The process involves using a pour over cone or circular filter and a kettle or pot to heat water to the correct temperature. The brewed coffee is collected in a mug or carafe as the water passes through the grounds.
A Brief History of Pour-Over coffee
The origin of pour over coffee can be traced back to 1908, when German coffee merchant Melitta Bentz invented the first pour-over coffee. Bentz was looking for a way to improve the taste of her homemade coffee, which she found to be too bitter.
She experimented with various materials and ultimately created a filter made of paper, effectively separating the coffee grounds from the brewed coffee. This simple and effective discovery revolutionized how coffee was brewed and is still in use.
The process quickly spread across Europe and North America, eventually becoming the preferred method of brewing specialty coffee.
How to brew a perfect cup of coffee grounds effectively?
Brewing the perfect cup of pour over requires a few simple steps:
- Start by heating up your water to the right temperature (usually around 200°F).
- Place your filter into the pour over cone and add your coffee grounds. Make sure they’re evenly distributed.
- Begin pouring your hot water slowly and gradually over the grounds.
- Gently stir with a spoon to ensure all the grounds are saturated.
- Allow the water to pass through the filter and into your container, stopping occasionally to check the progress.
- Once finished, discard the filter and enjoy your freshly brewed pour over coffee!
With pour-over coffee, how you pour matters. Dumping water in the center of the coffee grounds or using a large hand is not advisable and will result in a bitter mouthfeel.
Also, a steady stream of hand-poured hot water will agitate the coffee grounds and activate the coffee oils, which infuse your coffee with flavor.
This method of brewing coffee grounds allows the user to control the brewing variables such as water temperature, grind size, and brew time. As a result, the user can customize their cup of specialty coffee to their exact preferences.
What is the difference between a pour-over and drip coffee?
When you’re brewing pour overs using a brewing device or manually, you’ll have complete control over how long it takes and the type of coffee that’s brewed. You can even adjust the temperature, water saturation, and frequency of pours.
However, the pour over brewing method to prepare coffee has more room for error (than the French press) because of all these variables. Even slight changes in measurements and ratios can alter what your final specialty coffee cup tastes like!
Drip coffee is known as balanced brew because most coffee shops use drip coffee makers that leave no room for error. The coffee maker takes care of all variables like temperature, brew time, or pour speed. Thus, making the perfect cup of drip coffee every time without any taste difference.
Brewing Methods for Making Pour Over Coffee
There are 4 different brewing methods for making pour over coffee, each of which can produce a unique flavor profile and brewing experience. Here are a few examples:
Agitation Method
You might have heard people using agitation for filter coffee, but very few know that it can make your pour-over coffee (and even drip coffee) more punchy in taste.
When it comes to pour-over coffee, agitation isn’t a step-by-step technique. Instead, it refers to agitating the wet coffee grounds during the brewing process. You can do it either with a whisk or a spoon.
This can be helpful when trying to achieve a consistent dose of coffee with complete extraction and no clumps of ground coffee.
Bloom Method to Brew Coffee
Cupping with a blooming method can give you the widest-reaching insights regarding flavor, quality, and humidity.
In cupping, pour hot water after you’ve roasted the coffee beans. Typically, this would be a 2:1 proportion of water to all the coffee grounds.
This is the process that releases any carbon dioxide locked into the grounds in the roasting process. It’s important to bloom only freshly roasted coffee because it will release more carbon dioxide than roasting.
Pulse Pouring Method
Pouring water on coffee grounds can be tricky, especially if you’re new. One way to make it smoother is to add water in small amounts over time.
And that’s what pulse pouring is – to add water slowly while maintaining a steady level in the pour-over dripper.
Continuous Pouring Method
In the continuous pouring method, you’re constantly pouring water over your coffee grounds to flavor the coffee as it brews. You control the rate manually to get a consistent pour with a steady rate.
However, this method can be challenging for professional baristas who work at a local specialty coffee shop with a large volume of pour-overs daily.
How to Make Pour-Over coffee
Pour-over coffee brewing method is slightly complicated when compared to drip coffee, but it gives you the privilege of controlling your coffee’s flavor.
The thing you’ll need for pour over brewing method are:
- Fresh ground beans
- Water (prefer filter water over tap water)
- Kettle (will help to keep coffee warm)
- Pour-over brewer (any coffee maker of your choice)
- Filters (you can use either metal filters (as used in an espresso machine) or paper filters, both work fine)
- Coffee grinder (unlike immersion brew or French press, pour overs need medium ground coffee bean; therefore better use a burr grinder)
Instructions
- Heat the water to between 195 to 205 degrees Fahrenheit
- Place a paper filter in the pour-over brewer and pre-wet it (this will remove any excess paper flavor)
- Place the grounds in the filter and give it a gentle shake to make sure the grounds are evenly distributed
- Slowly pour just enough warm water over the coffee grounds in a circular motion
- Brew pour over for 3-4 minutes in the coffee mug or kettle
- Once the extraction is complete, discard the filter and enjoy your cup of pour-over coffee!
Things To Avoid
While brewing coffee, it is important to avoid certain things that can affect the taste of your coffee.
Don’t use pre-ground coffee beans – Grind fresh beans to get the freshest and most flavorful cup of coffee. Often, pre-ground beans come in contact with oxygen, resulting in oxidation and a flat taste.
Don’t brew in cold containers – Make sure that you are using a thermal carafe or an insulated mug to make your coffee.
Not pouring water in a circular motion – When you pour water, make sure you are pouring it in a circular motion to ensure even extraction.
Not discarding the filter – Throw away the filter after each cup of coffee to avoid any paper taste in the next coffee cup.
Parting Words
For coffee lovers, pour-over brewing can be the best option to go with to level up their coffee game. Unlike French press or drip coffee, you’ll not need any extravagent coffee makers to have complete control over this brew method.
If you follow the coffee pour over brewing steps mentioned in this article, you will be able to brew this amazing craft coffee that wins your heart each time. Happy brewing!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Pour Over Coffee Hot Water Ratio?
On average, 55 grams of coffee grounds are needed per liter of water when making pour-over coffee. But this water to coffee ratio is not fixed, and the amount needed can vary depending on the individual taste preferences or their experience with different beans and roasts.
Why Use Filtered Water to Make Pour Overs?
Using filtered water is essential for making a delicious cup of pour-over coffee. Not only will using filtered water make sure your cup of coffee tastes great, but it will also help keep your coffee machine clean and free from contaminants. Additionally, filtered water is free from chlorine, which can affect the taste of the coffee.
Should I use grounded coffee to make pour over coffee?
Yes, you can use regular ground coffee for pour over brewing. However, it is generally recommended to use a finer grind, as a finer grind allows for a more efficient extraction of flavors from the beans. A coarser grind may result in a weaker or less flavorful cup of coffee.
What is the right temperature for pour over coffee?
The ideal temperature for making pour over coffee is between 195-205 degrees Fahrenheit (90-96 degrees Celsius). This temperature range allows the coffee to extract properly, producing a balanced and flavorful cup.
Check out our exclusive list of all different types of coffee.
What is a Latte – Latte Coffee Explained.