The pour over coffee-making technique is a great yet simple method. With this method, you’ll get a clean, sweet, and nice coffee brew. The entire brewing process takes about 3 to 4 minutes. Besides, this method will make your coffee brewing ritual more exciting.
However, some coffee lovers assume that pour over is a challenging method that requires expensive equipment. However, you only need a few items to brew tasty pour over coffee. It’s something you can easily do at the comfort of your home. In this article, you’ll learn more about pour over technique and how to prepare a tasty pour over brew at home.
Items Required
For this coffee-making method, you’ll only need a few and simple items. These items include:
- Water kettle
- Coffee grinder
- Fresh coffee beans
- Pour over dripper
You can brew this coffee without special equipment such as a scale, pour over coffee stand, gooseneck kettle, and a thermometer.
Coffee Dripper
Coffee drippers are available in many brands, sizes, and shapes. You can also buy a pour over coffee stand, but it’s not a must to use it. If you’re brewing one cup, you can brew it directly into a mug. If you’re brewing more cups, brew the coffee into a server.
Tasty Coffee
Although it’s possible to brew a good cup of coffee with pre-ground beans from your local grocery store, brewing it with freshly roasted beans can give you the best-tasting coffee.
Some online stores and physical stores sell great coffees. In case you don’t own a grinder, your local grocery store will be glad to grind the beans for you. Just ensure you choose top-quality beans for the best-tasting coffee. Also, buy sufficient coffee beans that you’ll consume before they overstay.
If it’s your first time buying coffee beans, take note of the roasting level. Most specialty coffee beans have light and medium roasts that are often too fruity or weak for some coffee lovers. If you prefer strong black coffee, buy dark roast beans.
Fresh Water and Water Kettle
For this process, boil fresh water. However, it’s not a must to use a gooseneck kettle. A teapot or electric kettle can also do it. You only need to ensure that the kettle has a well-designed spout to work properly for this method. The long and narrow spout allows for a slow pouring process and control, which are essential in making pour over brews. That’s why gooseneck kettles are recommended for this method.
It’s recommended to use fresh water to make pour over brews. However, you can also use filtered water. Even if making coffee with a drip coffee maker, rinse the reservoir and refill it every time you want to make coffee. Using water that has stayed in the reservoir for a day or more won’t make tasty coffee like fresh water.
Coffee Grinder
While a grinder will allow you to brew coffee from freshly ground beans, you can brew a tasty pour over brew without it. The benefit of using freshly ground beans is that they contain all the coffee oils and flavors that may be lost in pre-ground beans. Besides, coffee brewed with freshly ground beans smell great.
When buying a grinder, preferably go for a burr grinder as it delivers an even and consistent grind that’s needed for pour over brews. You can find an inexpensive burr grinder from your local store or buy it online. In case your budget won’t allow you to buy a grinder, your local coffee roaster or grocery store will grind the beans for you. Just make sure you specify that you want a fine or medium grind for brewing pour over coffee.
Thermometer
A thermometer will help to make coffee with the right water temperature. It also helps when trying new coffees as you want more precision during the entire brewing process. However, it may be time-consuming to use a thermometer, especially when making coffee during the morning rush.
You can get optimal temperature for making pour over brew without using a thermometer. In this case, make the coffee with very hot water, just after boiling. To do this, boil water and remove it from the stovetop. Allow the boiled water to sit aside for a few seconds and pour it over the grounds. Hot water off the boiling point has a temperature of about 205 degrees Fahrenheit, which is ideal for pour over brewing.
Measuring Scale
It helps to have a measuring scale when brewing coffee. A scale will allow you to measure accurate amounts of coffee and water. However, it’s not a must to have a scale to make tasty pour over. You can measure water with a mug and heat it. Also, you can measure water with the scale on your kettle, just in case it has one.
Alternatively, you can measure the right amount of coffee by using a measuring scoop. Scoops are available in several sizes while others have markings for various measurements.
Pour Over Coffee Stand
Although stands look great and display the coffee-making process nicely, you can brew nice coffee without it since it doesn’t affect the taste.
You can buy the essential equipment for a start and upgrade later. With good coffee beans, grinder, fresh water, kettle, and a dripper, you’ll stand higher chances of making tasty coffee. Equipment such as a thermometer or scale can be bought later.
Recipe for Making Pour Over Coffee
Here’re the basic steps to follow when making a pour over brew:
Step 1– Position a new paper filter on the dripper. Pre-rinse it with some hot water. Doing so will get rid of any paper flavors. It’ll also preheat all the components. Pour the rinsing water.
Step 2– Grind the right amount of beans depending on the amount of coffee you want to make. Grind them to a medium or fine grind. Add the grounds into the paper filter. Shake the pour over dripper gently to level out the grounds.
For the best ratio, use about 14 to 15 grams coffee for every 8 oz water. For instance, use 19 grams coffee for 10 oz water or 22 to 23 grams coffee for 12 oz water. You can use less or more coffee as per your preferences or depending on the roast level.
You can use a scale or scoop to measure coffee beans. If you’re using a scoop, measure 1 ¼ scoop per 8 oz water, 1 ½ scoop per 10 oz water, and 2 scoops per 12 oz water.
Step 3– Boil the right amount of water and remove it from the stovetop. Allow it to sit aside for a few seconds. Next, start pouring the water over the grounds. The grounds should be covered with water, about double their level. Stir quickly to ensure all the grounds get wet. Stirring the contents for about 10 seconds is sufficient. Allow the coffee to bloom for about 15 to 20 seconds before pouring more water.
Step 4– Pour the remaining water in slow, even, and concentric circles. If possible, pour the water over the darker spots. Avoid pouring the water over the lighter spots. Control the time by pausing or slowing the water pouring process as needed.
Step 5– It’ll take you about 2 ½ to 3 minutes to brew tasty coffee with this method.
Conclusion
The pour over technique is a great coffee-making technique worth the effort. It’ll take you about the same time as preheating a coffee maker, yet it brews tastier coffee. Also, it’s a process you’ll love since it’ll slow down and add charm to your hectic morning rush. If you’re unable to brew tasty coffee with a coffee maker at home, or you want to make savings by brewing your own coffee instead of buying it from a coffee shop, then you should try pour over brews. Besides, this method will save you from buying replacement coffee makers about every year.
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