The perfect cup of pour over coffee is all about using the right coffee to water ratio along with allowing the coffee grounds to bloom. This means adding only a little water at first to let them get foamy. Then, allow the foam to settle and pour the rest of the water in, ensuring you moisten all available dry grounds.
While the above description is the quick and dirty explanation, it’s the basic premise for how it should go. Follow the instructions below so that you make the most perfect cup of pour over coffee every time.
Instruction Overview
- Step 1: Setup Your Pour Over Device
- Step 2: Boil Water
- Step 3: Measure & Grind Your Coffee Grounds
- Step 4: Bloom the Grounds
- Step 5: Pour Over the Rest of the Water
- Step 6: Allow All the Water to Filter Through
- Step 7: Remove the Filter & Make to Your Liking
Step 1: Setup Your Pour Over Device
Many people opt for a pour-over device designed for making this style of coffee. This often incorporates a goose-neck vessel that fits on top of a cup or a carafe. Moisten the filter with warm water and set it atop the device.
Step 2: Measure & Grind Your Coffee Grounds
Ideally, you will want to use two well-rounded tablespoons of medium-coarse coffee grounds to one cup of hot water. The idea is to achieve a ratio of 15:1 or 16:1 grams, depending on how strong or weak you like your coffee to taste. Pour them into the center of the filter.
Step 3: Boil Water
Boil filtered or reverse osmosis water in a saucepan or tea kettle. But don’t let it get too hot because this has the potential to burn the beans and provide for a bitter tasting cup of coffee. If you have a thermometer, achieve a temperature of 195F to 205F.
For those without a way to measure the temp, allow it to get hot and steamy; just before the water gets to a rolling, violent boil.
Step 4: Bloom the Grounds
Slowly and gingerly, pour the hot water over the grounds just enough so they’re saturated. Once you see a foamy appearance take place, let it sit for about one minute (45 seconds to 65 seconds). Let all the water seep through and the foam to settle.
Step 5: Pour Over the Rest of the Water
Continuing in a slow and patient manner, pour in the rest of the water with circular or spiral motion. Make sure you moisten all available grounds. If you go too slow, it will be bitter and acidic. Alternatively, if you go too fast, it will be weak and dull.
Step 6: Allow All the Water to Filter Through
Once you’ve finished pouring the water, let all of the water seep through. There should be no crema (or foam/blooming) and no grounds floating about. Everything should look settled.
Step 7: Remove the Filter & Make to Your Liking
Remove the filter and pour the coffee into a cup (unless your device already incorporates a cup). Make your coffee and dress it up as you like. Sit and enjoy a relaxing morning.
FAQ
What Is the Right Amount of Coffee to Water for a Pour Over?
| Coffee Grounds | Cups of Water for Coffee |
| 4 Tablespoons | 2 Cups |
| 8 Tablespoons | 4 Cups |
| 16 Tablespoons | 8 Cups |
| 32 Tablespoons | 12 Cups |
Do You Have to Use a Gooseneck Carafe or Other Special Pour Over Machine?
No, you don’t need a fancy pour-over machine or device to make pour over coffee. All you need is some kind of basket that can hold the grounds, a filter and a vessel to catch the brewed coffee. Some people have great success using an old tea pot, a defunct percolator with a top basket or creating their own makeshift one.
Do You Have to Moisten the Filter Before Putting in Coffee Grounds?
You don’t have to moisten the filter, but it will take a lot longer to extract a cup of coffee. Getting the filter a little damp with warm water before you begin brewing helps the paper absorb diterpenes and other oils from the grounds. However, all baristas and coffee aficionados agree, moistening the filter beforehand gleans wonderful results.
Can You Make Pour Over Coffee as an Iced Coffee?
You can definitely make your pour over brew into an iced coffee. There are actually a couple of ways you can opt to do this depending on your initial brewing method. If you have a pour-over-specific device, you can add ice to the vessel the coffee drips in. Alternatively, you can pour it over ice when you put it into your cup.
Either way, however, you will have to compensate for the water in the brew for the water you want to use with the ice. This means you will have to measure out the ice in relationship to the water you’re going to use and put that inside your cup or vessel. Or, you can add a few more spoonfuls of coffee grounds.
Whatever you do, understand that if you use too much water, it will weaken the strength of the coffee. If you use too little, it will make your coffee too strong and acidic.
Can You Reheat Pour Over Coffee?
Yes, you can reheat your pour over coffee. Simply pour some into your cup and pop it into the microwave at 30 second intervals until it reaches a temperature you like. Don’t overcook your pour over brew in the microwave, it will make it taste like battery acid.
Does the Method above Really Work?
Yes! There was an experiment at the time of this writing that incorporated a percolator and done according to the instructions with the caveat of ice. It is, indeed, a perfect cup of perk! Of course, individual coffee drinkers will have to adjust coffee and water amounts to suit their own preferences.
Hi, I’m Jen Williams, chief editor and writer for ThirstPerk.com.
I’ve been drinking coffee and tea for most of my life, but it wasn’t until I started working at Thirstperk.com that I became an expert on the subject. I’m a total caffeine addict who has spent hours upon hours reading about and experimenting with the different types of coffees out there in my search to find the perfect cup of joe.
I’ve been a tea lover for as long as I can remember as well. I grew up in a house with a mom who loved to drink herbal tea, and I think that’s where my love for tea first began. These days, I’m always on the lookout for new and interesting teas to try, and I love experimenting with different brewing methods and flavoring combinations.