There are many things which can affect the taste of pour over coffee and make it bitter: the time you brew the coffee for, the temperature of the water, the quality and freshness of the beans, how fine the beans have been ground, the ratio of water to coffee, the method of making and brewing the coffee and equipment cleanliness.
This article will explore in depth the reasons why your pour over coffee might be bitter and how to solve these issues to brew the perfect cup.
Why Does My Pour Over Coffee Taste Bitter?
Reasons that pour over coffee may be bitter include: the coffee may have been brewed for too long, the water may be too hot or boiling, the coffee beans are stale, poor quality, or too dark, the beans are too finely ground, there is too much coffee compared to the amount of water, or the equipment used is not clean.
Time
Brewing coffee for too long is an easy mistake to make and one of the most common reasons that it can taste bitter. This is because if you let coffee steep for too long in hot water, too many of the bitter flavors will come through. This can lead to your coffee tasting burnt.
Temperature
The ideal temperature to brew coffee is not boiling, this is too hot and causes the coffee to taste burnt. Yet if water is too cold it will not brew enough and causes coffee to taste weak. For the ideal temperature, once the water is boiling take it off the heat and let it sit for a minute before pouring.
Bean Quality
Cheap coffee beans can taste more bitter as they are not of a high enough quality. As they are mass harvested and produced, they can have imperfections which are covered up by over-roasting, leading to a bitter and burnt taste. Splashing a little more cash on a better bean can reduce the amount of bitter coffees you have.
Bean Roast
Coffee beans can be roasted either darker or lighter, and this affects their taste. A darker roast is created by the beans being roasted for longer, and therefore they will have a more burnt and bitter taste. If you are finding your coffee too bitter, try a medium or light roast for a milder flavor. Everyone’s taste buds are different!
Bean Freshness
Coffee beans that are not freshly roasted will go stale and the flavor will taste off or bitter. You will know that your beans have gone off as the flavors will not be fresh and the coffee will not smell as strong. Buy freshly roasted beans and use them within two weeks, while storing your beans in an airtight container.
Grind
Grinding coffee too finely leads to an over-extraction, which causes bitter tasting coffee. However, if coffee is not ground enough and is quite coarse it will be under-extracted and will taste sour. Ensure you use the correct grinding level for the brew method you have chosen. For pour over coffee, a medium ground coffee is most suitable for smooth coffee.
Ratio
An easy and common way to make coffee taste bitter is simply by using too much coffee and not enough water. This is because the coffee will taste a lot stronger and seem harsh, therefore creating a bitter taste. The Speciality Coffee Association of America has stated that the golden ratio is 55 grams of coffee for 1,000ml of water.
Cleanliness
Dependent on if you are using a coffee machine, a French press or cafetiere, or a filter, unclean equipment can cause coffee to taste bitter. The leftovers from your last coffee brew can add up and the residue will add a stale and often bitter taste. Always clean your equipment straight after use to avoid any build-up.
Method
The taste of coffee also depends on the method which you use to brew it. Ways to make coffee include:
- Coffee machine
- Pour over or filter drip coffee
- French press or cafetiere
- Percolator
- Immersion brewed
- Pressure brewed coffee (for espresso)
- Boiled
- Instant
What Is Pour Over Coffee?
This is also known as a filtered drip coffee. Use a filter made from paper or cloth and place ground coffee beans inside, then pour hot water over it. The grounds bloom for around thirty seconds before steeping for a few minutes as the coffee drips through the filter into your mug.
How Do I Make Pour Over Coffee?
- Grind your beans – a medium grind is suitable.
- Place a filter on top of your mug and pour the coffee in.
- Pour hot water onto the coffee and wait for 30 seconds.
- Keep adding hot water until you have poured enough for a mug of coffee.
- Once it has finished brewing remove the filter.
How Long Should I Brew Pour Over Coffee For?
3 minutes. After pouring the hot water and leaving it to bloom for 30 seconds, add more water and it should take another 30 to 60 seconds for all the water to drip through the filter. Then leave the coffee to brew and this entire process should take around 3 minutes.
Is Pour Over Coffee A Good Way to Make Coffee?
Pour over coffee takes patience and is a more involved experience of making coffee than using a machine, but the reward is coffee that is smoother and less acidic than other methods. The coffee grounds are only saturated once, and the water is able to extract the fragrances out of the coffee at its own time and pressure.
How Do I Remove Bitterness from My Coffee?
- Add sugar – a teaspoon or two of sugar adds a sweetness that counteracts the bitterness of the coffee.
- Add milk or cream – the fat content reduces the bitterness, and cream will do so more than milk.
- Add salt – surprisingly, as well as sugar, a sprinkle of salt brings out the coffee flavour and makes it less bitter.
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.