What Do You Need for a Pour Over Coffee? (Solved & Explained!)

If you’re genuinely interested in making pour-over coffee at home, you need the bare minimum essentials to get started:

  • Coffee
  • Mug
  • Filter
  • A way to heat your water

To make pour-over coffee, you’ll need a pour-over brewer. These pour-over brewers are called drippers or cones. These pour-over brewers usually sit right on top of your cup of choice, and they hold the filter. Some varieties of pour-over coffee brewers come with a built-in filter or a carafe.

Do I need special equipment to make pour-over coffee?

Making coffee can be as simple as getting a reusable tea bag and pouring water over your coffee. You don’t need any special equipment to make pour-over coffee, but you might need special equipment to make a consistent brew.

Some coffee connoisseurs enjoy using the French press, but not every coffee drinker will enjoy the French press brew. Your coffee is as individual and unique as you are.

Can I make pour-over coffee without a dripper?

If you have a mug and a cloth, you can attach the cloth to the mug with rubber bands or clips. Then you can add your coffee and pour your water. This method of making coffee is called Cowboy coffee. Just keep in mind that everything you use for this should be able to hold up to the hot temperature of the water you’ll be pouring.

What are the steps to making pour-over coffee?

Making pour-over coffee has so many variations, no two cups of coffee can be exactly the same unless you want them to! Pour-over coffee has many variations that you can try to change the flavor, body, strength, and brew time.

The simplified steps are as follows:

  1. Prepare your coffee grounds (if you’re going to be grinding your own coffee beans)
  2. Prepare your water
  3. Prepare your filter
  4. Pour the water through your coffee grounds, according to your preference
  5. Enjoy!

You can choose to do it your way, forget the rules and find what works for you. Other people can make suggestions to try to do it their way, but their cup of joe may not be your cup of joe.

Can I use regular coffee for making pour-over coffee?

You can certainly use coffee you use in other coffee makers for your pour-over coffee. If you love the vanilla bean coffee you get from a local shop, you can use that. If you need your morning cup of Folgers, you can use that, too.

It’s worth noting that the grind size will influence the flavor, so you may need to adjust the volume of coffee per cup depending on the grind size.

What roast of coffee is good for pour-over coffee?

Pour-over coffee is exceptional at bringing out the subtle notes and flavors in coffee. For this reason, the light roasts with individual traits and flavors will make the most authentic and tasteful cup of coffee. Some individuals will still prefer a medium or a dark roast. The roast is up to you!

How much coffee do I use for one cup of pour-over coffee?

How much coffee you decide to use in your pour-over will depend on your preference. Generally, 2 scoops of coffee are plenty, but some individuals enjoy a stronger cup of coffee than others. Teaspoons or tablespoons, it’s really down to the cup of coffee and what you want from it, how you’re brewing it, and how long you’ll be brewing it.

How should I measure my coffee grounds?

If you’re looking for a consistent cup of coffee, you can get the exact measurements using scales. This would make sure you know exactly how much coffee you use, allowing you to increase or decrease according to your taste and brew.

You could also use measuring spoons or a special measuring scoop if that’s what you prefer. The entire coffee-making experience is tailorable to your preferences. 

Do I need to ground my own coffee beans to make pour-over coffee?

You don’t need to have your own grinder to start making pour-over coffee. You can grind your own coffee beans if that’s something you’re interested in. The fresh beans give a fresher flavor, and that’s something you’ll want to consider on your coffee journey, but right away it isn’t necessary.

Do I need a kettle to make pour-over coffee?

If you’re looking to make pour-over coffee, you may be wondering if a kettle is necessary. If you don’t have a kettle, you could boil water on the stove or heat it in a microwave. A kettle is a means to an end, but not a necessary part of the process.

A kettle may help you to get a consistent cup of coffee, but you don’t have to have one to get started.

Can I use regular coffee filters to make pour-over coffee?

The brewer you’re using will likely have a say in what kind of filter will work for you. All kinds of filters are made for different types of brewers. What you use will be up to you and your preferred brew method.

What temperature should the water be for pour-over coffee?

The water for a pour-over coffee will be best around 200 degrees. Keep in mind that higher temperatures will increase acidity but also make the flavor more intense. Cooler temperatures will be weaker and less acidic.

Should I use filtered water for my coffee?

Any time you make coffee, you’ll want to use filtered water rather than tap water. The minerals and additives that are in tap water may make a good cup of coffee bad, or multiple cups of coffee inconsistent. Bad water can make bad coffee.

How much coffee should I use per cup of water?

The coffee-water ratio is widely discussed, widely changed, and it will likely vary for you as well. The general rule of thumb is to use two teaspoons of coffee per cup of water. Those two teaspoons could be tablespoons to some individuals, so you’ll just have to experiment until you find the right brew for you.