Is Pour Over Coffee Just Filter Coffee? (Solved & Explained!)

Yes, pour-over coffee is a form of filter coffee. Pour-over uses filtration as a means of brewing coffee. Brewing pour-over coffee involves saturating ground coffee in hot water through a filtration system. In the case of this is filter paper.  

 While pour-over is a form of filter coffee, not all filter coffee is pour-over coffee. 

What is Pour-Over Coffee?

Pour-over coffee is a specific type of brewing method used to make coffee.

The name comes from the technique used to brew the coffee, in which a constant stream of hot water is poured by hand over coffee grounds. A paper filter is used to extract the coffee.

What is Filter Coffee?

Filter coffee is a broad term used to describe multiple coffee brewing methods that use a filtration system to extract coffee. Various materials are used as a filter; these include paper, cloth and metal.

Some other methods of brewing filter coffee are Aeropress, Moka pot, siphon, drip-coffee and French press.

What are the Differences Between Pour-Over and other forms of Filter Coffee?

While pour-over coffee is a form of filter coffee, not all filter coffee is pour-over coffee. As stated before, filter coffee is a much broader term encompassing many brewing methods.

So what makes pour-over different from other forms of filter coffee? There are two main distinctions between pour-over coffee and other forms of filter coffee. The first is the type of filter used, the other the technique used to brew coffee.

Paper filters are used to make pour-over coffee. Unlike a metal or cloth filter used in other brewing methods, the finer structure of the paper filter allows for greater absorption of the oils released by coffee during the brewing process. The end result is a much brighter cup with sweeter and more fruity notes.

On the other hand, a metal filter allows for the passage of oils and finer particles. This leads to a cup with more body and a richer mouthfeel than pour-over coffee.

The other key difference between pour-over and other forms of filter coffee is the brewing technique. Pour-over brewing is done by hand, where boiling water is poured in a steady stream to soak the coffee.

In contrast, certain forms of brewing use different techniques to extract coffee. A French press uses saturation. At the same time, most forms of drip coffee are mechanical and use machines to pour the water.

Why is Pour-Over Coffee So Popular?

Pour-over coffee has become hugely popular in the last couple of years. It is a brewing method favoured by home-brewers and cafes alike. It is an easy and effective way to brew a delicious coffee cup.

Pour-over coffee is also relatively inexpensive and straightforward to use, making it ideal for home use. Very little equipment is required other than a filter and filter papers.

Is Pour Over Coffee Easier to Brew than Filter?

Compared to other forms of coffee brewing, pour over can be a little difficult.

It is not as simple as soaking the coffee beans in water and waiting, like with a french press, or allowing a machine to do most of the work like making espresso. There is a lot of technique involved and with it pour over being brewed by hand, there is plenty of room for human error.

However, like anything in this world, practice makes perfect. The pour-over method is relatively easy once you have learned the proper brewing technique and mastered the steps involved.

What Type of Coffee if Pour-Over Coffee?

Pour-over coffee primarily uses single-origin speciality coffee.

Light roasts are the favoured roast for making pour-over coffee. Light roasts are preferred because pour-over coffee is excellent at drawing out the subtle flavours of coffee.

Pour over is particularly good at drawing out the fruity and acidic notes of coffee. Lighter roasts are vibrant and bright and have these flavours in abundance.

While lighter roasts are the most popular choice for pour-over brewing, medium and dark can work just as well.

Can I Use Regular Coffee for Pour-Over?

Yes, you can use regular coffee to make pour-over coffee. However, the outcome may be less than ideal.

For the best cup possible, coffee needs to be fresh. While coffee is considered a staple product with a long shelf life, the qualities that make coffee taste great depreciate over time. Store-bought coffee brands do not provide a roast date. Therefore there is no way to tell how fresh the coffee is.

The majority of commercial coffee is mass-produced. To maximise profit, most commercial coffee companies sacrifice quality. With this comes a lack of quality control and thus an inferior product.

Speciality coffee offers high-quality coffee that is roasted in small batches. From an ethical standpoint, most independent coffee companies are geared towards sustainability the long term health of the coffee industry and pride themselves on offering a fair price to independent coffee farmers.

While you could probably get a decent cup of coffee using regular coffee, for the best possible results, use freshly roasted, freshly ground speciality coffee.

Is Pour-Over Coffee Better than Filter?

Like most things regarding coffee, this is down to personal preference. It depends on what you want out of your coffee and how much effort, time and money you are willing to invest into making coffee.

If you prefer sweet and fruity tasting coffee, pour-over coffee can give you what you desire. If you like your coffee darker with a richer mouthfeel, you may want to invest in a French press.

There is also the question of expense and upkeep. Other than the cost of the equipment itself, for the best cup possible, you would also want coffee scales, a grinder and potentially a gooseneck kettle. All this adds up and may be something you want to consider before investing in a pour-over filter.

Then you may also not want to deal with the hassle that comes with brewing pour-over coffee. Pour-over can be a bit of a ritual that is not for everyone. Some people want to have a machine to brew their coffee for them and not have to worry about things like water temperature, drawn downtimes, agitation and extraction rates. The level of control offered by pour-over is not for everyone.