If you don’t have special equipment, you can make a cup of pour-over coffee by heating water and pouring it through your coffee or pre brewing it, and filtering the coffee into a mug.
This article will break down the simple pour-over coffee process, some methods you could use, and all without special equipment.
What kind of equipment do I need to make pour-over coffee?
- Water-Somehow, you’ll need to heat your water. This could be in a microwave or boiled in a pot.
- A drinking vessel- To make and drink your pour-over coffee, you’ll need a mug or a thermos.
- A filter-filtering your coffee is necessary, but you can make a makeshift filter from almost any cloth. As long as it prevents the coffee grounds from making their way into your coffee, it’ll work!
Do you need special equipment for pour-over coffee?
If you want a cup of coffee, but you don’t have the fancy equipment to make one, we have just the trick for you. The only things you need are a filter of some kind (even if it’s cloth), coffee, water, a mug, some way to heat the water, clips, or a rubber band.
A simple recipe for pour-over coffee:
- Take a cloth and attach it to the top of your mug with clips or a rubber band. (Or use a filter if you have one).
- Spread the coffee in the cloth or filter evenly.
- Heat the water.
- Pour the water through the filter.
- Coffee!
What can I use as a filter to make pour-over coffee?
Most people will have a coffee filter and that will work well, but if you don’t, you can use any cloth that will catch the grinds but filter the water through. That cloth could be a dishcloth, a bandana, or a cheesecloth. There are lots of different kinds of filters on the market, but if you don’t have one, you can still have a great cup of coffee.
Do I need a kettle for pour-over coffee?
You could microwave water to get it hot, or you could even boil it in a pot on the stove. A kettle is nice, but it isn’t a necessity.
Do I need special filters for pour-over coffee?
You can use whatever kind of filter you are fond of. If you have coffee filters for a drip-brew machine, those filters work well, but if you don’t you could use any kind of cloth or fabric that would catch the coffee grounds.
Reusable cotton filters are available on the market and they work well for a variety of coffee-making methods.
What kind of coffee should I use for pour-over coffee?
Pour-over coffee will work best with a medium ground, light to medium roast. However, if you love dark roast and a strong cup of coffee, feel free to use the fine ground. Keep in mind that it may take longer for the water to pass through a fine ground coffee. If you don’t want it to be strong, you could reduce the number of coffee grounds you use.
What coffee grind is best for pour-over coffee?
A medium grind does well for pour-over coffee. It allows the water to pass through the grinds without over or under-saturating the coffee grinds. The medium grinds include medium fine and medium coarse coffee grinds.
Some individuals will want a fine grind, while others will prefer a coarse grind. Your cup of coffee can be tailored to your taste with pour-over coffee because there are so many variables.
How much coffee should I use per cup of water?
Depending on how strong you want your coffee, you may want to use more grinds per ounce of water. The average is 1-2 scoops per cup of coffee. This will depend on how you like your coffee, so feel free to experiment to find your perfect cup of joe.
What kind of roast is best for pour-over coffee?
Medium and light roasts have subtle notes and flavors that can be beautifully drawn out using the pour-over coffee method. They’re best suited for pour-over coffee, but that’s not to say that a dark roast wouldn’t be good.
What temperature should the water be for pour-over coffee?
When you’re making coffee, the temperature should be between 190-205 degrees Fahrenheit. The higher there are lots of variables that may change the flavor and the strength of the coffee. Here’s a table of some of the ways the brew temperature can change your coffee.
Effects of Water Temperature on Coffee
| High Temperature | Low Temperature | |
| Acidity | High Acidity | Low Acidity |
| Oils & Flavor | Intense Flavors | Less Flavor |
| Brew Time | Shorter Brew Time | Longer Brew Time |
| Strength | Strong | Weak |
Are there different ways to make pour-over coffee?
There are lots of ways to make any kind of coffee and pour-over coffee is no exception. Pour-over coffee can be made with many different methods. Here is a small list of some of those methods:
Pulse Pouring vs Continuous Pouring
Pulse pouring is a method used where the water is poured into the coffee grounds in a stop-start fashion. This method is supposed to disturb and saturate the coffee grounds evenly, but keep the grounds from rising up the filter.
Continuous Pouring is used (usually in concentric circles) to promote even distribution of the water and saturation of the coffee.
The Bloom
Coffee beans hold carbon dioxide in their cells, which is released during the healing process.
This method pours some water over the grinds, stops, and waits for the water to saturate while the carbon dioxide is released. This release causes bubbles, which have since been termed degassing.
Do I need to do anything special to make pour-over coffee?
Special equipment is not necessary for you to make your own pour-over coffee at home. If you want to enjoy a cup of coffee, heat some water, and filter the coffee.
You could pre-brew the coffee with the grinds in a separate glass and filter the grinds out of the water into a mug. This would be akin to the way tea is brewed. This is considered pre-infusion or immersion.
How do I make pour-over coffee?
To make pour-over coffee, follow these simple steps, adding details as you like to make your own recipe!
- Begin warming your water
- Prepare your mug with your filter.
- Add your coffee grounds, spreading them evenly
- Pour water over your coffee grounds to brew
- Voila! A cup of pour-over coffee!
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.