Can You Use Any Coffee for Pour Over? (Solved & Explained!)

Light roast, medium grind coffee is recommended for pour over, although you are able to customise this to your own tastes and preferences. The pour over method is an infusion method of brewing coffee, which makes the coffee you choose to brew with important. The method is capable of producing vivid, strong flavours, but your coffee of choice will affect its ability to do this.

In this article, we will look in more detail at what coffee should be used with the pour over method, the advantages of using pour over and whether the method is able to produce good coffee.

Can you use any coffee for pour over?

The two most important things to consider when choosing coffee for the pour over method are the roast of your coffee and the grind. You can use any roast of coffee for pour over, but light roast coffees are typically recommended. Light roast coffees are a great option for the pour over method as they tend to have particularly acidic flavours, meaning the method can really pick up on and emphasise the flavours. In terms of grind, it is recommended that you start with a medium grind and then alter from there, meaning you may find you need a bit of trial and error before you find the right grind for you.

Can you use regular coffee for pour over?

You can use regular coffee with the pour over method, but there are a few things you should look for when choosing your beans. The quality of coffee bean you use for your brew is important – it can affect both the efficiency of your brewing device and the taste and consistency of the coffee you are able to produce. Specialty blends and high-quality, single-origin beans are the best options for your pour over coffee, typically recommended to produce a flavourful and consistent cup.

What is pour over coffee?

Pour over refers to a method of brewing coffee which involves hot water being poured through coffee grounds and draining through the filter into a mug. It is also known as drip coffee or filter coffee, due to the importance of the filter. The method has been around for about ninety years but has recently begun to rise in popularity in cafes and coffeehouses around the world, as well as with people brewing at home.

What are the advantages of pour over coffee?

The pour over method is typically considered to produce a flavourful cup of coffee. This is because it actively searches for the flavours in your coffee, a great way of bringing out the intricacies in your brew. Pour over lets the flavours and tastes of your brew come to the forefront while producing a clean, strong coffee. When compared to immersion methods of brewing, pour over is considered overall better at taking those flavours out and preserving them in your coffee.

What are the disadvantages to pour over coffee?

As with any method of brewing coffee, there are disadvantages to the pour over method. Water temperature is one of the most important parts of brewing coffee, no matter which method you are using. Pour over brewers tend to allow little to no control over water temperature, which can make it difficult to reach the ideal temperature without boiling your water in the kettle. As the method is manual, it is also susceptible to human error and can take some getting used to.

What water to coffee ratio should be used for a pour over?

The ratio of water to coffee you use in your brewing will affect the taste and consistency of your end result and is likely to depend on your own preferences. The recommended starting point differs from one source to the next, but typically you will want to aim for between 15:1 and 17:1. From here, you are encouraged to play around with the ratio and adjust to your own tastes.

Does pour over make good coffee?

The pour over method typically produces high-quality coffee which is full of flavour and rich in taste. You are likely to produce a stronger coffee with pour over than with other methods of brewing, including the drip method. The flavours of your pour over coffee are likely to be bolder and more savoury and tend to be more vivid and full-bodied. The coffee you produce with your pour over is also likely to be smoother in appearance and taste and may feel silkier to the taste.

Is pour over coffee healthier?

Pour over coffee is generally considered to be healthier than other brewing methods. Coffee can cause an increase in cholesterol, which can cause health problems. This typically happens because of cafestol, an agent found in coffee which is known for raising the cholesterol. The pour over method results in coffee which contains less cafestol as it has less acid and is typically weaker than other coffees, making it a slightly healthier choice than regularly coffee brews.

Why might my pour over coffee not taste right?

If you are struggling with weak coffees as a result of using the pour over method, you may be using grinds which are too coarse, which prevents the flavour from getting through the filter adequately. Instead, you may want to try using a finer grind. If the coffee you are producing is too strong, you may be using too much coffee or not enough water.

Do you need any special equipment for pour over?

When looking for equipment for the pour over method, it is easy to become overwhelmed by the number of options available. The good news is that most of it is not necessary, especially if you are just starting out. Instead, it is deceptively simple to use the pour over method. Look for a quality brewing device and choose which filters you want to use and you can begin using the pour over method straight away. Over time, you may choose to add other equipment like specially made kettles or scales.