Pour-over coffee has a reputation for being fussy, but at its heart it's just hot water, ground coffee and a little patience. Once you get the rhythm, it becomes one of the most relaxing parts of the morning.
What You'll Need
- A pour-over dripper and filter
- Freshly ground coffee (medium-fine, like table salt)
- A kettle—a gooseneck makes pouring easier
- A scale (optional, but very helpful)
A Simple Starting Recipe
Use about 1 gram of coffee to 16 grams of water. For one mug, that's roughly 20g of coffee and 320g of water just off the boil (around 200°F / 93°C).
Step by Step
- Rinse the filter with hot water to remove any papery taste and warm the dripper. Discard the rinse water.
- Add your coffee and gently level the bed.
- Bloom: pour about twice the coffee's weight in water (40g) and wait 30–45 seconds. You'll see it bubble as gas escapes.
- Pour slowly in small circles, keeping the water level steady, until you reach your total.
- Let it drain. Total brew time should be around 3 minutes.
Adjusting the Taste
Too bitter? Grind a little coarser. Too sour or weak? Grind finer. Change one thing at a time and you'll dial in your perfect cup quickly.
