The perfect pour over

The perfect pour over

The ritual of the pour over coffee is reminiscent to meditation. No machine, no blinking lights, no power cords, just you, the coffee and some simple tools.

If you have never tried pour over coffee, it is similar to one from a drip coffee maker however noticeably more complex and delicate. Find a few minutes to slow down: observe the bloom — the swell of coffee grounds after the first pour and experience the first trace of coffee-drunk steam. Notice how the flow rate and the spiral of each pour can alter the flavors in the final cup. 

What is Pour Over Coffee?

The pour over method involves pouring hot water through coffee grounds in a filter. The water drains through the coffee and filter into a carafe or mug, underneath. Pour over coffee is sometimes referred to as drip coffee or filter coffee. However, what sets pour over apart is that it is made by hand-pouring the water over the coffee. 

Pour over coffee has been commonly used in Europe since the 1900s. But, has recently been "rediscovered" by the specialty coffee movement most recently.

Why use Pour Over Coffee?

Pour over accentuates the intricate flavors of the coffee when compared to other brewing methods. Because of this, it makes it a very popular choice for single origin coffees as it allows the aromas to bloom. 

Good pour over coffee is clean, clear, and consistent. As the water extracts the coffee oils and fragrances in its own consistent time and at its own pressure. The filter also catches a lot of the oils, making the ultimate clean cup. 

As this is an infusion method it is able to capture more of the nuances of the flavor. Immersion techniques such as the French press causes the water to saturate. Whereas the pour over method uses a constant supply of fresh water. 

Our Pour Over recipe

Equipment 

  • A brewing device or dripper is simply the piece of equipment that holds the coffee filter and grounds. The Kinto Slow brewer comes in a 2 cup or 4 cup and the Straight side coffee jug.

  • Filters. Paper or cloth? Bleached or unbleached? Filters are one of the most controversial among the specialty brewers. We use the cotton paper filters, made from cotton fibres and wood pulp. 

  • You may not think scales are essential, but if you want to create consistently good coffee, they are. Invest in a digital scale and use it to measure your coffee and water. Check out our smart scales here.

  • Have you seen specialty baristas pour water from a small copper kettle and wondered why? Can’t you just use a standard electric kettle? Yes, you can. But you may choose not to. Maybe try it first then look into the fancy kettle...

  • Lastly something to grind your coffee beans in. You can go full luxe with an electric grinder or take it easy with a hand grinder. 

Ingredients 

  • 600g filtered distilled, or spring water

  • 18g medium-fine ground coffee

Method

  1. Bring filtered water to boil.

  2. Grind coffee to a coarseness resembling sea salt.

  3. Place a filter in the dripper.

  4. Add the ground coffee to the filter and gently tap it to level the surface.

  5. Place the brewer on a carafe or cup, place this entire set-up onto a digital scale, and set it to zero.

  6. Start a timer. Begin pouring water slowly over the coffee, starting at the outer rim and moving in a steady spiral toward the center of the grounds. Stop pouring when the scale reaches 60 grams. The pour should take about 15 seconds.

  7. Give the coffee an additional 30 seconds to drip.

  8. Starting in the center of the grounds, pour in a steady spiral toward the outer edge and then back toward the center. Add roughly 90 grams, bringing the total to 150 grams.

  9. As the mixture of water and coffee from the second pour drops to the bottom of the filter, pour an additional 100 grams of water using the same pattern as the second pour.

  10. When the water and coffee from the third pour drops to the bottom of the filter, complete your fourth and final pour. Add 100 grams, bringing the total up to 350 grams of water. This pour should take 20 seconds. 

 So take the time, take a breath and make a really beautiful drop. 

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