Nuanced, smooth, flavorful—these are just some of the many enticing words used to describe pour-over coffee. If you're searching for a new way to brew the best part of your morning routine, look no further than the simple and elegant pour-over method. Whether you prefer the richest, boldest dark roasts or the mildest light roasts, your pour-over will help you create a delicious cup, morning after morning. But before you head out to buy a new brewing method, you may want to learn the ins and outs pour-over coffee. With our help, you'll become a pro in no time! What is Pour-Over Coffee? When it comes to the name, "pour-over" can be taken quite literally, as coffee made using this method is brewed by pouring hot water directly onto coffee grounds in a filtered cone-shaped device. As the water slowly drips through the grounds, it extracts the flavor in a slow and controlled fashion, resulting in delicious and consistent cups of coffee. You can enjoy any roast, whether you prefer a bright light roast or are drinking decaf for your health. The History of the Pour-Over Method The invention of the life-changing pour-over method can be credited to a German housewife when, in 1908, she got so fed up with the endlessly bitter taste of the typical percolated coffee that she set out to find another way to make her morning brew. Melitta Bentz created a rough design using a tin can lined with paper and a hole in the bottom, filling it with freshly ground coffee and pouring hot water directly on it. When she tasted the result, she and her husband were blown away, setting out to patent her brilliant creation—and forming the well-known Melitta company in the process. By 1930, Bentz produced the iconic conical filter still used and loved today, inspiring other companies worldwide to dream up similar filter ideas, from Chemex to V60. Nowadays, you can easily buy a pack of filters and a pour-over method for home brewing. You can even find fresh pour-over beverages in some specialty coffee shops! Why is Pour-Over a Popular Method? While other coffee methods, like the set-it-and-forget-it drip machines or the quick espresso shots, boast convenience, pour-over coffee encourages you to slow down and enjoy every step of your routine. From heating the water to grinding fresh grounds for each cup, every step of the process can be romanticized and elevated. If you like adding a little mindfulness into your day, investing in a quality pour-over is the way to go. It's also an immensely popular option for those looking for a clear and flavorful cup of coffee. The combination of the cone-shaped filter and the slow, gravity-induced dripping method results in a well-balanced cup of coffee that allows all of the detailed top notes and aromas to shine through each batch. Whether you prefer your brew black as night or love to top it off with your favorite creamer, your pour-over coffee will tantalize your taste buds. Not to mention that it looks more complex than it is, making it a great way to show off your barista skills for any house guests. Placing the pour-over device on their chosen mug, grinding them a fresh dose of coffee, and making a show of pouring the hot water slowly in circles until the dripping has stopped will wow them and make them feel right at home. Who doesn't love a show before sipping on a tasty Tanzanian Peaberry roast? Drip Coffee vs. Pour-over Coffee While the basics and mechanics of the two sound similar, drip vs pour-over is a popular debate amongst enthusiasts. Though both use the same format of hot water dripping through a filter of coffee grounds, the main difference lies in the actual devices and the grind size. Drip coffee is a beginner-friendly way to enjoy any roast, as the machine heats the water, and the process begins with a simple step of pressing the button. The beans must be ground at a medium level before being added to the filter, but if you're looking for a hands-off way to brew multiple cups at once, drip is what you're after. Pour-over coffee normally produces only one or two cups at a time. The pour-over device sits directly over a pitcher or mug, depending on the size you buy, and is prized for presenting an extra flavorful cup. Beans should be ground at a medium to fine level, according to your taste buds and the brand of filters you buy. With a little more intermediate understanding of how pour-over coffee is made, you can make a powerful cup in no time. Is Pour-Over Coffee More Caffeinated Than Drip? In general, pour-over coffee has a slightly higher caffeine count than drip due to a few key elements in the process, including the required higher temperature of the water, finer grind size, and the speed it takes from start to finish. Don't get it twisted, though: both pour-over coffee and drip have less caffeine than a perfectly pulled shot of espresso. Popular Types of Pour-Over Coffee Methods Pour-over coffee is an umbrella term for mechanisms that use filters, grounds, and hand-poured hot water, but each brand has its own unique benefits. Learn about the differences to determine which pour-over method works best for you: Melitta Cone Pour-Over There's a reason Melitta has been producing pour-overs for over a hundred years—it stands the test of time! Whether you want a lightweight plastic design to bring on your travels or a sturdier porcelain piece for your home, this company has it all. Buy the matching cone-shaped filters to enjoy enhanced and distinct coffee flavors and premium mouthfeel with every cup. Hario V60 Pour-Over Hario began producing V60p pour-overs in Japan in 1921. V, due to the shape of the device that sits on top of the cup, and 60, referring to the exact sloping angle. V60s are small, practical, and easy to experiment with, making it a great choice for beginners. Whether you buy a plastic, ceramic, or glass design, every cup produces a clean and smooth flavor and works especially well, bringing top notes out of lighter roasts rather than dark. Kalita Wave Pour-Over Kalita Wave pour-overs are known for their signature wavy shape—a design element added to give the filter structure, even when wet. Available in both ceramic and stainless steel, this type of pour-over is often discussed as the best option for those making their first switch from a drip machine. This type of pour-over requires flat bottom filters, which allow a longer saturation surface and can lead to a more balanced brew. Chemex Pour-Over Known for its elegant hourglass shape, Chemex is one of the most popular forms of pour-over coffee makers. The Chemex uses a thicker filter of its own design, created to remove even more sediment and oils than a typical pour-over coffee filter. While this may be a less portable option, as it's made with non-shatterproof glass, it does add a certain level of beauty and sophistication to your at-home coffee bar. Is Chemex Different from Pour-Over Coffee? While Chemex, by all technicalities, is considered a pour-over brew method, many coffee lovers look at the few key differences and consider it to be its own. Chemex requires a much coarser grind size (closer to that of cold brew coffee or French press) as the filters are much thicker. They also take a longer time to brew and result in much larger batches, as opposed to the quick one-cup method pour-over coffee is known for. How to Choose the Best Bean for Your Pour-Over Coffee in 3 Simple Steps When it comes to selecting a bag of beans for your pour-over coffee, there's really no wrong choice! It all comes down to personal preferences. Learn how to brew pour-over coffee by following these steps: Step 1: Find Your Preferred Roast The first step to finding the right beans for your pour-over is the same for any brew method—you have to choose a roast. If you've never known which one you're drawn to and you tend to just accept whatever being is tossed your way, this is the perfect excuse to experiment by buying a few smaller amounts and trying all of them out over the course of a couple of weeks. Coffee roasts are generally categorized into three levels: Light: light roasts like our Costa Rica Tarrazu are known for their crisp, acidic, and delicate notes and are often recommended for pour-over users hoping to bring out each layer of a complex flavor profile. Medium: medium roasts are praised for their well-rounded, mellow taste and lingering sweetness—something the pour-over method is designed to preserve. Dark: if you prefer to drink your coffee black, dark roasts, such as a classic French roast, are the best pour-over selection, as the brewing process can bring out those subtle flavors. Step 2: Consider Country of Origin Choosing your roast is only the first step to finding the perfect bean for your pour-over. It's time to pay attention to the other important information on the label—the country of origin! Did you know that each country is known for having distinctly different tastes, acidity levels, and mouthfeel, from the citrusy notes of Central American coffee to the earthy feel of Asia roasts? Since pour-overs bring out every possible note in a flavor profile, looking closely at each country's top notes is an essential step to finding a bean you love. Common Coffee Flavors from Each Country While the more nuanced top notes can depend on each region as well as the bean varietal used, each of these popular coffee-producing countries boasts unique flavors, such as: Brazil: full, sweet, chocolatey, and nutty Colombia: caramelly and bright Guatemala: rich, flavorful, smoky Ethiopia: fruity, floral, and wine-like Kenya: bold, juicy, and acidic Indonesia: smokey, earthy, and spicy Papua New Guinea: sweet and tropical Costa Rica: honey, vanilla, and citrus Peru: vanilla, chocolatey and nutty Step 3: Grind to the Correct Size Once you've chosen your beans, it's time to grind them! Pour-over coffee should be ground at a medium to fine level. Anything larger than that, and the flavors won't be properly extracted by the hot water. If you grind it too fine, you'll end up drinking unwanted grounds—and no one wants that! Reminder: if you are using a Chemex as your pour-over, make sure you grind it at a coarse setting so that the grounds do not fall through your filter and into the carafe. Permanent vs. Paper Filters for Pour-Over Coffee Many people have strong opinions on the "right" filter for pour-over devices, but since the effects on the overall flavor are nearly nonexistent, it's really up to you! Paper filters may be one-time-use products, but they come with the benefit that you’re able to toss them away once you're finished, making cleanup a breeze. If you're a little more environmentally conscious, you may want to consider getting a reusable or permanent metal filter that can be rinsed out between uses. 3 Tips for Making Amazing Pour-Over Coffee The last thing you'd want is to go through all that hard work to complete your pour-over setup, only for the final result to taste off! If you're experiencing any of the top coffee brewing mistakes, try out a few of these tried-and-true tips: Tip #1: if your brew tastes bitter, make sure you're pouring the water in slow and steady spirals around the entire filter, taking no more than four minutes to avoid over-extraction and that pesky bitter note. Tip #2: if you think you'd prefer a stronger taste, adjust the ratio. The common starting ratio is 1 part coffee to 15 parts water, but you can adjust it either way to find one that works for you. Tip #3: always use distilled water instead of your sink's tap water to avoid unwanted flavors in your cup of coffee. With a little practice and a lot of patience, you can perfect the art of pour-over coffee at home. Discover your new favorite beans with our wide selection at Stone Street, select your grind, and get to it!
