5 Tips for a Better Pour-Over Coffee: A Beginner’s Guide

by Roasting Team

Pour-over coffee is a rewarding and flavorful way to enjoy coffee. By following a few essential tips, you can elevate your brewing skills and enjoy a delicious cup with each pour.
Here’s how to get started with five easy tips!

1. Stick to a Coffee-to-Water Ratio of 1:15 - 1:17

The coffee-to-water ratio is crucial in achieving a balanced flavor. For pour-over coffee, a general guideline is to use a ratio between 1:15 and 1:17, where 1 represents grams of coffee and 15-17 represents grams of water.

  • Example Ratios:

    • 1:15 – 23g of coffee to 340g of water: This ratio creates a more intense, concentrated flavor.

    • 1:16 – 18g of coffee to 300g of water: This is a balanced middle ground, providing a rich, yet smooth cup.

    • 1:17 – 14g of coffee to 250g of water: This ratio gives a lighter, milder brew.

Different types of beans and roast levels may benefit from slight variations, so feel free to experiment. For instance, a fruity Ethiopian coffee might taste best with a 1:16 ratio, while a chocolatey Colombian coffee may need a 1:15 ratio to bring out its deeper notes.

Tip: Using a digital scale will help you maintain accuracy for consistent results.

2. Invest in a Quality Burr Grinder

Grind size and consistency are essential for pour-over coffee, and a burr grinder is the best tool for the job. Burr grinders, unlike blade grinders, allow you to set a consistent grind size, leading to even extraction and balanced flavors.

  • Flat vs. Conical Burrs: Both types are effective, but flat burrs often provide finer control over grind size.
  • Recommended Burr Grinders:
    • Hand Grinders: 1Zpresso ZP6, Comandante C40
    • Electric Grinders: Baratza Encore, Fellow Ode Gen 2

Why a Burr Grinder Matters: 

  • Consistent grind size promotes even extraction, which minimizes bitterness and sour notes.
  • Freshly ground coffee retains its flavors better, and you can adjust the grind size to match the coffee’s roast and origin.

3. Use High-Quality Brew Water

Pour-over coffee is 98% water, so the quality of your water makes a noticeable difference. Minerals in water like calcium and magnesium enhance extraction and bring out desirable flavors.

  • Why Minerals Matter: Calcium and magnesium help extract acids, adding brightness and sweetness, while sodium and potassium balance the flavors.
  • Avoid Tap Water: It often contains chlorine and impurities that can negatively impact taste.
  • Recommended Water Options:
    • Third Wave Water: Mineral packets that add the right balance of minerals.
    • Perfect Coffee Water: Similar mineral packets to enhance flavor.
    • Brita Filter: If other options aren’t available, filtered water is better than unfiltered tap water.

Proper water quality brings out your coffee’s nuances and makes each cup more enjoyable.

4. Aim for Even Extraction, Not Just High Extraction

Extraction is the process of dissolving coffee particles into water, which creates flavor. However, higher extraction isn’t always better, as some acids can taste bitter or unpleasant.

  • Goal: Even extraction means each coffee particle extracts at a similar rate, avoiding overly bitter or sour flavors.
  • How to Achieve Even Extraction:
    • Coarser Grind: If your coffee is over-extracted and bitter, try a slightly coarser grind.
    • Bloom the Coffee: Pour a small amount of water over the coffee grounds, enough to cover them, and let it sit for 30-45 seconds to allow the coffee to release trapped gases.
    • Pour Technique: Pour water in slow, circular motions, holding the kettle 2-3 inches above the coffee bed. This helps prevent stalling and promotes balanced extraction.

Aiming for an even extraction will bring out the intended flavors of the coffee while minimizing unwanted notes.

5. Troubleshoot Your Brew for Taste

Not every cup will be perfect, and that’s okay! Learning to adjust your process based on taste is essential.

  • Tasting Notes: Taste your coffee at different temperatures as it cools. Well-extracted coffee should still taste good as it reaches room temperature.
  • Adjusting Your Recipe:
    • Use a Go-To Recipe: If you have a recipe that usually works, start there before making changes.
    • Adjust Brew Ratio and Grind Size: If the coffee is too strong or weak, try tweaking the ratio or grind size slightly, by about 0.5g for minor adjustments.
    • Single Changes Only: Change only one variable at a time to understand its impact.

Example Recipe:

  • Coffee: 15g
  • Water: 250g at 195°F
  • Grind Size: Medium-coarse
  • Bloom: 50g of water for 1 minute
  • Pouring: Pour slowly in circles until 250g, swirl the coffee bed, and let it finish brewing.

With practice, you’ll be able to diagnose and adjust your coffee brewing process to create the perfect cup every time.

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