Starting Point for Perfecting Your Pour Over

Pour over brewing is prized for its ability to let you dial in every variable to maximize a coffee’s unique flavor profile. Here’s a proven framework to get you started:

1. Coffee-to-Water Ratio

• Start with a ratio between 1:14 and 1:17 (1 gram of coffee per 14–17 grams of water). Common starting points are:

  • 1:16 (e.g., 25g coffee to 400g water) for balanced extraction.

  • Adjust to taste: a lower ratio (1:15) yields a stronger, more concentrated cup; a higher ratio (1:18) produces a lighter, more delicate brew.

2. Grind Size

• Begin with a medium-fine grind, similar to sea salt.

• Adjust finer if your brew is sour or under-extracted; go coarser if it’s bitter or over-extracted.

• Always grind fresh, just before brewing, using a burr grinder for consistency.

3. Water Temperature

• Heat water to 195–205°F (90–96°C).

• For most coffees, just-off-boil water (about 203°F) works well.

• For dark roasts or very bright coffees, start a bit cooler to avoid over-extraction.

4. Filter Preparation

• Rinse your paper filter with hot water to remove any papery taste and preheat your brewer.

5. Bloom

• Pour about 2–3 times the weight of your coffee in water (e.g., 25g coffee, 50–75g water) to saturate the grounds.

• Let it bloom for 30–45 seconds to release CO₂ and enhance extraction.

6. Pour Technique

• Pour in slow, steady spirals from center outward, avoiding the filter’s edge.

• Add water in stages, maintaining even saturation and a consistent flow rate (about 8–10g/sec).

• Total brew time should be 2.5–4 minutes, depending on your grind and recipe.

7. Taste & Adjust

• Taste your brew. If it’s too bitter, try a coarser grind or lower temperature. If too sour, use a finer grind or hotter water.

• Adjust your ratio, grind, and pour technique as you experiment with different coffees.

Final Tips

• Use a scale and timer for consistency.

• Taste and tweak one variable at a time.

• Enjoy the process—pour overs reward attention to detail and experimentation.

This framework provides a reliable starting point; from here, minor tweaks in grind, ratio, and technique will help you unlock the full potential of any specialty coffee.