Pour over is one of the most basic and consistent ways to make an amazing cup of coffee. Nothing fancy here! It’s like a ritual, and mastering this ritual is like a french chef mastering the five mother sauces. While I talk a lot about Bougie brewing methods, like the siphon, I must admit that pour over is one of the most underrated brewing methods out there!

Our Top Choice – Chemex Classic Series

Why is this our top choice?

  • Timeless design
  • Durable glass
  • Easy to clean

Why Pour Over?

Whether you’re in a rush or just want a great coffee, pour over is one of the best methods out there. I personally prefer total immersion techniques (like the siphon or the french press) for beans with more delicate tasting notes. But if I’m in a rush or want to save a bit of time, pour over is my go-to brew method. It also requires less investment to get started!

How Does it Work?

While pour over does seem pretty simple, I can’t tell you how many people will get this technique completely wrong! Follow the below step-by-step guide to get that perfect cup of pour over coffee. 

Step 1: Prepare the filter, beans, and water

Soak your filter in warm water for a few minutes to ensure the best brew. Position the filter in the upper part of your glassware. Bring at least 600 grams (20 oz) of water to boil. While letting the water boil, grind about 30 grams of coffee to medium coarseness — similar to sea salt. Add the grounds to your filter and gently tap in order to level off the surface of the grounds. Place the entire setup onto your scale and set it to zero, this is how you will measure the amount of water you pour in!

TIP: Invest in high quality filters, especially if you buy beans with delicate tasting notes! See our picks for single use and reusable filters.

Step 2: Let it bloom!

Follow the next steps to the letter —  remember, this is where most will go wrong with this method! Grab your timer and make sure your scale is at zero. When your water reaches boil, slowly pour about 60 grams of waters evenly across your grounds, take about 15 seconds to complete the pour. As you’ll see, the grounds will “bloom” as they release CO2. Give the coffee about 30 seconds before moving on to the next step.

TIP: All the Bougie brewers use a scale to ensure the exact ratio of coffee to water. Check out our recommendation for a relatively inexpensive (but reliable) scale!

Step 3: Spiral pour

Starting out at the edge of the filter and slowly spiraling inwards towards the center, pour out about 90 grams of water (bringing the total to 150 grams). Take about 30 seconds to complete the pour. Make sure that you get all the edges during this step, an even pour extracts the most flavor from your grounds! Give the coffee another 30 seconds after you complete the pour to move on to the next step.

Step 4: Finish up the final pours

You should see most of the water out of the filter and in to the lower chamber. When you see this, evenly pour another 100 grams of water (bringing the total to 250 grams) over 15 seconds. Wait until most of the water has made it to the lower chamber before moving on to the next step.

On your fourth and final pour, evenly pour 100 grams of water (bringing the total to 350 grams) in the same way that you did in the previous step.

Step 5: Let the water filter through and enjoy!

Allow the water to completely make its way through the filter, this should take no more than a minute from when you finish the fourth pour. And that’s it, enjoy your perfectly brewed cup of pour over!

Before You Buy

What’s your budget?

It’s pretty easy to find some cheap, poor-quality glassware out there. But, you don’t need to drop $100 on a setup either. Take a look at our list of options below to find the setup that fits your needs (and budget)!

How Many Cups Do You Want To Brew?

Pour over set ups can range from single cup setups to whole pots. Our top recommendations can handle both, but be sure to check out some of the smaller options if space is a concern!

What Filters and Other Materials Do I Need?

Below is a complete list of everything you’ll need to get started, along with a few recommendations.

Glassware/ceramics – with this method, you have a range of options from the more traditional Chemex to the more convenient single serve.

Scale – Needed for both measuring beans/grounds and water, we recommend the this scale because it is a relatively inexpensive and versatile.

Filters – Decisions, decisions. Single-use filters are convenient, especially if you’re in a hurry. For the environmentally (or budget) conscious, reusable filters are a fantastic option. On both, be sure not to skimp and just get the cheapest option — invest in the quality of the cup you’re going to brew! 

Before you go!

If you are interested in any (or all) of these brewing methods, go ahead and check out our in-depth articles on them! We encourage every aspiring Bougie barista to get to know each method, the pros and cons, and learn a thing or two about how others brew!