There is no denying that you can brew a great cup of coffee in a traditional auto-drip machine. However, for a fast and easy alternative to drip-brewing, consider the pour-over method! Pour-over coffee brewing happens to be one of the more convenient ways of brewing coffee outside of a coffee maker. A pour-over system can come in many shapes and sizes, but all pour-over systems share a few common characteristics. They include a filter typically made of paper, a cone or hopper, and a valve or a hole that allows the coffee to drip in to a container. Many of these systems do accommodate more than one cup of coffee, but the vast majority are constructed for single cup brewing.

So how does the pour-over system work? First, place the filter inside the cone. It is a good idea to pre-wet the filter so if fits snuggly, by allowing some water to run through the device. Next, add your ground coffee beans. The beans should be ground finer than your standard drip grind, but coarser than an espresso grind. The standard ratio is one ounce of water to two grams of coffee. If you are making a single twelve oz. cup, use 24 grams of coffee. After dosing, place the grounds inside the filter of the pour-over cone. Next, bring your water to approximately 195-200 degrees Fahrenheit and evenly disperse your 12 ounces of water over the coffee grounds. Let the coffee steep for four to five minutes, while stiring the wet grounds to ensure the water is evenly dispersed. Finally place the pour-over cone on top of your coffee mug so that the valve mechanism will allow coffee to begin to drip into your cup! Some pour-over systems are built without the valve mechanism, and have a simple, open hole at the bottom of the cone. If you are working with a system similar to this, make sure you place the pour-over device over your mug in the beginning of the brewing process.

Now, you may ask yourself, why go through this trouble for one cup of coffee? The answer, to put it simply, is quality. By pouring hot water slowly over the ground-up beans, you extract more flavor, than you would by brewing a pot in a traditional auto-drip brewer. It is also a great way to control all of the brewing variables such as water temperature, proper ratios and evenly dispersed water, all of which are much harder to control on an auto-dripper. The pour-over method is arguably one of the best ways to enjoy fresh coffee that has all of the specific notes and none of the sediment. The pour-over system may not have all the bells and whistles, or even a clock radio, but it’s quick, easy and can make one remarkable cup of coffee!

Matt Hogan
Coffeeshop Depot