It’s widely known that Filipinos are avid coffee drinkers. The country consumes an average of 3.3 million 60kg bags of coffee each year. As drinking coffee continues to be a national pastime, Filipinos also move from sipping instant coffee to brewing their own.
In the past decade, manual brewers have become a common sight — from cafes to bistros to restaurants to even kitchen counters. The popularity of manually brewing coffee at home has brought forth various brewers, including the pour-over coffee maker.
In this article, we discuss the intricacies of pour over coffee and how to make it at home.
What is Pour Over Coffee?
Pour-over coffee is simple and basic: just you, your ground coffee beans, a filter, and a funnel. There are no machines to get in the way. By pouring a slow yet steady stream of hot water over premium coffee grounds, you can extract a delicate yet full-flavored cup of coffee with more subtlety and nuance than you would get with a French press or a drip machine.
While pour-over coffee has been around for a long time, it recently rose again in popularity due to the effects of the third wave of coffee. With its efficient extraction ability and intricate brewing process, coffee lovers and budding baristas are revisiting the pour-over method due to its simple yet dynamic results.
Pour-over coffee is also relatively easy to make, especially if you have equipment such as the Hario Pour-Over Starter Set. Unlike the complicated machines often seen in cafes, this pour-over coffee maker lets you produce a clean, flavorful, and bold cup without frills or buttons.
Drip Coffee vs. Pour Over Coffee
Drip and pour-over are both great ways to brew coffee at home. However, there are significant differences between them that you should take note of, especially if you’re deciding which coffee maker to choose.
Here are the major ones:
- Flavor and Quality
If you have premium beans and know the best grind size for coffee, the pour-over method will take your coffee experience to the next level. Due to the differences in their brewing methods, pour-over coffee tends to have stronger notes than regular drip coffee. The pour-over brewing method typically takes longer, making the flavor more vibrant. This is mainly because the water has more time to pull the oils and flavors from the grounds.
- Temperature
Most drip brewers don’t reach the ideal temperature range for making coffee, which is 96.1 degrees Celsius or 205 degrees Fahrenheit. If they do, they won’t likely stay that hot, which will have a negative impact on the results of your cup. With a pour-over coffee maker, you have complete control over the water temperature you use for brewing.
- Durability
The simple design of a pour-over coffee maker is a significant advantage to keeping it clean. Most pour-overs are made with one or two parts plastic, glass, or metal. Taking good care of your pour-over coffee maker will likely last a lifetime unless you drop it and it breaks. The same can’t be said for drip coffee machines, as they tend to malfunction. They’re also more expensive to replace.
- Consistency and Control
A pour-over coffee maker gives you complete control over your pouring style and the brewing process. You have power over the water flow, saturation of the grounds, and the length of time of the brewing process. You can make sure that the grounds aren’t over-extracted or under-extracted.
Ultimately, both brewing methods will give you a strong and delicious cup of coffee, but if you want complete control over the flavor, brewing time, and temperature, pour-over coffee is your best bet.
How to Make Pour Over Coffee?
In one article, we teach you how to brew coffee at home. Now, let’s discuss the intricacies of making a perfect cup of pour-over coffee.
The simple process goes like this:
- Bring water to a boil, preferably up to 96.1 degrees Celsius or 205 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Place coffee grounds and a filter in a funnel. After you’ve added the ground coffee, tap it gently to level the surface of the grounds.
- Place the funnel over your favorite coffee mug or a carafe. You’ll find many pour over stands with these pieces, but there are also pour over starter kits like the one from Hario that are specially designed for this brewing process.
- There will be a total of four pours. Start slowly pouring the water over the coffee, beginning at the outer rim and then move in a continual spiral toward the center of the coffee grounds. Make sure all the grounds are saturated. This should take about 15 seconds.
- Let the coffee rest for an additional 30 seconds before moving on to the second pour. After 30 seconds, repeat what you did in Step 4.
- After the 2nd pour, wait for 25 to 60 seconds. Then repeat what you did in Step 4.
- Wait for another 30 seconds. Then, repeat Step 4.
- When the coffee and water from the third pour drops to the bottom of the filter, you can proceed with your final pour. This pour should take around 15-20 seconds.
Pour over coffee ratio chart
While the coffee-to-water ratio is entirely dependent on your personal preference, we’ve come up with the best pour-over coffee ratio that you can use as a reference:
- 8 oz/237ml of water : 13g/2 tablespoons of coffee
- 12 oz/355ml of water : 19.5g/3 tablespoons of coffee
- 16 oz/473ml of water : 26g/4 tablespoons of coffee
- 24 oz/710ml of water : 39g/6 tablespoons of coffee
Pour over coffee grind size
For pour-over coffee, the best grind is a medium coarse grind. This is similar in size to the one used in a French press but slightly smoother and less chunky. If you’re using a cone-shaped pour-over coffee maker, you can also use a medium-fine coffee grind.
Perk Your Mornings Up with Fresh Pour Over Coffee
Pour-over coffee is a great way to get energized, and the process doesn’t have to be complicated, especially if you have a Starter Set. As long as you follow the instructions above, you’re well prepared to make a great brew and invest in specialty coffee.
For more information and inquiries about pour-over coffee, don’t hesitate to contact Coffeebeans.ph today. Whether you’re an experienced coffee lover or a budding home barista, we have all the coffee-making accessories and equipment you need to make a delicious cup of pour-over coffee.
