There are countless gizmos and gadgets on the market designed to create some incredible cups of coffee at various price points and user capabilities. But, sometimes keeping it simple can be just as good as that $500 machine. Look at the pour-over coffee for example. It’s easy, simple, and just about anyone can create a delicious brew. But, what exactly is pour-over coffee and how do you make it?

What is Pour-Over Coffee?

At its most basic level, this type of coffee is just you, a cup, a filter, and a funnel. No expensive machines to get in the way and not a lot of clean-up after brewing. The reason why people love pour-overs so much is that the hot water extracts all the delicious flavors the beans have to offer. Resulting in a full-bodied, yet delicate cup of coffee that has more nuance and subtlety than you’d get from a drip machine or French Press. 

Pour-over coffee is unlike other methods of brewing because it continuously replenishes the liquid surrounding the grounds with new, fresher water. This promotes a faster, more efficient brew. Pouring one stream of water, rather than a dozen or more little streams from a coffee-makers shower head will result in a hotter brewing environment. The temperature and water quality will affect the overall reaction rate of the coffee chemistry. 

Over the last few years, many coffee shops around the world have been retiring their pour-over stations and investing in programmable machines that can brew multiple cups of coffee at once. This is due to human error. While many baristas can make a great pour-over coffee, many aren’t skilled enough to consistently create delicious pour-overs. By investing in a machine, many shops are eliminating that human error. 

How Do You Make Pour-Over Coffee?

When it comes to making good pour-overs, the biggest factors you need to account for are coffee bean quality and the purity of water. However, every little detail matters, and getting a consistent grind coarseness and using proper measurements shouldn’t be an afterthought. 

Just follow our steps below:

1. Bring at least 20 oz. of water to a boil.
2. Grind your coffee to a coarseness that resembles sea salt. We recommend using 30 grams of coffee. To enjoy a more full-bodied flavor from a light roast coffee, we recommend using less coffee: 22 grams.
3. Place a filter in your coffee dripper. We recommend wetting your filter with hot water and dumping the water before moving on to the brewing process.
4. Add your ground coffee to the filter and gently tap it to level the surface of the grounds. Also, place your set up on top of a digital scale.
5. Start a timer. Begin pouring water slowly over the coffee, starting at the outer rim and moving in a steady spiral toward the center of the grounds. Stop pouring once the scale reaches 60 grams.
6. Begin pouring again. Starting in the center of the grounds, pour in a steady spiral toward the outer edge and then back toward the center. Stop once you’ve hit 150 grams on the scale.
7. Repeat step 6 until you’ve hit 250 grams. 
8. When the water and coffee from the third pour drop to the bottom of the filter, complete the final pour. Add 100 grams, bringing the total up to 350 grams of water. 
9. Enjoy that brew!

Or, You Can Skip the Drip and Go to Mokas Cafe!

Mokas Cafe was founded in Salina, Kansas over 15 years ago. Since our opening, we strive to create a worthwhile experience for everyone who walks through our doors with friendly customer service and delicious food and brews. One way we do this is by offering our guests the most flavorful coffee around and this starts with our coffee beans. Visit our locations page to find the nearest cafe to you!