Pour Over Coffee Makers
Pour over coffee makers are essentially funnels. They tend to be either cone-shaped or flat-bottomed. At the bottom of the brewer is one or more holes through which the liquid coffee passes.
The most popular pourover coffee makers are the Hario V60, Kalita Wave, Chemex and to alesser extent the Beehouse.
Pour over coffee makers require a filter of some kind to separate the ground coffee from the liquid. Filters come in a variety of materials such as paper, plastic, metal or cloth. Each type of filter influences how the coffee tastes.
The coffee makers themselves also come in a variety of materials. The most popular brewers are either made from glass, metal, ceramic, copper or plastic. Some coffee makers, such as the Hario V60 and Kalita Wave, come in a variety of materials.
Maintaining a high water temperature is incredibly important when preparing pour over coffee. Because the water is in contact with the coffee for a short amount of time, the water needs to be extremely hot in order to efficiently extract the flavour from the ground coffee.
Coffee aficionados such as James Hoffmann and Matt Perger have actually praised the idea of using boiling water when making a pour over, especially with lighter roasts.
A way to ensure that the water stays as hot as possible is to use a plastic coffee maker. Plastic is superior at retaining heat, something thats probably a surprise to you. Well look at this in a bit more detail later on.
What’s The Best Ratio Of Coffee To Water
There are many rules to best coffee to water ratio. Baristas love talking about the fabled ‘Golden Ratio’ when it comes to being the best coffee. The ‘Golden Ratio’ is essentially the perfect ratio of coffee beans to hot water, but because everyone likes to enjoy their coffee in a different way, the ‘Golden Ratio’ can be different from one coffee lover to the next!
The great thing about pour-over coffee is that you can control the number of coffee grinds for pour-over down to the exact gram, and you can control the quantity of hot water to the perfect ounce. You can use scales to get the exact weights, just right, every time you brew up.
We recommend experimenting to find the perfect ratio of coffee to water for your pour-overs. The more coffee or less water you have, the stronger the brew will be.
Our baristas usually suggest starting with 21 grams of ground coffee for every 10 ounces of hot water. If you don’t have scales for measuring, then 21 grams will be approximately 3 tbsp of ground coffee beans.
After: Rinse And Clean
Volatile oils give coffee its unique flavor, but the build-up of these oils can also make future cups of coffee taste awful as they turn rancid over time. Plain white distilled vinegar will help you get rid of any residue on your coffee-making accessories, so clean them regularly to keep your brews tasting as fresh as possible!
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What Is The Pour Over
In the early 1900s, percolated coffee was all the rage across Europe but one German woman, a lady by the name of Amalie Auguste Melitta Bentz, was fed up with the stray grounds and signature intensity of a cup of percolated coffee. In her quest to brew a cup of coffee that satisfied her picky palate, she devised the first version of the pour-over funnel: a brass pot with a hole punched through it and blotting paper inside to act as a filter.
Its a rough start to a trend that can now set you apart from the crowd as a sophisticated coffee enthusiast who appreciates a perfectly portioned and extracted cup of the good stuff. These days, a great deal of discussion can be had around exactly how much a pour over coffee ratio of coffee to water should be or how fine a pour over coffee grind size should be used.
Dont let diving into all those details intimidate you if youre just getting started. I know from personal experience that knowing how to make pour over coffee is only as difficult as you make it out to be, in the end. And sure, freshly ground coffee is ideal, but pour over is a great way to perk up even the most mediocre prepackaged grounds.
What Type Of Pour Over Coffee Maker Is Best
There are three kinds of pour overs: Flat-bottomed, cone, and wedge.
- Flat-bottomed is the most user-friendly shape is flat bottomed because there is more surface area which leads to more even and consistent saturation of the grounds for a rich, full flavored coffee. A study at UC Davis shows that the shape of the filter highly affected the flavor notes for the brewed coffee, so choosing between flat and cone can also come down to which tasting notes you prefer in your cup of Joe.
- Cone requires a bit more precision when it comes to slowly pouring the water in circular motions because the water drains from one single point, so your hot water-pouring technique and rate is much more important here than in a flat-bottomed dripper. This means youâre going to need to be a bit more precise and engaged with the pouring process, but mastering the spiral pour method will prove to be advantageous with this apparatus because of the concave flow of water through the cone.
- Wedge pour overs possess similarities to both the flat-bottom and cone shape pour over. Because of the single hole at the bottom of the brewer, it is most similar to the cone shape in that it requires some level of precision when pouring water. Some wedge shaped pour overs do come with three holes which makes for a much more forgiving brew, so make sure to take note when looking at a wedge shaped apparatus.
Here are our favorite pour over coffee makers:
- Available in ceramic, glass, metal, or plastic
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What Is The Best Coffee For A Pour Over
If youre grinding it fresh for the cup youre about to brew, its automatically the best coffee compared to anything youll be preground. If all you have is preground, then youre in luck! Pour over brewing is the best way to get the most out of a coffee that might have lost some of its flavorful edge once its been ground and stored for a while. Third-wave coffee trends favor light roasts for brewing methods like a pour over. The way water-soluble compounds are extracted highlights the more unique, vegetal flavors of coffee beans.
Why Trust The Spruce Eats
Donna Currie is a freelance food writer who specializes in product reviews and recipes. Her work has appeared on Serious Eats, Fine Cooking, and her own recipe blog, Cookistry.com. She’s also the author of “Make Ahead Bread” , a cookbook meant to simplify the bread-baking process.
This piece was updated by Derek Rose, the coffee and tea expert for The Spruce Eats. He researches a variety of coffee products, from measuring scoops to commercial espresso machines, and interviews field experts for their insight. He typically uses non-electric coffee makers at home, alternating between the Bialetti Moka Express and the Bodum Brazil French Press .
Nigel Price, who was interviewed for this piece, is the founder and owner of Drip Coffee Makers in New York City and has worked in the coffee industry for more than a decade. Established in 2015, Drip now has multiple locations.
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Best Glass Pour Over Coffee Maker: Coffee Gator Paperless Pour Over Coffee Dripper Brewer
Get more from your beans with this 27-ounce glass pour-over coffee maker. The reusable laser-cut mesh filterwhich saves money and the planettraps grounds while allowing the natural oils and flavors to pass through. Plus, the glass carafe is durable and heat resistant. Simply add coffee grounds to the filter, slowly drizzle water to submerge the grounds, and let drip through. The resulting coffee will be far more fragrant and naturally sweeter.
“I’ve been using the Coffee Gator and I’ve been extremely happy with each cup of coffee,” one shopper says. “Because of the unique filter system, the Coffee Gator gives you the smoothest cup of coffee without any bitterness or oily sediment. It does take a little more time to prepare but you get a perfect cup of coffee every time and hey, I’m worth it! If you think you’re worth it to give the Coffee Gator a try.”
To buy: $35
What Grind Size Should I Use
Every type of coffee maker has an ideal grind size that leads to better tasting results. Most pour-over coffee makers work best with a medium grind, or something close to medium. For example, the brand Chemex recommends using a medium-coarse grind when brewing with one of its devices. Hario, on the other hand, suggests a medium-fine grind for its V60 Coffee Drippers. Many other pour-over coffee makers require a standard medium grind. Fortunately, this is the easiest size to find pre-ground in grocery stores. Further grind size information is usually available on brand websites or in instruction manuals.
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Most Attractive: Chemex Pour
Likely the trendiest of all pour-over coffee makers, this glass pour-over from Chemex features a stunning yet simple design that would look nice with any kitchen decor. But the advantages of this maker go even beyond aesthetics: All Chemex coffee makers are made with non-porous Borosilicate glass, which will not absorb odor or chemical residue.
Here’s another really cool feature the patented design allows you to cover your coffee, refrigerate, and reheat without losing flavor. Game changer.
This reviewer puts it best: “I bought the Chemex recently and it quickly became the go-to standard for my morning brews. It is foolproof, almost impossible to mess up at any stage: Boil water, grind beans, pour water over beans repeatedly until coffee is formed. You could argue there is more technique than that, but at its core the Chemex is built on an extremely simple concept.”
To buy: $50
How To Make A Coffee With Pour Over Coffee Maker
- Weigh the coffee and add the required amount to the filter.
- Measure the required volume of hot water that ideally has temperature of 195 to 205 degrees Fahrenheit, and pour it slowly in a circular motion to saturate the grounds evenly.
- Pause pouring for 30 seconds to let the grounds bloom for maximum extraction of aroma and flavor.
- Resume pouring the rest of the water slowly for the next 30 to 3 minutes, according to the Specialty Coffee Association of America.
- Remove the filter once you have poured all the water to avoid over-steeping and a beverage with a bitter taste.
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How Pour Over Coffee Makers Work
Pour over coffee makers work with filters to infuse coffee without grit or bitter taste. Ground coffee of medium fineness is placed on a filter and hot water is poured slowly over the grind and into a cup or carafe for up to 3 minutes. After the first pour that covers all the ground coffee, wait for 30 seconds of blooming time before you resume pouring the rest of the water.
How To Make Pour
Pour-over is a method of brewing a small batch of filtered coffee by gradually pouring hot water over fresh grounds. The dripper and the filter help control the rate at which water flows through and extracts flavor from your coffee grounds. But your recipe and technique also matter. To get consistent, delicious results, youll need to use a precise ratio of coffee to water, and to control the coarseness of your coffee grounds, the temperature of the water, and the speed of your pour.
Once youve got the right gear and method, pour-over is a simple, inexpensive, and fun way to make the best-tasting coffee.
You can find numerous recipes and guides online, but most suggest using 25 to 30 grams of coffee and about 400 grams of water to brew a 12-ounce portion. The coffee should be ground medium-fine , and the water should be heated to between 196 and 203 degrees Fahrenheit . In order to brew evenly, its important that you pour your water in a steady spiral motion from the center to the edge, usually every 40 to 50 seconds. A 12-ounce batch typically brews in just over three minutes.
To control all these variables, youll need a number of tools beyond the dripper itself. A full pour-over set-up includes:
- a dripper with a filter
- a gooseneck kettle with an extended, narrow neck, for heating and pouring water methodically
- a good burr grinder, for grinding your coffee evenly
- a scale, for precisely measuring water and grounds
- a timer, to monitor your brew time
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Should Paper Filters Be Rinsed Before Using
Pre-rinsing paper filters, especially cheaper ones, will lead to a purer flavor in your coffee because it removes any potential papery taste. In some cases, the difference is barely noticeable in others, its a significant upgrade. Theres also the added bonus that it pre-heats your brewing device, so your coffee will stay hot longer. To pre-rinse, simply pour hot water through the filter and let the water drain before scooping in your coffee grounds.
Use A Scale To Find The Right Brew Ratio
Using a scale helps you to find the right ratio of ground coffee to water. For ourclassic blends, we recommend 30 grams ofcoffee for every 350 grams water. To enjoy the nuanced flavor of asingle-origin coffee that is lightly roasted, we recommend less coffee: 22 to 24 grams for every 350 grams water.
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Best Thermal Carafe Set: Ratio Eight Thermal Carafe And Dripper
Although it’s a fairly new company, Ratio has made a name for itself with high-quality, stylish drip coffee makers that hold their own against industry titans like the Technivorm Moccamaster, so its not surprising that their pour-over coffee brewer is also a contender. In fact, their drip coffee machines are specifically designed to simulate the pour-over processthis dripper and carafe set is compatible with their drip machines, but can also be used independently so you can brew coffee without the machine. The insulated carafe itself is compatible with the single-serve Hario V60 and Kalita Wave brewers and can be purchased on its own if youre just looking for a way to keep your coffee hot for longer periods. The dripper can also be used on its own over a mug. Mix and match with Ratio to your hearts delight.
Best Overall: Best Kalita Wave Pour Over Coffee Dripper
Reviewers can’t say enough about this glass dripper. The dimensions are designed to fit almost all cups and carafes, so you won’t have to worry about your coffee dripping over the edge of your favorite mug. Keep in mind that this design is made specifically for Kalita filters, helping to create a pool of water on top of the coffee bed which will give a uniform extraction.
This brewer also comes with three holes at the bottom, preventing the water flow from going too fast, and ensuring an even saturation. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, Kalita is consistently praised for its high quality brews.
One 5-star reviewer puts it this way: “I have found this dripper to be easy to get high quality brew from if you follow the basic techniques you can find on how to use it . Once you dial in the right grind size , you will be able to brew consistently excellent cups with this.”
To buy: $25
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What To Look For In A Pour Over Coffee Maker
Consider the size of the maker you need. Some pour-over coffee makers offer single serve options directly into your mug while others can brew an entire carafe. However, few pour-over coffee makers can brew the volume of a drip coffee machine. Consider if youre brewing coffee for one or multiple, and how quickly it will be consumed. Unlike a coffee maker, which may brew into a carafe with a hot plate or a thermal carafe to keep it warmer for longer, the manual method of Pour Over Coffee wont stay hot for long.
Next, decide the material of the machine youre looking for. Pour Over coffee makers are available in a variety of materials including glass, ceramic, plastic, stainless steel, even silicone for coffee on the go. In addition to taste and heat retention, the material influences the durability and looks of your maker. Glass and ceramic are the most fragile, but don’t alter the flavor of the coffee, while plastic and stainless steel are the most durable, stainless steel doesnt have the greatest temperature retention, and plastic can hold on to the flavor.
Another design feature to consider: shape. Pour Over drippers are usually available as a cone, flat-bottomed or wedge design, which affects flavor and the way coffee drains into a carafe. They also may have a varying amount of drainage holes that can influence the brewing process.
Features To Consider While Choosing A Pour Over Coffee Maker
We review the features that will enable you to get the right product for your budget and needs. These features will help you to decide on the best electric pour over coffee maker like the Mr. Coffee BVMC-PO19B or the best travel pour over model such as the Cafflano Portable All-in-One Pour Over Coffee Maker.
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