How to Make Pour Over Coffee
Pour over is loved for its clarity, balance, and delicate expression. It is one of the best ways to highlight sweetness, aroma, and subtle flavor notes in a well-roasted coffee.
Clean, expressive, and beautifully balanced.
For coffees with floral, citrus, fruit-forward, and tea-like qualities, pour over can create a cup that feels refined and memorable.
What You Need
A simple pour over setup can produce a remarkably elegant cup. The key is consistency, fresh water, and careful pouring.
Coffee to Water Ratio
A great starting point is 1:16.
For example, use 20g of coffee with 320g of water. This usually creates a balanced cup with good sweetness and clarity.
Grind Size
Use a medium grind, similar to coarse sand.
If the coffee tastes too weak or sour, grind slightly finer. If it tastes bitter or drains too slowly, grind slightly coarser.
Step by Step
These steps will help you build a cleaner and more balanced pour over routine.
Place the filter in the dripper and rinse it with hot water. This removes papery taste and warms the brewer.
Add your coffee to the rinsed filter and gently shake the dripper so the bed sits evenly.
Pour a small amount of hot water, about twice the weight of your coffee, and let it sit for 30 to 45 seconds. This helps release trapped gas.
Pour the remaining water in slow circles, keeping the coffee bed evenly saturated. Avoid rushing.
Allow the water to fully pass through the coffee. Total brew time is often around 2:30 to 3:30 minutes depending on your setup.
If the cup is too sharp, grind finer or extend the brew slightly. If it is too heavy or bitter, grind coarser.
Tips for a Better Cup
Use freshly ground coffee, filtered water, and a steady pour. Small changes in grind size and pouring speed make a noticeable difference.
Ideal Flavor Profile
Pour over works especially well when you want to highlight floral notes, citrus brightness, soft sweetness, and a cleaner finish.
Best Brio Coffees for Pour Over
For pour over, lighter and lighter-medium profiles often shine the most beautifully.
Forest Dawn
Bright citrus, honey, and a soft floral finish make this a natural fit for a clean, expressive pour over cup.
Light RoastMorning Vale
Stone fruit, maple sweetness, and a silky profile work wonderfully in a slower, clarity-focused brew method.
Light-Medium RoastReady to Brew Something Beautiful?
Explore the Brio collection and find a roast that suits your morning ritual.