How to Make Pour Over Coffee at Home

A complete guide to pour over coffee, brewing ratios, and the best extraction technique

Pour over coffee is one of the best ways to highlight the natural tasting notes in your beans. It gives you full control over extraction and brings out clarity, sweetness, and balance that other brewers often cannot match. Even though pour over can look technical, it becomes simple once you understand the key steps and the correct pour over coffee ratio.

This guide teaches you exactly how to make pour over coffee at home with simple measurements, the right grind size, and the techniques professionals use to create clean and flavorful cups.

Why Pour Over Coffee Has Such a Clean Taste

Pour over coffee works by letting water pass through the grounds at a slow, controlled pace. This helps extract flavor evenly and keeps the cup clean instead of muddy.

Here is what makes pour over stand out:

Clear flavors
Each tasting note is separated and easy to identify.

Better sweetness
Even extraction brings caramel, chocolate, and nutty flavors forward.

Highlighting bean character
Pour over showcases origin flavors like caramel, almond, fruit, or cocoa in a very pure way.

This is why pour over coffee is a favorite among roasters and home brewers who want to taste the full depth of high quality beans.

Understanding Extraction and What Creates Flavor

Extraction is the process of pulling flavor compounds out of the coffee grounds. Different compounds extract at different speeds.

Here is the simple version:

Early extraction
Bright flavors, light acidity, citrus, florals.
Too early tastes sour.

Middle extraction
Balanced sweetness, caramel, chocolate, and smooth body.
This is where the best pour over coffee lives.

Late extraction
Bitterness, dryness, harsh notes.
Too late tastes bitter.

Great pour over coffee stays in the middle, where sweetness and clarity develop without bitterness.

Pour Over Coffee Ratio

A reliable starting point for pour over coffee is:

22 to 24 grams of coffee for 12 to 14 ounces of water

In simple terms:

Use 4 level tablespoons of coffee for one pour over

This gives you a clean, balanced cup with a sweet finish.

If you like a stronger cup, use 5 tablespoons.
If you prefer a lighter cup, use 3 and a half.

This ratio works for most pour over coffee makers, including V60, Kalita Wave, and similar brewers.

Grind Size for Pour Over Coffee

Pour over needs a medium fine grind.

It should look like:

• fine sand

• slightly finer than drip coffee

• not powdery like espresso

• not coarse like French press

Grind size directly affects extraction:

If the grind is too fine
Water drains slowly and the coffee becomes heavy or bitter.

If the grind is too coarse
Water drains quickly and the coffee tastes weak or sour.

Most pour over adjustments start with grind size.

Water Temperature

The best pour over coffee is brewed with water between:

195 and 205 degrees Fahrenheit

You do not need a thermometer.
Boil water, wait 20 to 30 seconds, and begin pouring.

This lands in the ideal range for balanced extraction.

How to Make Pour Over Coffee

A simple step by step process

1. Rinse the filter

Place your filter in the dripper and rinse it thoroughly with hot water.
This removes paper flavor and preheats the brewer.

2. Add your coffee

Use 22 to 24 grams or 4 tablespoons.
Shake gently to level the grounds.

3. Bloom the coffee

Pour a small amount of hot water over the coffee until the grounds are evenly wet.
Let it sit for 30 to 45 seconds.

Blooming releases gases trapped in the coffee and allows smoother extraction.

4. Pour slowly in circles

Continue pouring in slow circles, keeping the water level steady.
Aim to finish pouring in about two minutes and thirty seconds.

5. Let the brew finish

Total brew time should be between three and four minutes.
This window delivers balanced sweetness and clarity.

6. Serve immediately

Pour over coffee tastes best right after brewing when the flavors are clean and bright.

What a Great Pour Over Tastes Like

A well made pour over has:

• clarity

• sweetness

• gentle acidity

• a smooth finish

• defined tasting notes

With Coffee Crate blends:

Rise and Shine
Caramel, toasted almond, warm sweetness.
Pour over highlights its clean sweetness and smooth finish.

Resurrection Espresso
Milk chocolate, nutty richness, and a round body.
Pour over emphasizes the chocolate notes and softens the deeper espresso flavors.

Troubleshooting Your Pour Over Coffee

If the coffee tastes weak or watery
Grind finer
Add a little more coffee

If the coffee tastes bitter or heavy
Grind coarser
Use slightly less coffee
Pour a little faster

If the coffee tastes sour
Grind finer
Increase the total brew time slightly

If it drains too fast
Grind finer
Slow your pour

If it drains too slow
Grind coarser
Pour in slightly larger pulses

Small changes make a big difference, which is why pour over feels precise but very rewarding once you understand it.

Final Pour Over Tips

• Always rinse the filter

• Use fresh, high quality beans

• Use filtered water

• Keep your pour slow and steady

• Adjust one variable at a time

• Taste your coffee as it cools to understand its full flavor

Once you learn the basics, pour over becomes one of the most enjoyable and reliable ways to make coffee at home.