Pour Over
Making pour-over coffee is a manual brewing method that allows you to control various aspects of the brewing process, resulting in a clean and flavorful cup of coffee. Here's a step-by-step guide to making pour-over coffee:
Tools and Ingredients:
Freshly roasted coffee beans
Burr grinder
Pour-over cone (e.g., Hario V60, Chemex, Kalita Wave)
Paper filter (appropriate size for your pour-over cone)
Gooseneck kettle (for precise pouring)
Digital scale
Timer
Mug or carafe
Hot water (just off the boil, around 200°F or 93-94°C)
Steps:
Boil Water: Boil water and let it cool slightly to the desired brewing temperature (around 200°F or 93-94°C).
Grind Coffee: Grind your coffee beans to a medium-fine consistency, similar to table salt. Use a burr grinder for more consistent results.
Rinse Filter: Place the paper filter in the pour-over cone and place it on top of your mug or carafe. Rinse the filter with hot water to remove any paper taste and preheat your brewing vessel. Discard the rinsing water.
Add Coffee: Add the ground coffee to the filter. A general guideline is to use a coffee-to-water ratio of around 1:15 to 1:17 (e.g., 1 gram of coffee to 15-17 grams of water).
Bloom: Start the timer and pour enough hot water (about twice the weight of the coffee) over the coffee grounds to fully saturate them. This is called the "bloom." Allow the coffee to bloom for about 30 seconds. During this time, you'll see the coffee grounds puff up and release carbon dioxide.
Main Pour: After the bloom, start pouring the remaining water in a controlled and steady manner, using a circular motion. Pour in stages, allowing the coffee bed to drain slightly before adding more water. Pour in the center and move outward, then back to the center, creating concentric circles.
Maintain Water Level: Keep pouring water until you've reached your desired brew weight. Aim to finish pouring around the 2 to 2.5-minute mark.
Let It Drip: Allow the coffee to drip and finish brewing. The entire brew process should take around 3 to 4 minutes.
Enjoy: Once the coffee has finished dripping, remove the pour-over cone and discard the used coffee grounds. Give the coffee a gentle stir to ensure even extraction. Your pour-over coffee is ready to enjoy!
Remember, pour-over brewing involves some experimentation to find the perfect coffee-to-water ratio, grind size, and pouring technique that suits your taste preferences. Adjust these variables to achieve the flavor profile you desire.