Skip to main content
CHILL YOUR BEANS
ISSUE 01 | BREWING GUIDES
Pour-over coffee brewing
BREWING GUIDE

THE ART OF
POUR OVER

Master the precision brewing technique that unlocks clarity, brightness, and flavors other methods simply can't achieve.

By Chill Your Beans 8 min read Beginner to Advanced

Pour-over coffee is more than a brewing method—it's a ritual. The gentle pour of water over freshly ground beans, the bloom of aromatics rising from the dripper, the anticipation as the final drops fall. Every variable is in your control.

Unlike immersion methods or pressurized brewing, pour-over gives you complete command over extraction. Water temperature, pour rate, grind size, and timing all work together to create a cup that's clean, bright, and nuanced—perfect for showcasing single-origin beans.

"WITH FULL CONTROL OVER EVERY VARIABLE, YOU UNLOCK FLAVORS OTHER METHODS CAN'T ACHIEVE."

CHAPTER 01

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

Coffee brewing equipment

Quality equipment doesn't have to be expensive, but precision matters. Here's what you need to get started:

01

V60 DRIPPER

The iconic cone shape with spiral ridges creates optimal water flow for even extraction.

02

GOOSENECK KETTLE

Precise control over pour rate and placement. Non-negotiable for serious brewing.

03

DIGITAL SCALE

Accuracy to 0.1g transforms guessing into precision. Look for built-in timer.

04

BURR GRINDER

Consistent particle size is the single most important factor in even extraction.

05

PAPER FILTERS

White or natural, matched to your dripper size. Rinse before use.

CHAPTER 02

THE GOLDEN RATIO

SINGLE CUP
15 g

coffee

250 g

water

Grind: Medium-fine

Time: 2:30-3:00

TWO CUPS
30 g

coffee

500 g

water

Grind: Medium-fine

Time: 3:30-4:00

WATER TEMP
93 °C

to 96°C

Just off boil. Let the kettle rest for 30 seconds after boiling.

CHAPTER 03

THE PROCESS

1

PREPARE YOUR SETUP

Heat water to 93-96°C. Place your filter in the dripper and rinse thoroughly with hot water—this removes any paper taste and preheats everything. Discard the rinse water. Grind your coffee fresh, aiming for a medium-fine texture like coarse sand.

2

BLOOM

0:00 - 0:45

Add your ground coffee and gently shake to level the bed. Start your timer and pour roughly twice the weight of coffee in water (30g coffee = 60g water). Ensure all grounds are saturated. Wait 30-45 seconds—you'll see the coffee bed rise and bubble as CO2 escapes. This is the bloom.

Pro tip: Fresh coffee produces a more dramatic bloom. If your coffee doesn't bubble much, it may be stale.

3

FIRST POUR

0:45 - 1:15

Begin pouring in slow, concentric circles from the center outward. Avoid pouring directly on the filter—keep the water on the coffee bed. Keep the slurry moving to prevent channeling. Add water until you reach about 60% of your total target weight.

4

SECOND POUR

1:15 - 2:00

Continue pouring in gentle circles. Maintain a consistent water level—don't let it drain completely between pours. Reach your target weight (500g for two cups).

5

FINISH & ENJOY

2:00 - 3:30

Let the coffee drain completely. Your total brew time should be around 2:30-3:30 for a single cup, 3:30-4:00 for two cups. Give the server a gentle swirl to mix, then serve immediately. Enjoy the clarity!

Finished pour-over coffee

"SLOW, CONTROLLED POURS EXTRACT MORE EVENLY THAN FAST, AGGRESSIVE POURS."

CHAPTER 04

TROUBLESHOOTING

!

SOUR OR WEAK?

Under-extraction

When coffee tastes sour, thin, or underdeveloped, not enough has been extracted from the grounds.

1 Grind finer
2 Increase brew time
3 Use hotter water
4 Pour slower
!

BITTER OR HARSH?

Over-extraction

When coffee tastes bitter, astringent, or unpleasantly strong, too much has been extracted.

1 Grind coarser
2 Decrease brew time
3 Use cooler water
4 Pour faster
CHAPTER 05

PRO TIPS

01

THE BLOOM IS ESSENTIAL

Fresh coffee releases CO2 when water hits it. Let it degas for 30-45 seconds before your main pour for better extraction.

02

ALWAYS RINSE YOUR FILTER

This removes the paper taste and preheats your dripper for better temperature stability throughout the brew.

03

KEEP IT CONSISTENT

Same recipe, same technique, every time. When dialing in, adjust one variable at a time so you know what worked.

04

CENTER TO EDGE

Pour from the center in expanding concentric circles. This ensures even saturation across the entire coffee bed.

05

DON'T RUSH

Slow, controlled pours extract more evenly than fast, aggressive pours. Take your time and enjoy the process.

06

TASTE AND ADJUST

Your palate is the ultimate guide. Trust your taste and iterate until you find your perfect cup.

NEXT STEPS

READY TO BREW?

Shop our curated selection of single-origin beans, perfect for showcasing with pour-over brewing.

My Cart

SEARCH

No products found for ""