Pour over coffee has a devoted following among specialty coffee enthusiasts — and for good reason. It produces a clean, bright, and nuanced cup that lets the true character of the bean shine through. If you've never tried it, you're in for a revelation.

The good news? It's simpler than it looks. Here's everything you need to get started.

What is Pour Over Coffee?

Pour over is a manual brewing method where hot water is poured slowly and steadily over ground coffee in a filter. Unlike a French press, the water passes through the grounds and a paper or metal filter, producing a clean, sediment-free cup with bright, complex flavours.

What You'll Need

• A pour over dripper (V60, Chemex, or similar)
• Paper or reusable filters
• Freshly ground specialty coffee
• A gooseneck kettle for controlled pouring
• A kitchen scale
• A timer

The Basic Recipe

A good starting ratio is 1:15 coffee to water — so 15g of coffee to 225ml of water for a single cup.

1. Boil your water and let it cool to around 93°C (just off the boil)
2. Rinse your filter with hot water to remove any papery taste, then discard the rinse water
3. Add your ground coffee — grind size should be medium-fine, similar to table salt
4. Bloom: Pour just enough water to saturate the grounds (about 2x the weight of coffee) and wait 30 seconds. This releases CO2 and improves extraction.
5. Pour slowly in circular motions, keeping the water level consistent. Total brew time should be 3–4 minutes.

Tips for a Better Cup

• Use freshly roasted beans — ideally within 2–4 weeks of roast date
• Grind just before brewing for maximum freshness
• Consistency is key — keep your pour rate steady
• Experiment with grind size — coarser if it tastes bitter, finer if it tastes weak

Which Beans Work Best?

Pour over excels with light to medium roasts where floral, fruity, and delicate flavours can shine. Try our Signature Roasts — particularly any Ethiopian or Kenyan single origins — for a stunning pour over experience.

Ready to start? Browse our Brew Ritual collection for everything you need to begin your pour over journey.