How to create the perfect pour-over coffee: A simple, home-friendly guide
If you’re used to quick-brew machines, the idea of making a pour-over can feel… slow. But here’s the good news: it isn’t complicated, it doesn’t take long, and the small pause it does require is part of what makes it so enjoyable. Think of it as choosing to begin your day with intention — a chance to savor something good, crafted with care, right where the Lord has planted you.
With just a few simple steps (and the right beans), you can brew a cup that’s smoother, brighter, and more flavorful than anything that comes from a machine.
What you’ll need
Chemex or pour-over dripper
Paper filter
Fresh whole-bean coffee
Burr grinder
Kettle (gooseneck preferred)
Scale (optional but helpful)
Step 1: Choose and grind your beans
Freshness matters far more than perfection. Use whole beans and grind just before brewing. A medium-coarse grind — similar to sea salt — is ideal for a Chemex or classic pour-over.
Tip: If the coffee tastes bitter, go coarser. If it tastes too light or sour, go a bit finer.
Step 2: Prep your filter
Place your filter in the dripper and rinse it with hot water. This warms your vessel and removes any papery taste. Discard the rinse water.
Step 3: Measure your coffee
A great starting point is 1 gram of coffee for every 15–16 grams of water.
For a single cup:
22g coffee
~350g water
(You can adjust to taste — brewing at home gives you freedom.)
Step 4: Bloom
Pour a small amount of hot water (about double the weight of your grounds) over the coffee bed to wet it evenly. Let it sit for 30–45 seconds. This allows the coffee to release trapped gases and sets you up for an even extraction.
Step 5: Pour in slow, steady circles
Add the rest of your water gradually, pouring in gentle circles from the center outward. Keep the water line from rising too high — slow and steady is what gives you clarity and balance in the final cup.
Total brew time should land around 3½–4 minutes.
Step 6: Serve and enjoy
Give the brewed coffee a light swirl before pouring. Then enjoy a warm, fragrant cup that’s smooth, bright, and worth every moment it took.
Your pour-over doesn’t need to be fancy or fussy. It’s a simple, grounded way to enjoy something good — much like the everyday faithfulness we’re all called to walk in.
Start with the right beans
Your best pour-over begins with quality, freshly roasted coffee.