Pour-over coffee has been embraced by the specialty coffee scene in recent years, and there is much discussion about the best techniques and tools to use.
But the filter method isn’t just for competitions and specialty
coffee shops. At heart, it’s a straightforward way to make a delicious cup of
coffee. Whether you’re a new home brewer or a seasoned barista, drip coffee can
work for you. Take a look at this comprehensive guide to brewing pour-over
coffee.
The pour-over method involves pouring hot water through coffee
grounds in a filter. The water drains through the coffee and filters into a
carafe or mug.
What sets pour over apart is that it is made by hand-pouring the
water over the coffee. So, you may hear it called hand brewing or
manual brewing.
The technique has been commonly used in Europe since the 1900s and
elsewhere for much longer, but was “rediscovered” by the specialty coffee
movement in recent years.
Why Use the Pour Over Method?
Pour-over accentuates intricate flavors when compared to other
brewing methods. This makes it a popular choice for single-origin coffees,
since it allows the flavors and aromas to shine.
Good filter coffee is clean, clear, and consistent. This is
because the water is allowed to extract coffee oils and fragrances in its own
consistent time and at its own pressure. The filter then catches a lot of oils,
leading to a clean cup.
And because this is an infusion method, it is a little more
efficient at extracting coffee solubles than immersion techniques
such as the French press. Immersion methods cause the water to become
saturated, whereas pour-overs use a constant supply of fresh water.
What Equipment Do You Need?
It may seem like there is an unending amount of options
for pour-over equipment, but you don’t need to invest in all of it. You can
start with a simple device and some filters, and then add more equipment as you
choose.
Brewing Devices
A brewing device or dripper is simply the piece of equipment that
holds the coffee filter and grounds. But each brewing device has a
specific design feature that aids flow and affects extraction. The advantage
of using any one of these devices is that they are widely available, simple to
use, and have filters made specifically for their design. There are also many
online guides and hacks to using these devices, so it’s easy to learn how to use
them properly and adapt as needed.
Filters
Paper or cloth? Bleached or unbleached? You may think that
the filter is the least controversial part of brewing, but there is even some
debate here. Specific filters are designed to fit different devices and allow
efficient extraction. The Chemex uses paper filters that are 20–30% heavier
than other filters, which the manufacturers say retain more of the suspended
oils during the brewing process.
Some claim that paper filters create an undesirable papery taste,
particularly if they are bleached. To avoid this, rinse your filter before
using it. Cloth filters have been around for a long time, and some people
prefer them because they don’t affect flavor and have a smaller environmental
impact than paper.
It’s up to you which specific filters you choose, but make sure
they fit your device properly. Bunched-up paper or cloth will impede water flow
and trap coffee grounds, which will make your extraction less
consistent.
Scales
You may not think scales are essential, but if you want to create
consistently good coffee, they are. Invest in a digital scale and use it to
measure your coffee and water. Knowing exactly how much of each you used in a
good (or bad) brew can allow you to replicate the recipe or tweak it for even
better results.
Kettles
Like many things in specialty coffee, the important factor here is
consistency. Kettles made specifically for pour-over are designed to keep water
at a stable temperature. This helps you create consistent extraction. And that
long, thin gooseneck is designed to control the flow of water. Water tends to
gush out of kettles with shorter spouts.
Whether you choose electric, stove-top, or a batch water heater is
up to you, but look into the reviews of specific kettles and keep a thermometer
handy to keep an eye on the temperature.
What Coffee Should You Use?
So you have your equipment ready, but now what? Which coffee
should you use with a pour-over? There are a few factors to consider when
choosing your beans.
Roast Profile
Because the pour-over method works well to highlight subtle flavor
notes and aromas, you may want to choose a light roast. Beans that are roasted
to this profile are the brightest, with the most acidic flavors.
Of course, you can go medium or even dark if you prefer, but this
brewing method is complementary to subtle flavors.
Grind Size
The size of your grounds affects the rate of extraction. Pour over
is an infusion method, which means that the coffee and water are in contact for
a shorter amount of time than in an immersion method, but longer than in an
espresso. So you want the coffee to have enough surface area to extract before
the water filters through into the cup, but not so much that it under-extracts
and produces a bitter brew.
What this means is that you should start with a medium grind size
and then evaluate your cup and tweak it as needed. If it’s a little watery or
sour, try a finer grind. If it’s bitter and lacking sweet notes, try going a
little coarser. A quality grinder is key as well to make sure your coffee
particles are all ground to the same size.
What Ratio of Coffee to Water Should You Use?
You’ll see a lot of different suggested ratios out there, but 1:17
(1g of coffee to 17g of water) is a generally accepted good starting point.
Make some brews with this measurement, but adjust factors that affect
extraction, such as grind size and water temperature, one at a time until you
find a recipe that works for you.
Then, try changing the ratio of coffee to water. If your brew
tastes watery or weak, add more coffee without changing other factors and
evaluate whether it tastes better. If you find your cup too intense, consider
reducing the amount of coffee. But remember to keep track of what you’re
changing so you can replicate your perfect brew when you find it.
And don’t forget about the water. Tap water can contain minerals
and contaminants that affect flavor, so use filtered water.
Which Pouring Technique to Use?
Avoid watching too many videos on technique when you first start
to brew with the pour-over method. It can quickly get overwhelming. Instead,
start out simple. Be consistent in how you pour and learn how to use blooming,
pulse pouring, and agitation to achieve even extraction. Many people pour in
concentric circles, which helps the barista maintain a consistent flow of
water.
You can work your way up to more detailed methods or break all the
rules when you’re more familiar with the basics.
The Bloom
The bloom is the quick bubbling up of water that happens when you
first pour. It is caused by the degassing of carbon dioxide that is built up in
the roasting process. Light roasts and fresh coffee are likely to produce a big
bloom because they usually contain more gases.
Carbon dioxide can prevent even extraction because it repels
water, and the disturbed grounds can sit at different heights. So let the gases
escape and improve your chances of consistent extraction.
Gently pour twice the measure of coffee in water over the grounds.
So, if you have a 15 g dose of coffee, pour 30 ml of water. Then wait 30 to 45
seconds until the bloom has ended and the grounds have settled.
Pulse Pouring & Continuous Pouring
Pulse pouring means using multiple pours of specific amounts of
water. You can experiment with the volume of water and the number of pours. This
technique helps prevent channeling or grounds rising up the side of the filter.
It also gently disrupts the grinds, causing them to move about and creating
more even contact with the water.
It’s an alternative to continuous pouring, which is when the
barista pours the water at as constant of a flow rate as possible without
stopping. Continuous pouring aims to keep the flow and saturation as even as
possible, whereas pulse pouring is intentionally varied.
You can use the pouring technique as another variable to consider
when adapting your recipe. Different types of pours will have different effects
on extraction and therefore have different impacts on your brew.
Agitation
This is simply a mild disturbance of the coffee grounds during the
brew process. There are many ways to agitate coffee, including stirring or
swirling the brew.
Agitation disperses grounds that can be left “high and dry” on the
filter by channeling. It also breaks up any dry clumps inside the bed of
coffee. By making sure all grounds are saturated, agitation aids even
extraction.
Pour-over coffee can be a terrific way to make your daily cup, and
it doesn’t have to be complicated. By understanding these key topics, you’re
well prepared to make a decent brew and have the tools to tweak it until it
becomes a great one.
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