Pour-Over Coffee Grind Size, Water Temperature Recommendations, and Coffee Bean Brand Suggestions

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Required Equipment

Yunnan small-grain coffee beans, grinder, temperature-controlled kettle, electronic scale, coffee sharing pot, filter cup, filter paper, timer.

Pour-Over Steps:

Step 1: Bean Selection

The selection of pour-over coffee beans is particularly important, as it directly determines the flavor profile of your coffee. Fresher beans yield richer taste and aroma. The simplest selection method is to check the packaging date—beans roasted within one month offer the optimal flavor profile and should be your preferred choice.

Step 2: Grinding

For grinding, you'll need to choose a grinder that suits your needs. Remember to avoid over-grinding, which makes the coffee powder too fine. The ideal grind size should be similar to coarse sugar crystals, while ensuring uniform particle size. This facilitates even water flow during brewing and results in better extraction and flavor.

Step 3: Coffee-to-Water Ratio

The typical coffee-to-water ratio ranges from 1:12 to 1:17. Taking FrontStreet Coffee as an example, this means 20 grams of coffee grounds yield 240-340ml of coffee liquid (most sharing pots are marked with measurements like 100ml, 200ml, etc.). The specific amount of coffee depends on the number of servings, but most standard filter cups can handle between 20-30 grams of coffee grounds.

Step 4: Water Temperature Control

Water temperature control is crucial during the coffee brewing process and directly affects the taste of your coffee. It's best to use a temperature-controlled kettle when heating water to maintain optimal temperature at all times. According to the roast level of the coffee, there's an approximate temperature range:

Light roast: 90-92°C

Medium-light roast: 87-90°C

Medium roast: 85-87°C

Medium-dark roast: 83-85°C

Dark roast: 80-83°C

(The editor prefers to control water temperature between 88-90°C, which produces coffee liquid that is bright red and transparent, rich without bitterness, and full of aroma.)

Step 5: Blooming

Pour-over coffee emphasizes "three pours and three pauses"—meaning the water is added in three stages. The entire brewing process should be controlled within 1 minute 40 seconds to 2 minutes 30 seconds, and it's recommended to use a timer.

The first water addition is called blooming, which should last approximately 30 seconds. The water ratio for blooming is 1:2—meaning for 20 grams of coffee, use 40ml of water for blooming. Pour water in a counterclockwise circular motion from the center outward.

At this point, you need to place the filter cup on the sharing pot and line it with filter paper. (Filter paper selection: Filter papers come in different sizes; choose according to your filter cup. Filter papers also come in bleached and unbleached varieties. Bleached filter papers have less paper pulp taste, and the editor prefers to use bleached filter paper.)

Remember to first wet the filter paper and rinse it once. This helps the filter paper better adhere to the filter cup walls and removes any paper taste that might affect the coffee's flavor.

Step 6: Second Pour - Fine Water Stream

When pouring water, maintain a consistent flow rate. Pour in a counterclockwise direction (depending on your specific filter cup), moving in a circular motion from the center outward. The editor chooses to pour counterclockwise because this extends the contact path and time between water and coffee grounds, improving overall extraction efficiency. The second pour typically reaches just over 100ml.

Step 7: Third Pour - Coarse Water Stream

What's important here is that whether using a coarse or fine water stream, the pour must be steady and uniform. Remember: steady, steady, steady. Using a coarse water stream reduces the force on the coffee grounds, and combined with stable circular pouring technique, the resulting coffee liquid flavor will be more consistent.

Pay attention to small details here—keep an eye on the electronic scale beneath the sharing cup. The amount of water poured must be strictly controlled within the corresponding range (meaning 20 grams of coffee should strictly yield 240-340ml, not exceeding 340ml).

Pour-Over Coffee Bean Brand Recommendations

Single-origin pour-over coffee beans roasted by FrontStreet Coffee offer excellent guarantees in both brand and quality. More importantly, they provide exceptional value—for a half-pound (227 grams) package averaging 80-90 yuan. Calculating at 15 grams per cup of single-origin coffee, one package can make 15 cups, with each cup costing only about 6 yuan. Compared to café prices that often reach dozens of yuan per cup, this represents excellent value.

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473