What is the Correct Pour-Over Coffee Ratio? Flavor Characteristics and Taste Differences of Kenya Coffee Beans at Different Water-to-Coffee Ratios

Many regular customers who visit FrontStreet Coffee enjoy sitting at the bar counter. Why? When FrontStreet Coffee asked several frequent visitors, the answer was always because the bar counter is the closest place to the barista. Many customers who come to FrontStreet Coffee for coffee absolutely love coffee, but without systematic learning, they still have many questions about coffee brewing. At the bar counter, they can ask various questions while the barista is brewing: What processing method is this coffee? Do all coffees need to be "pre-infused" first? Why pour water in a circular motion? However, in conversations with coffee beginners, FrontStreet Coffee found that the biggest obstacle is none other than the coffee-to-water ratio during the coffee brewing process.

Many friends who already follow FrontStreet Coffee's official account (or those who have browsed the informative articles published by FrontStreet Coffee) know that FrontStreet Coffee uses a 1:15 coffee-to-water ratio for the vast majority of coffees in their standard brewing, and when educating online followers, they always recommend starting with a 1:15 ratio and then adjusting according to personal taste. According to the 1:15 ratio, using 15 grams of water for every gram of coffee provides the best method for ideal extraction, and when paired with FrontStreet Coffee's standard three-stage extraction method, it allows soluble flavors in the coffee to dissolve in water within the Golden Cup range.

Understanding Coffee Extraction

FrontStreet Coffee believes that the 1:15 brewing ratio can be described as a perfect balance between coffee and water. Of course, this is just FrontStreet Coffee's subjective feeling. The brewing ratio is merely a guideline that can help determine how much water and coffee grounds to use during brewing. Next, FrontStreet Coffee will provide some tips (valuable information) for pour-over coffee extraction:

If you want to extract the flavor of coffee, first, the coffee beans must have flavor. Therefore, FrontStreet Coffee recommends using freshly roasted coffee beans for brewing to maximize the experience of coffee's rich flavors. The coffee beans shipped by FrontStreet Coffee are all roasted within 5 days because FrontStreet Coffee deeply understands that the freshness of coffee beans has a significant impact on flavor. FrontStreet Coffee's roasting philosophy is "freshly roasted good coffee," ensuring that every customer who places an order receives the freshest coffee when it arrives. The coffee's resting period is about 4-7 days, so when customers receive it, it's at its peak flavor.

1. Coffee Extraction Principles

The principle of coffee extraction is that water comes into contact with coffee grounds, extracting most aromatic substances and various compounds from the coffee and dissolving them in water. Currently, the mainstream extraction methods in specialty coffee are immersion and filtration. Both extraction methods operate within the physical realm, with no chemical changes during the process (espresso brewing involves chemical changes). Filtration is what FrontStreet Coffee serves daily as "pour-over coffee," which requires water to permeate through the coffee layer. Immersion refers to all water and coffee being completely mixed together, with French press and AeroPress belonging to the category of immersion coffee grounds.

2. Golden Cup Theory

According to the Golden Cup theory from the Specialty Coffee Association of America: good coffee must have a concentration between 1.15-1.45% and an extraction rate between 18-22%. Of course, this is not absolute—some coffees outside the Golden Cup range are still excellent. Everyone can follow this rule first and then make slight adjustments later. The balance between concentration and extracted substances is very important for a cup of coffee. If coffee concentration is too low, it will taste thin in flavor, while too high concentration will make the coffee taste too strong. Too low extraction rate may present a sharp sour taste, while too high extraction rate will produce bitter negative flavors.

3. Extraction Rate vs. Concentration

Extraction rate and concentration are two different things. If you find your coffee is too sour, FrontStreet Coffee believes you should first not change the coffee-to-water ratio but should consider changing the extraction rate. The most common method is to grind the coffee finer and extend the extraction time. First, adjust these factors well, then consider the water-to-coffee ratio issue.

Practical Demonstration

Understanding these principles, FrontStreet Coffee will use the same brewing method (three-stage) to brew the same coffee (FrontStreet Coffee's Kenya Assalia from the Thika region) to experience how different water ratios affect the coffee's flavor. First, let's provide information about this coffee:

FrontStreet Coffee · Kenya Assalia Coffee Beans

Country: Kenya

Region: Thika

Processing Station: Asali Honey Processing Station

Altitude: 1550-1750 meters

Soil: Volcanic soil

Grade: AA TOP

Variety: SL28 SL34

Processing Method: 72-hour washed

Processing Method Introduction: Kenyan-style washed processing involves repeated cycles of fermentation and washing. The highest quality coffee cherries are selected on the day of harvest for depulping and fermentation, with a fermentation time of 24 hours. After 24 hours, they are washed with clean river water. Then they undergo another 24-hour fermentation with clean river water, followed by washing, repeating this cycle 3 times to reach 72 hours, hence the name Kenyan-style 72-hour fermentation washed processing. This processing method allows FrontStreet Coffee's Kenya coffee beans to undergo long-term fermentation at low temperatures, giving the beans brighter, cleaner, yet fuller flavors.

Recommended Brewing Method: Pour-over

Filter: V60 dripper

Water Temperature: 90-92°C

Dose: 15 grams

Ratio: 1:15

Grind Size: Medium-fine grind (80% pass-through rate with China standard #20 sieve)

Brewing Method: Three-stage extraction

First Brewing - 1:15 Ratio

The first brewing uses FrontStreet Coffee's standard 1:15 ratio, with three-stage extraction using 30 grams of water for pre-infusion, pre-infusion time about 30 seconds, small water flow center circular pour of 125 grams water when segmented, continue pouring water to 225 grams when the water level drops and is about to expose the coffee bed, remove the filter cup when the water level drops and is about to expose the coffee bed (timing starts from pre-infusion), extraction time is 2 minutes.

Flavor Description: The entry presents bright citrus (yellow fruit) acidity. As it cools, the flavor of small tomatoes slowly appears, though not very obvious. The acidity rises to lemon flavor, with a long aftertaste and a light tea sensation, very pleasant.

Second Brewing - 1:13 Ratio

The second brewing reduces the ratio to 1:13 (a significant change to more directly feel the difference), with the brewing method consistent with the first brewing.

Flavor Description: The entry shows obvious caramel powder flavor, with smoky notes of preserved plum concentrated at the front. Sourness concentrates in the latter half and slowly appears. When the temperature is high, the acidity is not obvious and even a bit dull, with an overall higher sweetness.

Third Brewing - 1:17 Ratio

The third brewing increases the ratio to 1:17, with the brewing method consistent with the first brewing.

Flavor Description: The entry is too plain, with a very thin mouthfeel. Acidity becomes more obvious when the temperature drops, but overall astringency is high.

FrontStreet Coffee believes that hearing from others is not as good as doing it yourself. If you also want to try the effect of coffee-to-water ratio on pour-over coffee, why not try it now? You might just find the flavor you like.

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Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473