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The Art of Perfect Pour-Over Coffee: What Are the Most Critical Factors?

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/27, Every coffee enthusiast has their own tricks for making coffee, whether it's their preferred coffee beans, how they heat water, or the equipment they use. While some swear by traditional cloth filters, others prefer modern espresso machines or pour-over drip coffee. Pour-over coffee is increasingly being embraced and loved by people—some even falling passionately obsessed with it. Why is that?

Every coffee enthusiast has their own secrets to making coffee, whether it's their preferred coffee beans, the way they heat water, or the equipment they use. While some people won't give up their good old cloth filters, others prefer modern espresso machines or pour-over drip coffee.

The Rise of Pour-Over Coffee

Pour-over coffee is being embraced and loved by more and more people, some to the point of obsession. Why? The key reason is that pour-over coffee perfectly presents the original flavor characteristics of coffee. But when it comes to making the perfect cup, what really makes the difference? What preparations need to be made?

FrontStreet Coffee takes you on a journey to discover what factors affect pour-over coffee and what these factors actually are.

The Importance of Water

Despite bearing great responsibility for the taste of good coffee, water is often overlooked during preparation. Of course, using good quality filtered water is essential for any culinary preparation, but for brewing coffee, it's important to pay extra attention to this primary ingredient.

For example, tap water contains significant amounts of chlorine, fluoride, and limestone, all of which affect the quality of the beverage. Filtered water or bottled mineral water are the best choices for preparing coffee, preferably with a pH value between 5.0 and 6.5.

Coffee Bean Selection

Everyone has their own preferences when choosing coffee and equipment. However, it's essential to understand that different coffee machines require different types of grinds. Even for fresh coffee beans, the ideal grind size must be selected to extract the best flavor from each cup.

When purchasing ground coffee, pay attention to the production date: the closer the roasting and grinding are to each other, the more the coffee characteristics will preserve and express the bean's flavor profile.

Water-to-Coffee Ratio

The amount of coffee grounds used typically causes controversy among coffee drinkers. After all, it's necessary to ensure maximum flavor without risking making the liquid too bitter or acidic.

Generally, it's recommended to use 80 to 100 grams of grounds per liter of water, but the amount varies depending on the coffee type and desired preparation. So experiment with several ratios until you find your favorite.

Water Temperature for Perfect Coffee Preparation

Another factor that directly affects coffee taste is the temperature of the water used in preparation.

The boiling process, when water reaches its boiling point (approximately 100°C), causes oxygen loss and alters the beverage's acidity. The water temperature for brewing coffee can be controlled between 88°C to 93°C, with the specific temperature depending on the coffee's roast level. Light roast coffee generally uses water between 90°C to 93°C, while dark roast beans use water between 88°C to 90°C.

Extraction Time

The contact time between coffee grounds and water depends on the equipment used, the type of grind, and the amount used.

These factors will greatly affect the final coffee flavor, so pay attention to the recommended brewing time and water-to-coffee ratio.

Brewing coffee is a process that holds many secrets, but it's important to know all the steps to achieve the best flavor. After all, just as there are differences between specialty coffee and traditional coffee varieties, paying attention to their flavor and texture during preparation makes all the difference.