What Equipment Do You Need for Pour-Over Coffee? Beginner's Guide to Brewing Tools and Gear Recommendations

When you find yourself no longer satisfied with just drinking coffee at shops, but instead start thinking about brewing your own pot, and then open shopping apps to start making purchases—congratulations, you've successfully fallen into the world of pour-over coffee!

Today, there are thousands of brewing devices on the market, with corresponding brands and products at every price point. Of course, it's best to buy cost-effective equipment within a limited budget. Faced with an overwhelming variety of styles, how should beginners choose?

Invest Your Limited Budget in a Coffee Grinder

No matter what your budget is, good pour-over coffee definitely requires a good coffee grinder. So-called "good" means it must at least achieve uniform grinding.

Some people might find the popular grinders on the market too expensive, so they casually buy a manual grinder for around a hundred yuan, or even a "bean chopper" that isn't actually a coffee grinder. Then they discover not only is it laborious, but the ground particles vary between coarse and fine, with consistency completely failing to meet pour-over requirements.

You should know that the "expensiveness" of a grinder mainly comes from its grinding burrs. Different burrs directly affect the particle size distribution of coffee grounds and determine whether the powder's coarseness is uniform. Only with uniform and appropriately sized coffee particles can flavor compounds be evenly extracted when in contact with hot water, thereby reducing the risk of under-extraction and over-extraction. Therefore, among all pour-over equipment, the grinder is the most worthy investment.

Of course, price determines the quality and functionality of a grinder. The higher the budget, the more choices available. For beginners, FrontStreet Coffee suggests that the budget for selecting a manual grinder should not be less than 200 yuan. As for the approach to purchasing a grinder, you can also refer to "Manual or Electric? How to Choose the Right Grinder for You."

Once you've bought a grinder, you still need to find the right grind size! We often see that pour-over coffee requires medium or medium-fine grind sizes, but if you switch to different grinders, the scale standards are not consistent. Therefore, FrontStreet Coffee uses a #20 standard sieve with a 0.85mm aperture for screening, which costs only about ten yuan and isn't expensive.

How to Choose a Pour-Over Kettle

As a water pouring device, the pour-over kettle's controllability is most crucial for beginners, mainly reflected in two aspects: spout shape and capacity size.

The design of the spout affects the ease of water flow and the shape of the water stream. FrontStreet Coffee recommends using a gooseneck narrow-spout kettle, which is more conducive for beginners to control the water flow. As for the size of the pour-over kettle, it determines the center of gravity when pouring. A too-small kettle body makes the center of gravity tilt forward, causing the water flow to be unsteady; a too-large (heavy) kettle body is uncomfortable to use. FrontStreet Coffee suggests choosing a pour-over kettle with a capacity of 500-600ml.

In terms of functionality, pour-over kettles are divided into two types: temperature-controlled and non-temperature-controlled. If you have water heating equipment at home, choosing a pour-over kettle without heating functionality can reduce some expenses. Taking the most common B-kettle as an example, the non-temperature-controlled version can be owned for under 300 yuan, but you'll need to equip it with an instant-read thermometer for temperature measurement.

Drip Cone and Filter Paper

The existence of the drip cone can be said to be the hallmark of pour-over coffee. A practical drip cone can make the brewing results of each bag of coffee beans more consistent. Generally, the price differences in drip cones are reflected in design patents, materials, and appearance. If you're pursuing high cost-effectiveness, FrontStreet Coffee recommends the resin version of the V60 drip cone.

Filter paper accounts for a small proportion of the overall pour-over process, but it has a significant impact on the quality of coffee flavor. FrontStreet Coffee's suggestion is to prioritize big brands, such as the Kono filter paper used by FrontStreet Coffee. Regarding the choice between virgin wood pulp filter paper and bleached filter paper, FrontStreet Coffee prefers bleached filter paper because its paper taste is not obvious and won't affect the coffee's flavor. As for size, purchase according to the selected drip cone model to ensure a proper match.

Don't Skip the Electronic Scale

FrontStreet Coffee has noticed that some friends think pour-over coffee can be done by feel, so they consider not using an electronic scale. As a result, each brewed coffee varies with their mood—sometimes bitter, sometimes sweet. Therefore, FrontStreet Coffee believes that to brew good coffee, it's essential to equip yourself with an instant-read electronic scale with a timing function.

The remaining server pot is an optional container. In terms of functionality, any cup can work since it won't affect the coffee's taste. However, if you're pursuing a complete sense of ritual, then purchase professional coffee equipment, which costs about 100-150 yuan.

Regarding the price selection for the above equipment, FrontStreet Coffee believes that beginners are still in the initial familiarization stage. Apart from choosing a good grinder, other equipment can be managed with—start with low-end versions and practice thoroughly with different types of coffee beans. Once you gradually understand some extraction principles and find your preferences, you can decide how to upgrade your equipment based on whether you have advanced needs.

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FrontStreet Coffee
No. 10, Bao'an Qianjie, Yandun Road, Dongshankou, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473