There’s something special about making pour over coffee. The ritual of heating water, blooming the grounds, and watching the brew slowly filter through is as calming as it is rewarding. Unlike push-button machines, pour over brewing is hands-on and the result is a clean, flavourful cup that highlights the best of your beans.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the essentials of pour over coffee. We’ll look at two classic brewers, the Hario V60 and the Chemex and show you how to get the most out of each. By the end, you’ll not only know how to brew a café-quality pour over, but also how to choose the method that best suits your taste.

Why Pour Over Coffee?

Pour over coffee is beloved in specialty circles for one reason: control. You decide the grind size, the water temperature, the pouring speed, every detail of the brewing process is in your hands.

This control translates into clarity and balance. Where a French press gives you bold body and a moka pot delivers intensity, pour over highlights the subtler notes in your coffee whether that’s bright citrus, delicate florals, or chocolatey sweetness.

If you enjoy slowing down and savouring your brew, pour over is the perfect match.

What You’ll Need

Before we dive in, here’s the essential kit for pour over brewing-

• Hario V60 or Chemex brewer (both have unique qualities we’ll cover shortly)
• Paper filters (V60 cone filter or Chemex bonded filter)
• Freshly ground coffee (we recommend a specialty roast, medium to light for best results)
• Gooseneck kettle (for controlled pouring, though a regular kettle works in a pinch)
• Digital scale & timer (not essential, but makes brewing repeatable and consistent)
• Your favourite mug or carafe

Optional but recommended: a burr grinder. Consistency in grind size is key to getting that balanced, clean flavour.

Step-by-Step: Brewing the Perfect Pour Over

1. Prepare Your Filter

Place the paper filter into your brewer and rinse it with hot water. This warms the brewer and removes any papery taste that might otherwise end up in your cup. Don’t forget to discard the rinse water.

• V60: Thin cone-shaped filter, quick to rinse.
• Chemex: Thick, folded filter that requires a little more care to seat properly.

2. Weigh & Grind Your Coffee

A good starting recipe is 15g of coffee to 250g of water (that’s about one large cup).

• V60 grind: Medium-fine, like sea salt.
• Chemex grind: Medium-coarse, like coarse sand.

The Chemex filter is thicker, so it needs a looser grind to maintain flow.

3. Bloom the Grounds

Start by pouring about double the weight of your coffee in water (e.g., 30g water for 15g coffee). This stage, known as the bloom, allows trapped carbon dioxide to escape.

Fresh coffee will bubble and expand here, always a good sign. Let it sit for 30–45 seconds before continuing.

4. The Main Pour

This is where the magic happens.

• V60: Pour in steady spirals from the centre outward, keeping the water level even. Aim for a total brew time of 2.5–3 minutes.
• Chemex: Go slower. The thick filter restricts flow, so pour calmly and evenly. Total brew time should land around 4–5 minutes.

Think of it like watering a plant, gentle and consistent wins the day.

5. Adjust as Needed

Your brew is too quick? Grind finer. Too slow? Grind coarser.
The golden rule: adjust the grind, not your pouring technique.

V60 vs Chemex: How Do They Taste?

Both brewers shine, but they highlight different aspects of your coffee.

• V60: Bright, crisp, and vibrant. Excellent with lighter roasts and beans that lean fruity or floral.
• Chemex: Smooth, sweet, and refined. Best for chocolatey, nutty, or caramel-forward coffees.

Neither is “better”, it depends on what you want from your cup. Many home brewers love switching between them depending on mood or bean choice.

Quick Tips & Troubleshooting

• Always use filtered water, coffee is 98% water, so quality matters.
• Never skip rinsing your filter, it makes a bigger difference than you’d think.
• Taste check: Sour means grind finer; bitter means grind coarser.

The Joy of Pour Over

Try it black first, you’ll pick up flavours you never knew were there.

Pour over coffee isn’t just a brewing method, it’s an experience. It slows you down, makes you pay attention, and rewards you with clarity in every sip.

Whether you prefer the lively brightness of a V60 or the smooth sweetness of a Chemex, you’ll find yourself discovering new sides of your beans every time you brew.

So, grab your kettle, line up your filter, and get pouring. Café-quality coffee at home has never been this enjoyable.