Learn how to use a coffee dripper to make pour-over coffee at home with our step-by-step instructions:
Perfect pour-over coffee method
Read our pour-over coffee FAQs for answers to general questions such as 'What is pour-over coffee?' and 'Why is pour-over coffee better?', as well as help with equipment, brewing, and troubleshooting.
basic pour-over coffee recipe.
Products pictured: Halo Brew Coffee Dripper, Halo Coffee Cup, Halo Sugar Bowl, Halo Small Jug
You will need:
- Coffee dripper
- Coffee cup or mug
- Paper or reusable filter
- Boiled water
- Ground coffee of your choice (1 tablespoon to every 100ml of water)
Method:
- Place the coffee dripper on top of your cup then place the filter inside.
- Spoon the ground coffee into the centre of your filter cone.
- Slowly pour boiled water over the coffee until your cup is full.
- Enjoy! Don't forget to recycle your coffee grounds.
perfect pour-over coffee method.
If you really want to perfect the art of pour-over coffee, follow these instructions.
You will need:
- Ceramic coffee dripper
- Ceramic coffee cup(s) or mug(s)
- Ceramic jug (for two+ servings)
- Reusable coffee filter
- Coffee beans
- Burr coffee grinder
- Weighing scales OR measuring jug and tablespoon
- Filtered water
- Gooseneck kettle
Pre-heat your equipment
Add your ceramic coffee dripper to a coffee cup, mug, or ceramic jug and then place the reusable filter inside. Swirl boiled water through the cone until you have almost filled the cup/jug and leave for 30 seconds before discarding. This will allow the equipment to preheat, helping to ensure your coffee brews at the right temperature later.
You will need to use an appropriately sized dripper for the amount of coffee you wish to make; otherwise, the bed depth of the grounds will not allow for proper brewing.
Learn more below - such as:
• What is the best dripper for pour-over?
• What is the best filter for pour-over coffee?
• How to keep pour-over coffee hot
Measure and add the ground coffee
- First, weigh your chosen coffee beans to reduce wastage. Freshly ground, high-quality coffee will deliver superior flavour. The recommended ratio of coffee grounds to water for pour-over is 6 grams per 100ml or, if you don't have a scale, 1 tablespoon per 100ml.
- Next, we recommend using a burr grinder to achieve a medium grind. You are looking for an even texture that's as coarse as sand or sea salt.
- Finally, spoon your ground coffee into the centre of the filter paper cone and shake gently to level out.
Learn more below - such as:
• What is the best coffee for pour-over?
• What is the best coffee grinder for pour-over?
• How many grams of coffee for pour-over?
• How coarse should coffee be for pour-over?
Heat the water
We recommend heating your water in a gooseneck kettle, as this will give better control over pouring later, helping you achieve the perfect pour-over coffee.
The best water temperature for pour-over coffee is 90°C to 96°C. You can't go far wrong if you leave the kettle for approximately 30 seconds after it's boiled, but you could use a variable-temperature kettle or thermometer to ensure it's exactly right.
It is also beneficial to use filtered water, especially if you live in a hard-water area.
Learn more below - such as:
• Do you need a gooseneck kettle for pour-over coffee?
Bloom the coffee
Wetting or blooming the coffee is an important part of pour-over coffee science. It involves saturating the grounds so that they release carbon dioxide, allowing the next pour to better penetrate the coffee and release flavour.
To de-gas the coffee effectively, you'll need to pour approximately twice the amount of water as you have grounds, then leave for around 30 seconds. Start in the centre and slowly spiral outwards then back in again to saturate the grounds evenly, remembering to place more focus on the centre where the coffee bed is deeper. You should see bubbles of CO2 rising.
Finish pouring
After the bloom, you'll need to finish pouring your water. Again, start in the centre and slowly spiral outwards then back in again to saturate the grounds evenly, remembering to place more focus on the centre where the coffee bed is deeper. This pour should take 2 to 3 minutes.
Remove the dripper and enjoy!
If you have poured evenly, you should end up with a flat bed of coffee grounds that is consistent in colour. At this stage, you can remove the coffee dripper and serve the perfect cup of pour-over coffee! Feel free to add milk, cream, or sweetener to taste.
Don't forget to recycle or compost your coffee grounds and clean your equipment thoroughly ready for next time.
Learn more below - such as:
• How to drink pour-over coffee
general FAQs.
What is pour-over coffee?
Pour-over coffee is a type of filter coffee made by hand-pouring hot water over ground coffee and letting it drip through naturally in a process called percolation. The key piece of equipment is a pour-over coffee maker. This usually takes the form of a coffee dripper, a cone-shaped brewing accessory that allows the water to effectively filter through and extract flavour from the grounds.
The pour-over coffee method is also known as hand brewing or manual brewing. You can also see pour-over coffee referred to as hand-drip coffee or similar.
The history of pour-over coffee
Original Melitta No 2 coffee dripper, source: Ulfbastel / CC BY-SA
Pour-over brewing was invented in 1908 by Melitta Bentz, a housewife who was desperate for a cleaner cup of coffee. Tired of her percolator, she punched holes in a brass pot and used blotting paper from her son's schoolbook to invent the first drip coffee system. Her round dripper and coffee filter paper were soon available for customers to buy.
Melitta released a cone-shaped design we're more familiar with in 1937. Four years later, chemist Doctor Peter Schlumbohm invented the Chemex glass coffeemaker.
In the 1980s, Hario developed a conical coffee dripper that used wire rods to support the filter paper. It was a commercial failure, as instant coffee and coffee machines were dominating the market, but, witnessing the resurgence of artisan coffee in the third-wave coffee movement, the company revisited the design in 2004. The Hario V60, so named for the 60° angle that shapes its dripper, was born.
Dave Jameson, 2014 and 2016 UK Coffee in Good Spirits Champion, told Perfect Daily Grind that filter coffee "needed rehabilitation in order to make a comeback after years of short brew ratios and over-extracted dark roasts" and that "the craft of hand brewing gave filter coffee its quality back, which has helped bring people back to good black coffee again".
The science of pour-over coffee
Making the perfect pour-over coffee is a science: there's the physics of the pour, the chemistry of water reacting with the grounds, and the biology of your taste buds as you take each sip.
All drip-coffee methods use a brewing process called percolation, whereby the water runs through ground coffee and extracts flavour before dripping out of the other side. This differs from immersion, whereby the grounds are steeped in water and then removed afterwards, typically resulting in a stronger but less smooth cup of coffee.
Many factors play a role in the final result, from the water temperature and its ratio to the coffee to the size of the grounds and where they came from. Experimenting with these variables allows you to create a bespoke recipe for perfect pour-over coffee.
How does a coffee dripper work?
The conical shape of modern drippers allows water to flow to the centre of the grounds, ensuring it has higher contact where the coffee bed is deepest. Internal ribs help to regulate water flow and give the coffee grounds room to expand, while a large hole at the bottom prevents over-extraction caused by pooling and gives the brewer more control over pouring speed.
Why is pour-over coffee better?
The pour-over coffee method is one of the best ways to make coffee because the slow brewing process allows for great extraction, particularly when it comes to intricate flavours of single-origin coffee. All winners of the World Brewers Cup (2011–2019) have used a hand-pouring method to secure their victory.
Plus, because everything is done by hand, you have exceptional control over the final result, allowing you to make a filter coffee that's exactly to your liking. Another benefit of pour-over coffee is that it can be made with limited, portable, and inexpensive equipment. The process can make your house smell amazing, too.
- Basic pour-over coffee recipe
- Perfect pour-over coffee method
- What do you need for pour-over coffee?
Drip coffee maker vs pour-over
With a drip coffee maker, you add a filter and ground coffee to a basket, then the machine heats and dispenses the water, which drips through to a jug. This limits your control over the result, and, unless you invest in a high-quality model, these automated processes tend to be sub-optimal, leading to unbalanced brews.
French press vs pour-over
The French press or cafetiere uses an immersion technique, whereby ground coffee is steeped in water and then extracted using a filter/plunger system. This can be preferable for those who like a stronger brew, whereas the pour-over method delivers a smoother result. Some people like to switch between the two brewing methods depending on their mood.
Espresso vs pour-over
Espresso machines brew highly concentrated coffee by forcing pressurised water through fine, densely packed grounds. You can drink these "shots" of coffee from espresso cups or add water or milk to create americanos, cappuccinos, lattes, and more. On the other hand, the pour-over method produces a black filter coffee, typically milder and more complex in flavour due to the slower and more natural brewing method. The equipment required for pour-over is much simpler: it's easier to clean, portable, and inexpensive.
AeroPress vs pour-over
AeroPress coffee maker, source: Abi Porter / CC BY 2.0
The AeroPress works similarly to a French press so produces a stronger brew than hand pouring. This can be used for lattes, cappuccinos, and more. The pour-over method is preferable if you'd like to perfect a bright and clean cup of coffee or enjoy the more manual brewing process.
Clever coffee dripper vs pour-over
Clever coffee dripper, source: Joseph Robertson / CC BY-SA 2.0
The Clever coffee dripper looks similar to a coffee cone but has a valve that allows the grounds to be steeped. The water is poured in all at once and then drained through a filter after the desired brewing time, with the drip ensuring a cleaner cup of coffee than you get with a French press. This immersion technique delivers a stronger, less complex brew than the percolation of pour-over does.
Siphon vs pour-over
A siphon or syphon coffee maker looks like something straight from a laboratory. The complexity of the equipment means it is relatively expensive, difficult to clean, hard to store, and tricky to use, but it gives incredible control over the immersion brewing process, resulting in a quality cup of coffee.
Chemex vs pour-over
The Chemex is a glass, hourglass-shaped pour-over coffee maker. It works very similarly to a coffee dripper setup but uses a thicker filter that removes virtually all the oil from the brew, resulting in a cleaner finish. It is trickier to clean and store and makes larger batches, often making the dripper a more convenient option — especially for single-serve coffee.
How to drink pour-over coffee
The pour-over method produces black filter coffee, which is similar to an americano. Some people like to add a splash of cream or milk. You might also want to sweeten to taste.
We have stylish mugs and cups and saucers that will make your coffee all the more enjoyable, with sugar bowls, milk jugs, ceramic coffee pots, and more available to match. We even offer high-quality teaspoons that further elevate your coffee ritual.
How much caffeine is in pour-over coffee?
There are 140mg of caffeine in a 200ml serving of pour-over coffee, according to the NHS [PDF], compared to 90mg in a strong cup of instant coffee. However, it is important to remember that the amount of caffeine can vary significantly depending on the coffee used and the exact brewing method.
The NHS does not have a recommended maximum caffeine intake for healthy adults but suggests 400mg a day is suitable. Pregnant women are advised to consume no more than 200mg per day. An easy way to reduce the caffeine content in pour-over coffee is to purchase lower-caffeine or decaffeinated beans or grounds.
equipment FAQs.
What do you need for pour-over coffee?
As per our basic pour-over coffee recipe, the only essentials for pour-over coffee are:
• Coffee dripper
• Cup or mug
• Paper or reusable filter
• Ground coffee
• Boiled water
However, to create the perfect pour-over coffee, you will need:
• Denby ceramic coffee dripper
• Denby cup and saucer
• Fabric coffee filter
• High-quality coffee beans
• Burr coffee grinder
• Variable-temperature gooseneck kettle
• Weighing scales
• Filtered water
To make more than one serving at once, you will also need an appropriately sized carafe or ceramic jug. You may also wish to invest in a matching milk/cream jug and sugar bowl for serving.
What is the best dripper for pour-over coffee?
There are lots of types of coffee dripper on the market, and the best one for you will ultimately come down to your own needs and preferences. However, we have designed what we believe to be the best dripper for making one to two generous cups of pour-over coffee.
Denby coffee drippers have a 60° cone that allows water to flow through all parts of the bed, resulting in an evenly extracted cup of coffee. The large hole at the bottom enables the brewer to adjust the flavour of the coffee according to the speed of water flow, while internal ribs support natural flow of water and help deliver a "clean" cup.
Handcrafted from local clay at our pottery in Derbyshire, our ceramic coffee drippers are the conscious choice for your home and covered by a 10-year guarantee. The material is chemically inert, which means it won't impact the flavour of your coffee, as well as being great at retaining heat, helping to ensure your coffee brews at the right temperature. It is also safe to use in the dishwasher.
Our pour-over coffee cones, available in three hand-glazed designs, are also extremely stylish. You can buy coffee cups, ceramic jugs, sugar bowls, and much more to match, allowing you to truly enjoy the art of making and serving pour-over coffee.
Products pictured: Halo Brew Coffee Dripper, part of the Halo collection; Studio Blue Brew Coffee Dripper, part of the Studio Blue collection; Studio Grey Brew Coffee Dripper, part of the Studio Grey collection. All part of the Brew: Tea and Coffee collection.
Learn more:
• How does a coffee dripper work?
What is the best filter for pour-over coffee?
We recommend reusable coffee filters for pour-over because they are effective, waste-free, and never run out. Metal filters are easy to clean and allow more oils to filter through, while fabric filters are the preferred option for a silky-smooth cup of coffee.
You can get compostable paper filters but they are not usually recyclable once used. If you do opt for disposable filters, it is important to rinse them through before use in order to remove residues that could affect the flavour of your coffee.
One of the most important things when it comes to pour-over coffee is filter size. You don't want a filter that bunches up inside your dripper, as this will trap the coffee grounds and make it harder to pour water evenly. We recommend using Size 2 coffee filters with a Denby coffee dripper.
How to make pour-over coffee without a filter
Some coffee drippers have a built-in filter, which allows you to make pour-over coffee without a separate filter.
If you have a coffee dripper with a hole in the bottom, you will need a filter of some description. The result won't be as good, but you can use a clean piece of fabric, paper towel, or cupcake case as a substitute.
Learn more:
• What is the best dripper for pour-over coffee?
What is the best home coffee grinder for pour-over?
We recommend using a burr grinder for pour-over coffee. This will deliver more even grounds than a blade or hand grinder, reducing the risk of channelling, a process whereby the water finds an "easy" route through the grounds, resulting in a less balanced brew.
You may wish to invest in a model with a wide range of grinding levels. While a medium grind is usually best, you may wish to experiment and find the right grind for you — a process known as "dialling in".
Learn more:
• How coarse should coffee be for pour-over?
What is the best coffee for the pour-over method?
You can use pre-ground coffee with the pour-over method, but freshly ground beans will deliver better flavour. The best choice ultimately comes down to personal preference, so experimentation is the best way to find your favourite, but here are some notes to bear in mind:
- Arabica coffee beans are higher quality, especially those grown in renowned regions like Ethiopia, Colombia, and Costa Rica. Remember to look out for Rainforest Alliance Certified and Fairtrade products with recycled and recyclable packaging.
- Single-origin coffees come from one plantation and are generally favoured over blends — much like in the world of wine. Make sure to look at altitude: generally, the higher the beans are grown, the sweeter and more complex the flavour.
- The roast level affects the taste, aroma, and mouthfeel of your pour-over coffee. Lighter roasts generally have brighter acidity, which the pour-over method is great for bringing out, while medium roasts offer more sweetness. Dark roasts tend to be better for espresso so might be best avoided.
For more advice, see Union Coffee's guide to choosing coffee.
Do you need a gooseneck kettle for pour-over coffee?
A gooseneck kettle is not essential for pour-over coffee, as our basic recipe and equipment list show. However, a gooseneck kettle is a must-have if you want to brew perfect pour-over coffee. The spout is specially designed to help you pour water evenly, slowly, and precisely, so that you can get the bloom pour and second pour just right and ensure a balanced brew.
Ideally, you will have a variable-temperature gooseneck kettle that allows you to heat the water to the ideal temperature for brewing coffee (90°C to 96°C).
brewing FAQs.
How many grams of coffee for pour-over?
We recommend using 6 grams of coffee per 100ml of water for pour-over. If you don't have a scale, that's approximately one tablespoon of grounds and generates a water-to-coffee ratio of just under 17:1.
To put that into perspective, here's how much you'd need to make the equivalent of each Starbucks filter coffee cup size:
- Short (236ml) = 14 grams
- Tall (354ml) = 21 grams
- Grande (473ml) = 28 grams
- Venti (591ml) = 35 grams
However, you may need to adjust the amount of coffee you make in order to get the best from your pour-over coffee maker. If you have too much or too little in your filter cone, the pour-over method will not work properly due to improper bed depth.
Our ceramic coffee drippers work best with 24 to 48 grams of ground coffee and so are ideal for making one or two large mugs of coffee.
Learn more:
What is the best ratio of water to coffee for pour-over?
Most baristas recommend a water-to-coffee ratio of 18:1, 17:1, or 16:1 (from weaker to stronger) for pour-over. The Specialty Coffee Association of America golden ratio for pour-over coffee is 55 grams per litre, which is just over 18:1.
One millilitre of water is equivalent to one gram, so you can use this equation to calculate the amount of ground coffee you need based on the capacity of your cup:
Cup capacity in millilitres / larger ratio number = Ground coffee required in grams
For example, if you had a 375ml mug and wanted an 18:1 ratio, you would need 375/18 ≈ 21 grams of ground coffee.
How coarse should coffee be for pour-over?
A medium grind is recommended for pour-over coffee. This is where the coffee is as coarse as sand or sea salt, and it should allow for the water to flow through and extract flavour effectively.
However, you may wish to experiment with different grind levels to see what works best for you — a process known as dialling in the grind. If your coffee tastes too bitter, you should try going coarser, whereas if your coffee tastes acidic, a finer grind should help.
Learn more:
• What is the best coffee grinder for pour over?
What is the best water temperature for pour-over coffee?
The best water temperature for pour-over coffee is 90°C to 96°C. Hotter water could cause your coffee to overcook and taste bitter, while water that's too cold will fail to extract flavour properly.
You can't go far wrong if you leave the kettle for approximately 30 seconds after it's boiled, but you could use a variable-temperature kettle or thermometer to ensure it's exactly right.
troubleshooting
Following our perfect pour-over coffee instructions should get you a long way towards a barista-quality brew, but you might want to tweak some of the measurements and processes to suit your tastes. We'd recommend tweaking and keeping a note of your methodology each time until you get it just right.
How to make pour over coffee stronger
If your pour-over coffee tastes weak or under-extracted, there are a few potential ways to make it stronger:
- Use more coffee: One of the easiest ways to make your pour-over coffee stronger is to decrease the ratio of water to coffee.
- Try a finer grind: The coarser the grind, the less flavour can be extracted. Try a finer grind to see if that fixes the issue. (See: How coarse should coffee be for pour-over?)
- Watch the water temperature: Cooler water won't be able to extract as much flavour. Leave the water off the boil for around 30 seconds before brewing or use a variable-temperature kettle or thermometer to ensure you're sticking to the 90°C to 96° guideline.
- Slow the pour: If you pour the water too quickly, it won't have chance to extract flavour properly. Perform a bloom pour and make sure your second pour lasts for at least 2 minutes.
Why is my pour-over coffee bitter?
If your pour-over coffee tastes bitter, this is usually a sign that your coffee is being over-extracted. There are a few potential problems here:
- Coffee is too finely ground: This is one of the most common causes of bitter pour-over coffee. Try a coarser grind to see if that fixes the issue. (See: How coarse should coffee be for pour-over?)
- Water temperature is too high: Water that's too hot will overcook your coffee. Make sure to leave the water off the boil for around 30 seconds before brewing or use a variable-temperature kettle or thermometer to ensure you're sticking to the 90°C to 96° guideline.
- Over-roasted coffee: The more coffee beans are roasted, the more bitter compounds are extracted. Try buying a lighter roast or higher-quality coffee next time. (See: What is the best coffee for pour-over?)
- The ratio is off: Stronger coffee can often taste more bitter. Try using less coffee next time. (See: What is the best ratio of water to coffee for pour-over?)
How to keep pour-over coffee hot
Ceramic cups, mugs, and jugs will help to keep pour-over coffee hot because they retain heat brilliantly, especially if you pre-warm them with boiled water. You can also keep your coffee warm, ready for serving, in a ceramic lidded teapot or insulated flask.
If you drink your coffee white, you can reduce the cooling effect by gently heating your cream or milk beforehand. Our stoneware milk jugs are safe to use in the microwave.
We advise against reheating pour-over coffee as this will impair its flavour.
My pour-over coffee filter is clogged
If you notice that water is struggling to drip through when making pour-over, this is usually a sign that your coffee is too finely ground, clogging the holes in your filter. With a coarser grind, the water should be able to flow through more freely.
If you have a reusable filter, the problem could be down to oil build-up. Make sure to follow the manufacturer's cleaning instructions and replace if necessary.
Learn more:
• How coarse should coffee be for pour-over?
final notes.
The pour-over coffee method is an enjoyable, inexpensive, and convenient way to make barista-quality coffee at home. It's also great for camping trips and much more!
Whether you want to keep things easy with our basic recipe or make the perfect pour-over coffee, we hope you have found all the answers you're looking for in our guide. The next step is to buy a ceramic coffee dripper and any other equipment you need.
To explore more of our coffee items and find further inspiration, browse our Brew: Tea and Coffee collection or gifts for coffee lovers.