September 24, 2024

Mastering the Perfect Pour Over: A Coffee Lover’s Guide

Tinkering

Discover the art and science behind pour over coffee, a brewing method that celebrates patience, precision, and passion. Whether you’re new to the process or refining your technique, this guide covers everything from choosing the right beans and equipment to perfecting the pour for balanced, flavorful coffee. Dive into the ritual and unlock the full potential of your brew, one cup at a time.

Anyone who has spent any time with me knows that I take my coffee very seriously. Over the years, I’ve developed an unhealthy obsession with making the perfect pour over at home and on the road. I’m a Blue Bottle loyalist from their early Oakland days and still appreciate my morning Bella Donovan.

Product Recommendations

Fellow Stagg EKG Kettle

Terrific, by degree electric kettle. I keep mine set at 202° F using the hold switch on the back of the base. I set the kettle down between pours to keep the temperature consistent.

Blue Bottle Coffee Dripper

I’m a huge Blue Bottle Fan, using their pour over ceramic and paired with Stagg filters when I’m at home.

Bodum Bistro Burr Grinder

Good coffee deserves a good grinder. While some folks have mixed experience with these grinders, I’ve been using them for years. Love the ability to set the burr height by adjusting the hopper to get the right grind for my preferences.

Bella Donovan Whole Bean

“Bella Donovan is the cashmere sweater of our blends—comforting, cozy, and enveloping. A natural Ethiopian coffee with jammy berry notes brings a glimmer of fruit to the otherwise chocolate-heavy foundation. To add nuance, we roast these two coffees four different ways. The result is a blend that straddles the worlds of complexity and comfort with uncommon poise.”

STAGG [XF] FILTERS | Perfect fit for Blue Bottle flat bottom filters

The larger Stagg filters from Fellow are a perfect fit for the Blue Bottle ceramic pour over. I love that they stick well above the ceramic to make removing and tossing into the compost easy. The smaller size and the Blue Bottle filters sit flush with the top of the ceramic. Since I like really strong coffee using a lot of beans, I find bigger is better in this case.

Fellow’s Ode Brew Grinder | For those who like variety

I have this grinder in the guest suite/home office. It is designed to pour in a single serving of beans and then grind perfectly before shutting off. Build quality is fantastic, but I find it to be much messier than the Bodum. The cup generates quite a bit of static electricity and requires some counter clean up after putting it in the filter. That said, great solution for people who like to vary the type of coffee they brew throughout the day.

Travel Kit

Hand & Hide Felt Mason Jar Handle

I found these over on Etsy from a Portland-based company. Fits all wide mouth pint (16 oz) sized mason jars. Like that if I’m driving and am worried about spilling during travel, I can just screw on a standard mason jar cap. Pair with silicone mason jar lids.

Snow Peak – Perfect Travel Pour Over

Stainless steel, folding travel pour over. With a few extra folds, works perfectly with #4 filters.

Portable Electric Coffee Grinder

Adjustable 14 grinding degree with USB charging. Note, you need to use a USB-A to USB-C cable since it doesn’t support fast charging.

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