We get a surprising number of questions about how we make our pour over coffee — and even requests for a video tutorial. We’re not professional baristas, but we love an easy, affordable, and delicious cup every day. Below we explain the simple system we use to get consistently great coffee without bitter or burnt flavors.
Pour over brewing often produces better-tasting coffee with less equipment and less waste than many electric makers, but the method can sound intimidating for beginners. In reality, pour over is only as complicated as you want it to be. I make mine each morning in a few minutes, and it routinely tastes better than many specialty shops — which saves me money too.
Our Coffee Supplies
The list below looks long, but the essential equipment is just the first three items — each inexpensive. For hot coffee you really only need the first item; the rest are optional depending on the drinks you like.
Coffee Supplies
- Pour over coffee maker*
- Cold brew coffee maker
- Handheld frother
- Stoneware mugs
- Ribbed glasses with lid & straw
Coffee Ingredients
- Medium-ground coffee (we buy pre-ground for convenience)**
- Sweetener packets
- Coconut creamer
- Flavored creamer (optional)
*Many well-known pour over brands cost more, but inexpensive models can perform very well and last if cared for. **If you own a grinder, whole beans are great; we prefer pre-ground coffee for simplicity and buy recently ground bags.
What is Pour Over Coffee?
Pour over is a manual brewing method where hot water is poured over ground coffee sitting in a filter, allowing brewed coffee to drip into a vessel below. Unlike an automatic drip machine, pour over gives you control over the pour and prevents coffee from sitting on a hot plate, which can make it taste burnt or bitter. The process tends to highlight cleaner, brighter flavors and feels fresher to us.
Basic electric drip machines often heat water to a lower temperature and can saturate grounds unevenly, which affects flavor consistency. Machines that keep a pot heated for hours can produce a flat or bitter taste and often generate more waste with single-use filters or pods. We prefer pour over because it’s simple, easy to rinse, and uses reusable parts without hidden tubing.
Pros & Cons of Pour Over Coffee
Pour over is popular with coffee enthusiasts because it allows precise control over brewing variables like water temperature, grind size, coffee-to-water ratio, and brew time. You can dial it in if you want to, but it also produces excellent results when approached simply.
We prefer pour over because it’s affordable, compact, and easy to use. It’s perfect for small kitchens and beats a bulky machine that never leaves the counter. Below are quick pros and cons:
Pour Over Coffee PROS:
- Clearer, stronger flavors
- Affordable and durable
- Compact and attractive
- Reusable parts reduce waste
- Easy to clean
Pour Over Coffee CONS:
- Not automated or programmable
- Small learning curve to master
- Typically makes 1–3 cups at a time
- No heating element to keep coffee warm
Video Guide
We also recorded a start-to-finish video showing how we use our pour over maker. In that same video we demonstrate cold brew and how to froth milk for a latte-style drink. The visual guide makes the steps even easier to follow.
How to Make Pour Over Coffee
Below are the straightforward steps we use each morning. Once you have boiling water, the process takes under three minutes and most of that is inactive time while the coffee filters through.
- Place the reusable filter into the glass carafe.
- Add one scoop of ground coffee (the scoop usually comes with the carafe).
- Slowly pour boiling water over the grounds until saturated.
- Allow the water to drip through into the carafe.
- Remove the filter and pour the coffee, holding the cork collar.
- Add milk, creamer, or sweetener to taste.
Here are some brief details for each step.
1. Place the filter into the carafe
Most pour over sets include a reusable stainless steel filter that fits inside a glass cone. Paper cone filters are an option if you prefer a cleaner cup with fewer oils, but we favor the metal filter for convenience and sustainability. It’s simple to dump grounds in the compost and rinse the filter clean.
2. Add 1 scoop of ground coffee
Use the provided scoop and add one level scoop per cup you want. We sometimes use a slightly heaping scoop for a stronger brew. The exact amount is personal — increase or decrease to taste.
For gatherings we make multiple batches; three batches of two cups each served six people fresh and warm.
What kind of coffee grounds should I use?
A medium to medium-coarse grind is commonly recommended for pour over. Pre-ground coffee from the store works well if it’s recently ground; whole beans and a home grinder give additional freshness if you prefer to grind at home.
3. Slowly Pour Boiling Water Over The Grounds
Use a kettle to pour boiling water slowly over the grounds to avoid splashing or overfilling. There are advanced pouring techniques (circular pours, blooming in stages) that can influence extraction, but simply ensuring the grounds are fully saturated produces excellent results for most people.
How much water should I use?
We aim for roughly 12 ounces of water per scoop of coffee, slightly less if we plan to add cream. Many days we simply eyeball the pour and adjust by taste.
4. Allow The Water To Drip Through
It usually takes one to two minutes for the water to filter through the grounds. During this time you can prepare toast, take vitamins, or do other small tasks while the coffee brews and cools slightly to drinking temperature.
5. Pour The Coffee
When the drip has finished, set the filter aside and pour the brewed coffee from the carafe. The glass can be hot, so hold it by the cork collar. Rinse and empty the filter into the compost or trash, then clean later.
6. Add cream and sugar to taste
Some mornings we drink coffee black; other times we add a sweetener packet and a splash of coconut or flavored creamer. If you like a latte-like texture, frothing the milk (see below) elevates the drink without much effort.
Bonus Step: How to Froth Milk At Home
A small handheld frother makes it easy to turn milk or a milk alternative into a light, creamy foam. It’s a quick way to recreate café-style drinks at home.
- Pour a small amount of milk or alternative into a cup. Submerge the frother head, hold the power button, and move it side to side.
- Once frothed, carefully pour the foam into your coffee.
- Enjoy. For added sweetness, mix sugar into the milk before frothing; vanilla oat milk often tastes sweet enough on its own.
How to Clean Your Pour Over
Cleaning our pour over is very easy. Most parts are dishwasher safe except the cork collar and leather cord. You can handwash daily and run the glass carafe and metal filter in the dishwasher weekly if desired.
Our typical quick routine:
- Discard grounds into trash or compost.
- Rinse and gently wash the filter.
- Rinse the glass carafe.
- Dry pieces upside down on a drying rack.
It’s a small amount of care for a very simple, two-part coffee maker that’s easy to maintain.
Why We Love Pour Over Coffee
We use pour over daily because it delivers a consistently tasty cup with minimal equipment and waste. The method can be as precise or as straightforward as you want. We stuck with it for years because it’s simple, affordable, and delicious.
Prefer Cold Coffee?
If you prefer cold coffee, cold brew is even easier than pour over and you can make large batches to store in the fridge. A simple cold brew pitcher lets you prepare several servings at once.
Other Posts You Might Enjoy
We also share other tips for small kitchens and money-saving ideas. Browse our posts for more photos and projects if you’d like to see how we organize and use compact spaces.
- How To Make Cold Brew at Home
- Before & Afters of Our Small Kitchen
- How We Organized Our Small Kitchen
- Turning Our Kitchen Utility Closet into Functional Storage
- What It’s Like To Downsize
- How To Dye Your Clothes
- How To Streamline Your Closet
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