Many of us will agree that coffee has become a sort of lifeblood these days. Most of us are not able to even function in the morning without that first cup of warm, rich drink. Manual coffee brewing methods are becoming increasingly popular, as more and more DIY home baristas seek to further their control over the brewing process. Let’s take a look at how to use the pour-over coffee maker.
Pour Over Coffee Makers: What Are They?
Pour-over coffee makers are one of the more basic coffee making devices out there and offer a novelty that is hard to come by in today’s technologically driven world. A delicate yet full-flavored cup of coffee is extracted by pouring a slow and steady stream of hot water over coffee grounds, producing more subtlety and nuance than what you would receive with a French press or drip machine.
Many of the world’s most popular and respected cafes have been abandoning their pour-over stations in favor of coffee machines that are programmable and can brew several cups of coffee simultaneously. The simple reason is that humans make mistakes all the time; machines do not.
Of course, any great barista can turn a simple pour-over method into a spectacular cup of coffee; most folks just are not that skilled. Even if they are, each cup will likely taste quite different.
Coffee machines that are set to brew the exact same cup of coffee every time will do that and nothing else, as well as much more efficiently than any person could.
Pour Over Coffee vs. French Press Coffee
As we mentioned previously, brewing coffee using manual methods is becoming more and more popular nowadays, especially Pour over and French press coffee machines. What might be surprising is that it is not just gourmet coffee snobs who are using these types of coffee machines.
In fact, you can find pour-overs and French-presses everywhere from college students’ apartments to busy professionals homes. So, which one should you buy?
Pour-over methods
We are not exactly sure when pour-over coffee makers were invented, but we do know that they have been around for a few centuries, in one form or another. Modern-day variants have been modified so that they are easy to use and ultra-efficient, and they are relatively inexpensive.
Similar to the French press, pour-over coffee methods involve boiling water, letting it cool slightly, and pouring it over some ground coffee. The key difference is that in the filter, the coffee grounds are stationary and do not mix with the final brew.
This results in a more muted cup of coffee, though the flavor is still beautiful. Another issue that makes pour-over methods different is grit. It is common for a regular cup of French press coffee to be slightly grittier and thicker, whereas pour-over brews are not gritty and all and have a texture similar to that of coffee made from an automatic machine.
While pour-over coffee does possess a great flavor, it does not give you that strong hit that French press coffee does, which is the main reason why most people prefer pour-over methods.
French Press Methods
French presses have been in use for over 100 years, far before they became a trend. This method involves placing coffee grounds inside of a carafe, pouring hot water into the carafe, letting it sit, and then pressing down a sort of plunger that separates the brewed coffee so that it can be had.
The resulting brew tastes rich and satisfying, and the texture of French press coffee is far different from that of pour-over brews. It is thicker, because of the contact between the grinds and the water from the start of the process to the end.
More oil is drawn for the coffee during the French press brewing process, which is what makes it such a popular brewing method among people who prefer stronger coffee.
Using A Pour-Over Machine
First, grind your coffee beans. There is nothing that has a bigger impact on the final cup of coffee than the initial grind.
Next, measure out your water and grinds. Generally, 6 ounces of water for every 8 tablespoons of coffee grinds is a good rule of thumb. However, different grinds will require different ratios, so figure out what works best for you.
Then, pour the hot water over your coffee grinds. Slowly pour enough water into the coffee grinds until it has been completely absorbed by the ground coffee. Continue pouring until you are satisfied with the volume of coffee in your cup.
Perfecting Your Pour Over
There are a few factors that can make or break a cup of pour-over brew. Perhaps the most important is the initial coffee bean grind.
The way you grind your coffee beans will determine the texture and flavor of your coffee, so make sure you grind your beans the way you like them. If you are new to the pour-over method, it is best to leave your grinds a bit coarse.
Final Thoughts
The pour-over brewing method provides a certain kind of satisfaction that just can’t be found when using automatic machines. Follow the steps above, and you’ll be making coffee as the pros do.
