How to Make Perfect Pourover Coffee: A Guided Journey

July 9, 2025

At True Grind, we know that the best results come from dedication and a hands-on approach. That's the spirit behind pourover coffee. It’s a brewing method that connects you directly to your coffee, allowing you to unlock a depth of flavor that automated machines often miss. We understand that the gear and the technique can seem a bit daunting, like learning a new trade. But we're here to show you that it's a skill worth learning and easier than you think. We’ve broken down the fundamentals into an easy-to-follow infographic that lays out the whole process, so you can get it right, every time.

Note: This method was adapted from James Hoffmann's fantastic One-Cup V60 video. We highly recommend giving it a watch.

Gearing Up & Laying the Groundwork

Just like any skilled craft, having the right tools for the job makes all the difference. This is where precision meets preparation. Before you start, let's gather your gear. You don’t need a fancy workshop, just a few key items:

A pourover brewer: There are many great options out there, but popular choices like the Hario V60 or a Chemex are classics for a reason.
A kitchen scale: Coffee is all about ratios, and precision is key to a repeatable, delicious cup. A simple kitchen scale that measures in grams is perfect.
A timer or stopwatch: Timing your pour is crucial for proper extraction. The stopwatch on your phone will work just fine.

Dialing in Your Brew: Temp and Dose

With your tools ready, it's time to dial in the two most important variables for your brew: water temperature and the amount of coffee. Our handy infographic gives you the ideal starting points.

Water Temperature

Different roasts release their best flavors at different temperatures. Heating your water to the right degree ensures you're extracting the sweet spots and leaving the bitterness behind.

Dark roasts (like our Elbow Grease): 183°F - 189°F
Medium roasts (like Backbreaker or Long Haul): 190°F - 198°F
Light roasts (like Crack of Dawn): 207°F - 212°F

Coffee Grounds (Dose)

Next, you'll need the right amount of coffee for the size of your brew. We've done the math for you, based on a widely recommended brew strength of 60 grams of coffee per liter of water. Just measure out the whole beans, then grind them fresh.

For an 11 oz mug: Use 16.5g of coffee
For a 14 oz mug: Use 21g of coffee
For a 16 oz mug: Use 24g of coffee
For a 20 oz mug: Use 30g of coffee

Once you have your water heated and your coffee weighed and ground, you're ready to get started!

Step 0: Setup Your Rig

Rinse your filter paper (i.e., pour a little water over it so it's saturated) and add in your coffee grounds. Using a spoon, make a little indention in the center of the bed of grounds so the water can evenly cover the coffee in the next step.

Step 1: The First Pour

In a slow, circular fashion. pour the first increment of water over 10 seconds.

Step 2: Swirl

Give the brewer a good swirl for about 5 seconds to make sure all of the grounds are wet.

Step 3: Let the Coffee Bloom

Give the wet grounds a good 30 seconds to "bloom". Freshly wet grounds let off a lot of carbon dioxide, which doesn't taste good in coffee. This stage lets the gas escape before we add more water.

Step 4: Pour and Wait

Pour three more increments of water based on your mug size, with ten seconds in between for the water to slowly seep through the coffee bed.

Step 5: Pour One Last Time

Pour in one last shot of water, bringing the total up to five. Your scale should now read one of the following:

11 oz mug: 275 grams
14 oz mug: 350 grams
16 oz mug: 400 grams
20 oz mug: 500 grams

Step 6: Another Swirl for Good Measure

Give 'er one last swirl to evenly distribute the grounds across the filter so that the water evenly extracts all of the coffee grounds.

Step 7: Wait for the Drawdown

Wait about 60 seconds for all of the water to flow through the filter.

Enjoy Your Brew!

And there you have it. The craft of pourover coffee, demystified. While it's a bit more work than other brewing methods, it’s a ritual that puts you in control and rewards your effort with a truly exceptional cup of coffee. Don't worry about getting it perfect on the first try. Like any skill, it gets better with practice. So keep this guide handy, enjoy the process, and savor the results of your hard work. You've earned it.