We get a surprising number of questions about how we make our pour over coffee, and even occasional requests for a video tutorial. We’re not professional baristas, but we love an easy, affordable, and delicious cup every day. Below we explain how our simple system delivers consistently smooth coffee without tasting bitter or burned.
Pour over coffee often produces better flavor with less equipment and less waste than many electric brewers, but the process can sound intimidating. In reality, pour over is only as complicated as you want it to be. I make it every morning in just a few minutes, and I honestly think it rivals many coffee shops—saving me money while tasting fresher.
Our Coffee Supplies
The supply list below looks longer than it really is. For a basic hot pour over you only need the top three items, each inexpensive. The rest are optional accessories that add variety or convenience.
Coffee Supplies
- Pour over coffee maker (reusable stainless filter and glass carafe)
- Cold brew pitcher (optional for batch cold coffee)
- Handheld milk frother (optional for lattes)
- Stoneware mugs
- Ribbed glasses with lid and straw
Coffee Ingredients
- Ground coffee (we like medium roast)
- Sweetener packets (optional)
- Coconut or other creamers
- Flavored creamers for those who prefer it
Brands like Chemex and Hario are well known for pour over, but their brewers are often pricier. We prefer a budget-friendly pour over that holds up to daily use.
If you have a grinder, whole beans are excellent. For convenience we often buy pre-ground coffee or have beans ground at the store.
What is Pour Over Coffee?
Pour over is a manual brewing method where hot water is poured over ground coffee in a cone-shaped filter, then drains into a carafe or mug below. Unlike electric drip machines that heat and hold a full pot, pour over is made on demand, which often produces a cleaner, fresher flavor and fewer bitter notes. Because it’s manual, you control the pace and extraction, but you don’t need to complicate things to get excellent results.
Basic electric coffeemakers can underheat water, soak grounds unevenly, and sometimes leave a pot sitting on a heater for too long, which darkens the flavor. They can also require disposable filters or pods and can be harder to clean thoroughly. Pour over avoids many of those issues and is simple to rinse and maintain.
If you enjoy electric brewers, that’s fine—there’s no wrong way to love coffee. Here we’re just sharing why pour over is our everyday choice: minimal waste, low cost, simple cleaning, and consistently delicious cups.
Pros & Cons of Pour Over Coffee
Pour over gives control over water temperature, grind size, coffee-to-water ratio, and brew time, which appeals to coffee enthusiasts. At the same time, you can keep the method straightforward and still produce a great cup. We’ve found a reliable routine that delivers excellent flavor without obsessing over tiny variables.
Pour over is especially attractive if you have a small kitchen or prefer compact, reusable tools instead of a bulky countertop machine.
Pour Over Coffee PROS:
- Cleaner, more pronounced flavors
- Inexpensive and affordable
- Compact and attractive design
- Reusable parts reduce waste
- Easy to clean and maintain
Pour Over Coffee CONS:
- Not automated or programmable
- Small learning curve if aiming for perfection
- Best for one to three cups at a time
- No built-in warming plate to keep coffee hot
How to Make Pour Over Coffee
Below are the simple, repeatable steps we follow each morning. Once you have boiling water, the process takes about three minutes and most of that time is passive while the coffee filters through. It’s a great chance to pop toast in the toaster or get ready for the day while your coffee brews.
- Place the reusable filter into the glass carafe
- Add one scoop of ground coffee (scoop comes with the carafe)
- Slowly pour boiling water over the grounds
- Allow the water to drip through
- Pour the brewed coffee, holding the cork collar
- Add cream, milk, or sweetener to taste
Here is a little more detail for each step so you can reproduce it easily.
1. Place the filter into the carafe
The metal reusable filter fits into the glass cone of many pour over carafes. Some people prefer to use a paper cone filter instead; paper filters absorb more oils and can yield a lighter, crisper cup and easier cleanup. We like the metal filter for sustainability and convenience, and we find the flavor without paper to be rich and satisfying.
2. Add one scoop of ground coffee
Use the scoop that comes with the brewer and add one scoop of ground coffee. A common guideline is one scoop per cup, but you can adjust to taste—add a slightly heaped scoop for a stronger brew. The carafe size will determine how many full cups you realistically get; our 34 oz version comfortably yields about three of our 12 oz mugs.
We’ve hosted small groups and simply brewed in batches of two cups each time, which keeps every cup fresh and warm while people linger and chat.
What grind should I use?
A medium to medium-coarse grind is a good starting point for pour over. If you buy pre-ground coffee, choose a recent roast date for fresher taste. If you have a grinder, experiment with grind size to fine-tune extraction to your liking.
3. Slowly pour boiling water over the grounds
Heat water to boiling, then pour slowly to fully saturate the grounds without overflowing or splashing. Advanced techniques like blooming (pouring a small amount first and letting it rest) or circular pouring can influence extraction, but for many tastes a straightforward slow pour that wets all grounds works very well.
How much water should I use?
A good guideline is about 12 ounces of water per scoop of coffee, slightly less if you plan to add cream. We often eyeball the amount for speed, but you can measure precisely if you prefer.
4. Allow the water to drip through
It usually takes one to two minutes for the coffee to fully filter into the carafe. This is passive time—use it to grab your breakfast, vitamins, or get dressed for the day while the coffee brews and cools to drinking temperature.
5. Pour the coffee
When brewing is complete, remove the filter and set it aside to drain. Hold the carafe by the cork collar as you pour. Dump the spent grounds into the trash or compost and rinse the filter for easier cleanup later.
6. Add cream and sugar to taste
Some days we drink coffee black, and other days we add a packet of sweetener and a splash of creamer. I prefer flavored creamers or sweetened nut milk; my partner likes a particular creamer flavor. If you want a café-style touch, froth your milk as described below.
Bonus Step: How to Froth Milk At Home
A simple handheld frother can turn ordinary milk into a creamy foam for a latte-like finish. It’s quick, inexpensive, and gives your coffee a special touch on weekends or when you want a treat.
- Pour a small amount of milk or milk alternative into a small dish. Submerge the frother tip, turn it on, and move it side to side until foamy.
- Carefully pour the frothed milk over your coffee.
- If you want more sweetness, add sugar or a sweetener to the milk before frothing. Vanilla oat milk creates a naturally sweet, marshmallow-like flavor without extra sugar.
How to Clean Your Pour Over
Cleaning our pour over brewer is simple. Most glass carafes and metal filters are dishwasher safe, though parts like cork collars or leather cords may need handwashing. On busy days we rinse and handwash the parts; once a week we run them through the dishwasher if needed.
Our usual routine:
- Empty grounds into trash or compost
- Rinse and gently sponge the filter
- Rinse the glass carafe
- Let parts dry upside down on a drying rack
It’s a bit more effort than tossing a single-use pod, but cleaning is no harder than washing any other dishes—and the reusable brewer is just a couple of parts that rinse quickly.
Why We Love Pour Over Coffee
We love pour over because it’s flexible: it can be a quick, reliable method for daily coffee or an exacting ritual for when you want to experiment. It’s affordable, waste-conscious, and consistently delivers a fresh cup. After two years of daily use, this simple routine has become our go-to.
Prefer Cold Coffee?
If you prefer cold drinks, cold brew is even easier to make in larger batches and stores in the fridge for days. A simple cold brew pitcher makes it convenient to prepare and enjoy cold coffee at home.
Other posts you might enjoy
We often write about our small kitchen and budget-friendly tips. If you liked this guide, you might enjoy posts about organizing a compact kitchen, small-space remodeling, and other practical projects for making the most of a smaller home.
*Some items discussed are available through retailers; this post is intended to share our experience and preferences.