Troubleshooting Your Pour Over Taste
You don’t have to be a barista to be skillful at coffee brewing. But to find the perfect brewing method, troubleshoot your pour-over taste for your ideal flavor.
Just like any other science experiment, you can involve numerous variables to help troubleshoot your pour-over taste, both in the comfort of your kitchen or at a coffee shop. All you need is a gram scale, a gooseneck kettle, a burr grinder, and your favorite coffee cup.
What is a pour-over coffee?
Pour-over is one of the increasingly popular methods of coffee brewing, which involves pouring boiling water through coffee grounds as it passes through a filter. It's the most basic technique, yet it extracts full-flavored coffee, with each cup bringing a different texture, flavor, and aroma. While there are numerous devices we can use to make our pour-over coffee, the brewing method typically remains the same.
Pour-over is also known as filter coffee. Compared to other coffee brewing methods, pour-over is more prominent in letting the coffee’s flavors and aroma shine.
Ways to Improve the Quality of Your Pour-Over Coffee
Since the pour-over method is entirely manual, you have control over every aspect of the brewing process. You can adjust the flavor, water ratio, and beans. Unfortunately, there is a lot of room for error; as customizable as the method seems, you must be diligent with the proportions and measurements.
Below are some ways to improve your pour-over taste:
Invest in a High Quality Reusable Coffee Filter
A single person will go through 25,000 paper filters in their lifetime - yikes!
If you're looking for a more earth friendly option, a reusable metal filter is a great solution that cuts out the waste and keeps the flavor.
In terms of flavor, metal filters tend to let the coffee’s natural oil through, ultimately producing a restored and extremely aromatic brew. They're also easy to clean; just rinse them under warm running water. Alternatively, you can soak the filters in warm water with distilled vinegar solution after two weeks of usage.
Place your filter in your favorite carafe or dripper. Our reusable pour-over coffee filters are compatible with Chemex coffee makers and Hario V60 drippers.
Invest in Your Coffee Brewer
Coffee pots come in different brands and qualities, giving you a variety to choose from. Yes, all of them can make coffee, but are you sure you just want coffee? Or, do you want a well-brewed coffee?
Believe it or not, your brewer has all the power in this decision. Depending on how much coffee you need to make, you can use a coffee brewer. The best option would be a metal or a stainless brewer and a metal filter for durability. They also can maintain heat.
When talking of quality, a gooseneck kettle will help produce a flavorsome coffee through a steady flow of water and speed. Its inbuilt thermometer regulates the temperature, and its double-layer base prevents any leaks from surfacing. The total brew time should last 3-4 minutes, and you can control brewing time and liquid level by slowly pouring in water.
Whichever coffee brewer you choose should match your desired taste and time given to your coffee intake.
Stick to the Water Ratio
This can be challenging as the water ratio primarily determines your coffee flavor. Many professionals say that a ratio of 1:17 (1g of coffee to 17g of water) falls within specialty coffee standards.
Gradually adjust the grind size and measure the coffee beans with water temperature until you create a recipe that works for you. If you have a strong, weak, bitter, or mild taste, you can add and experiment with more or less coffee—this evaluation will help you find the perfect amount.
Try different ratios and keep the details of what you are changing to recreate the best brew. Also, ensure to use good quality tap water or filtered water when brewing your coffee. Tap water typically contains contaminants and some minerals that affect the coffee flavor.
You're A Barista In Training
While there are various ways to prepare a pour-over, the method is all about adjustments—changing the ground size, the water temperature, and the brew ratio. Next time you think of brewing coffee, try the pour-over method and watch your loved ones enjoy the difference in each brew.
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