With a few basic rules, you'll get the best out of every bean. Our step-by-step guide for the perfect cup of pour over.
Filter coffee tastes best when water, grind size, and technique work together. Pour over – that is, manual brewing with a V60, Kalita, or similar dripper – is the most precise method. You control every variable: temperature, pour speed, time. And that's exactly what makes it so exciting.
What you need
- Pour-over dripper (V60, Kalita Wave, or Chemex)
- Matching paper filters
- Scale with seconds timer
- Gooseneck kettle with temperature control (93–96 °C)
- Grinder with medium grind size
- Freshly roasted filter beans (e.g. single origin or light blend)
The basic recipe
As a starting point, a ratio of 1:16 works very well – that is, 20 g coffee to 320 g water. This gives you a balanced extraction that emphasizes sweetness and acidity equally.
Step 1 – Rinse the filter
Rinse the paper filter with hot water to remove paper taste and preheat the dripper. Discard the water afterwards.
Step 2 – Bloom
Grind 20 g coffee fresh, add to the filter, tap smooth. Pour 40 g water over it and wait 30–45 seconds. CO₂ escapes and the coffee "blooms".
Step 3 – Main pour in circles
Pour in two to three even circles up to 320 g total weight. The complete extraction should take between 2:30 and 3:30 minutes.
KOKO HARMONY Blend
Brazil, Yemen & Ethiopia
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Ground Too Fine
Does your coffee taste bitter or astringent? Your grind size is too fine – the water is sitting on the coffee bed too long. Grind coarser (sea salt consistency) and try again.
Ground Too Coarse
Thin, sour coffee? Then your grind size is too coarse. Grind finer until extraction lands between 2:30 and 3:30 minutes again.
Uneven Pouring
Pour in even, concentric circles from the center outward – without hitting the filter edge directly. A narrow gooseneck spout helps tremendously.
Which Bean Works Best for Pour Over?
Filter coffee thrives on clarity. Light roasts with pronounced acidity and fruit really shine. Single Origins from Ethiopia, Kenya, or Colombia are great candidates – as are light blends like KOKO HARMONY or KOKO BLISS.
With the right setup you don't need more than five minutes for a cup – but the quality is reproducible every single time. Explore our filter selection and find your favorite.
