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The Final Pour Over

Coffee has come a long way in 20 years, but a few simple facts remain the same: coffee beans and water are ingredients, brewing is cooking, and just as you’d respect that fact in the case of a steak or a chocolate cake, so should you when something really important is on the line.
I prefer either a Chemex carafe with a paper filter or a Hario V60 drip rig over a Hario 02 carafe. Either can be put over low heat so that I can keep my coffee hot the way I like it. As for brewing, if your coffee is too sour or not full-flavored, try a slightly finer grind next time. Conversely, if it’s too bitter, try a slightly coarser grind.
Oh, and as for filter rinsing, I really don’t bother.
This recipe first appeared in Season 2 of Good Eats: Reloaded.
Perfect Pour Over Coffee in Good Eats mug
ACTIVE TIME: 5 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 5 minutes
Yield: 1 generous serving

Software

  • 17 fluid ounces filtered water
  • 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon coffee, ground medium in a burr grinder

Specialized Hardware

  • Digital kitchen scale
  • Burr grinder
  • Electronic gooseneck kettle with a thermostat or traditional kettle

Procedure

  • Heat the water to 207°F. If you have a digitally controlled, electric kettle, this should be simple. If your kettle is old-school, bring the water to a boil then let it sit off the heat for 30 seconds before using.
  • You only need 420 grams of water (same as milliliters where water is concerned) for the brew process, so when the water is hot use a small amount to warm your carafe and your mug or glass. (I like to drink out of Gibraltar-style glass often used by coffee shops for serving cortados.) Dump the carafe after a few moments but leave the water in the glass until you’re ready to serve.
  • Place your carafe on a digital scale and install the filter of your choice, either paper or metal. Add the coffee, then zero out or tare the scale. Slowly pour 60 grams of the water evenly over the grounds and allow grounds to bloom for 45 seconds. (Return the kettle to its base to reheat during this time.)
  • After the bloom, slowly add water to the coffee grounds in a circular motion, pausing as needed to not overflow the filter, until the scale reads 420 grams (including the bloom water). If you’ve got your grind right, this shouldn’t take less than 3 minutes or more than 3 1/2.
  • Dump the warm water from the glass or mug, refill with coffee, and consume. And no, you don’t need sugar or cream. Seriously, give it a chance.