Pour over coffee has become a favourite brewing method for coffee enthusiasts around the world, celebrated for its simplicity, precision, and ability to highlight the nuanced flavours of coffee beans. But what exactly does pour over mean? How does it work? And where did it originate? Let’s dive into these questions and uncover the essence of this beloved brewing technique.
What Does Pour Over Mean?
Pour over is a manual coffee brewing method where hot water is poured over ground coffee in a controlled and consistent manner. Unlike automatic drip coffee makers, the pour over method allows the brewer to have complete control over the brewing process, including water temperature, pouring speed and the amount of water used. This precision enables the extraction of delicate flavours and aromas, resulting in a clean, bright cup of coffee.
The term “pour over” refers to the act of manually pouring water over the coffee grounds, typically using a gooseneck kettle for precise control. The process might seem simple, but mastering it requires practice, patience, and attention to detail.
How Does Pour Over Work?
Pour over coffee relies on gravity and the principles of extraction to brew a cup of coffee. Here’s a step-by-step overview of how it works:
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Preparation: Start by heating water to an optimal temperature (usually between 195°F and 205°F) and grinding fresh coffee beans to a medium-coarse consistency.
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Set Up: Place a paper filter in a pour over dripper (like a Cafec Flower Dripper, Hario V60, Chemex, or Kalita Wave) and rinse it with hot water. This step removes any papery taste and preheats the dripper.
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Add Coffee Grounds: Measure your coffee grounds (a common ratio is 1:16 — one gram of coffee to 16 grams of water) and add them to the filter.
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Bloom: Begin by pouring a small amount of hot water (twice the weight of the coffee grounds) to saturate them. This step, called the bloom, allows trapped carbon dioxide to escape and prepares the coffee for even extraction.
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Pour in Stages: Slowly pour the remaining water in a circular motion, ensuring all the grounds are evenly saturated. Pour in stages rather than all at once to maintain consistent extraction.
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Wait: Allow the coffee to drip through the filter into your carafe or mug. The process typically takes 2-4 minutes, depending on your pour rate and grind size.
The result is a cup of coffee with a clean, crisp profile that highlights the unique characteristics of the beans.
Where Did Pour Over Originate?
Pour over coffee has its roots in Japan and Germany. While manual coffee brewing has existed for centuries, the modern pour over method gained prominence in the early 20th century.
In 1908, a German housewife named Melitta Bentz revolutionized coffee brewing by inventing the first paper coffee filter. Frustrated with the bitterness and sediment from percolated coffee, she experimented with blotting paper, creating a cleaner and smoother brew. This innovation led to the establishment of the Melitta company, which still produces coffee filters and brewing equipment today.
In Japan, pour over coffee gained popularity in the mid-20th century, particularly with the introduction of the Hario V60 in 2004. The V60, named for its 60-degree cone design, became a symbol of precision and craftsmanship in coffee brewing. Japanese culture’s emphasis on ritual and detail played a significant role in shaping the pour over method into an art form.
Today, pour over coffee is a global phenomenon, embraced by coffee aficionados and specialty coffee shops for its ability to produce exceptional, customizable cups of coffee.
Why Choose Pour Over?
Pour over coffee is more than just a brewing method; it’s an experience. It allows you to connect with the coffee-making process, experimenting with variables to achieve your perfect cup. Whether you’re drawn to its simplicity, the clarity of flavour, or its rich history, pour over coffee is a rewarding way to savour the art and science of coffee brewing.
Ready to get started with Pour Over?
We have complied a list of our top selling pour over coffee gear below:
Introducing the Cafec 2-4 Cup Starter Kit – your gateway to a premium coffee experience at home. Elevate your coffee routine with this thoughtfully curated set, meticulously designed to deliver exceptional taste and convenience.
The Starter Kit includes a Cafec 2 Cup Tritan Flower Dripper, Cafec 600ml Tritan Server and a 40 pack of Cafec Abaca Plus Filter Paper.
Cafec 1 Cup Abaca Filter Paper 100 Pack
Made by the non-wood material ABACA (Manila hemp) and wood-pulp based on a forestation project. The Cafec ABACA filter paper is eco-friendly, has good air and liquid permeability, toughness, and elasticity.

Cafec Deep 27 Clear Flower Dripper
Brewing with DEEP 27 will bring much more richness and sweetness to your coffee. It can pull out the characteristics of each coffee and extract only the pleasant taste components.
Cafec Abaca Plus Deep 27 Dripper Filter Paper 100 Pack
Filter paper designed specially for the Cafec Deep 27 Dripper. The bottom angle is 27° to fit in the Deep Dripper, it is narrower than the standard cone-shaped filter paper.
No bleach, glues, chemicals or unnatural elements are added to the pulp. This is simply a 100% clean, eco-friendly, forest-sustainable coffee filter paper.