COFFEE BREW GUIDE

How to Brew Coffee with a Pour Over

Learn how to make a clean, balanced cup with a pour over brewer. Follow our step-by-step guide to grind size, water temperature, blooming, pouring technique, and brew time for a flavorful cup.

You'll need:

☕ Pour over dripper

🧻 Paper filters

🫖 Gooseneck kettle

⚙️ Burr grinder

⚖️ Digital scale

⏱️ Timer

☕ Mug or coffee server

STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

Brewing Steps

Learn how to make a clean, balanced cup with a pour over brewer. Follow our step-by-step guide to grind size, water temperature, blooming, pouring technique, and brew time for a flavorful cup.

1. Heat Your Water - Heat filtered water to 92–96°C (198–205°F). Water that's too hot can over-extract the coffee, while cooler water may result in a weak or sour cup.

2. Prepare Your Brewer - Place a paper filter in your pour over dripper and rinse it thoroughly with hot water. This removes any paper taste while preheating the dripper and your mug or server. Discard the rinse water before brewing.

3. Add the Coffee - Transfer the 20g ground coffee to the filter and gently shake the dripper to create an even, level coffee bed. Place everything on your scale and tare it to zero.

4. Bloom - Start your timer and slowly pour 40g of hot water over the coffee, making sure all the grounds are evenly saturated. Let the coffee bloom for 30–45 seconds. During this stage, trapped carbon dioxide escapes, helping create a more even extraction. Avoid pouring directly onto the paper filter.

5. Finish the Brew -Allow the remaining water to pass through the coffee naturally. The total brew time should be around 2:45–3:30 minutes.

6. Serve and enjoy - Once the dripping slows to an occasional drip, remove the dripper and enjoy your coffee.

Perfect for this brew

Explore coffees that sounds perfect with this brewing method.

Package of Sound Coffee Colombia Single Origins Light Roast Coffee

Colombia - Light Roast Coffee

$16.00 $20.00
Package of Sound Coffee Costa Rican Single Origins Medium Roast Coffee

Costa Rican - Medium Roast Coffee

$16.00 $20.00
Package of Sound Coffee Ethiopian Single Origins Light Roast Coffee

Ethiopian - Light Roast Coffee

$16.00 $20.00
Package of Sound Coffee Soundcheck Signature Blends Light Roast

Soundcheck - Light Roast Coffee

$16.80 $21.00
Package of Sound Coffee Turntable Signature Blends Medium Roast

Turntable - Medium Roast Coffee

$15.20 $19.00
Package of Sound Coffee Unplugged Signature Blends Decaf Blend

Unplugged - Decaf Coffee

$15.20 $19.00
Freshly brewed pour-over coffee with ground beans in a glass dripper at Sound Coffee

Flavor Profile

Pour over brewing brings out the unique flavors and aromas of your coffee, producing a clean, balanced cup with every brew. Follow this simple guide to get started or refine your technique.

A whole roasted coffee bean next to a small pile of finely ground coffee powder on a dark textured surface.

Recommended Grind

☕ Ground Drip 

Ready to brew.

☕ Whole Bean

Grind fresh before brewing for the best flavor.

A white ceramic coffee mug with the 'Sound Coffee' logo, filled with a cappuccino topped with foam and cinnamon, sitting on a matching saucer with cinnamon sticks on a wooden table.

Recommended Recipe

  • Coffee: 20g
  • Water: 320g
  • Ratio: 1:16
  • Grind: Medium
  • Water Temperature: 92–96°C (198–205°F)
  • Brew Time: 2:45–3:30

Not sure what flavor to pick?

Take a Coffee Quiz

Or if you want to explore most of our flavors first, you can try our Sample Packs and discover your favorites before committing to a full-size bag.

Your Guide to a Better Coffee

The Best Way to Brew Coffee at Home

There's no single "best" brewing method, only the one that's right for your taste. No matter which brewer you choose, these five principles will help you make consistently great coffee.


1. Start with Freshly Roasted Coffee

Coffee tastes best within a few weeks of roasting. Store your beans in an airtight container away from heat, light, and moisture, and grind them just before brewing for maximum flavor.


2. Use the Right Grind Size for Your Brewing Method

Using the correct grind size is one of the biggest factors in making great coffee. Every brewing method requires a different grind size to extract the best flavor.

Recommended Grind for every Brewing method

Espresso → Fine
AeroPress → Medium-Fine
Pour Over → Medium
Drip Coffee → Medium
French Press → Coarse
Cold Brew → Extra Coarse

3. Measure Your Coffee

A consistent coffee-to-water ratio helps you brew balanced coffee every time.

A good starting point is:

1 gram of coffee for every 16 grams of water (1:16 ratio)

Example:
20g coffee → 320g water
25g coffee → 400g water
30g coffee → 480g water

This ratio is a common baseline before adjusting to taste. Adjust slightly depending on your taste preferences.

4. Use Filtered Water

Coffee is made up of almost entirely water, so clean, filtered water helps highlight the natural sweetness and complexity of your beans.

5. Brew Fresh Every Time

Grind only what you'll use and brew just before drinking. Freshly brewed coffee delivers the best aroma, sweetness, and complexity.

Troubleshooting Your Brew

Even the best beans can taste off if your brewing variables aren't dialed in. If your coffee tastes too sour, it's often a sign of under-extraction. If it tastes too bitter, it may be over-extracted. Small adjustments to your grind size, water temperature, brew time, or coffee-to-water ratio can make a dramatic difference in the final cup.

Want to learn how to identify and fix these common brewing problems?

👉 Read our guide: Bitter vs. Sour Coffee: What Your Brew Is Trying to Tell You