Pouring with Purpose: The Art of Pour-Over Coffee
At 813 Coffee Co, we proudly source our beans from women-owned and operated farms, honoring the incredible work that goes into every bean. This month, we’re shifting our focus from the remarkable women behind our coffee to launch our "Elevate Your Daily Grind” series. Join us as we explore various brewing techniques. To kick things off, we’ll dive into the art of pour-over coffee — a method that highlights the unique flavors of our carefully selected beans.
Brewing Innovation
The pour-over technique has roots that trace back to the early 20th century, marked by a significant innovation in coffee brewing. In 1908, Melitta Bentz, a German housewife and mother of three children, registered the first known patent for a coffee filter. Frustrated with the bitterness and sediment that resulted from other brewing methods, she sought a solution that would enhance the flavor and clarity of her morning brew.
Bentz created a simple yet effective paper filter, along with a conical brewing vessel, which allowed hot water to flow through the coffee grounds more evenly. This method not only reduced the unwanted bitterness but also captured the intricate flavors and aromas that each coffee bean had to offer. Her invention revolutionized coffee brewing, turning it from a careless practice into a thoughtful and precise method.
As the word spread about Bentz’s innovative technique, the pour-over method gained popularity, laying the groundwork for modern coffee culture. Today, it is celebrated for its simplicity and ability to highlight the unique characteristics of specialty coffee. Coffee enthusiasts appreciate the hands-on nature of pour-over brewing, as it invites the brewer to engage with the coffee on a deeper level, allowing for experimentation with variables like water temperature, grind size, and pouring technique.
The Perfect Pour
To brew a perfect cup using the pour-over method, we suggest following these essential steps:
1. Select your coffee: Begin with freshly roasted beans; Genesis and Lighthouse are great options for this method. A medium grind is perfect to allow a proper extraction of the coffee’s flavors.
2. Gather Your Equipment: You’ll need a pour-over dripper (like a Hario V60 or a traditional cone), a paper filter, a kettle (preferably with a goose-neck for precision), a timer and a scale for measuring your coffee and water.
3. Heat Your Water: Bring your water to just below boiling, around 200°F (93°C). This temperature is ideal for extracting the coffee’s nuanced flavors.
4. Rinse the Filter: Place the paper filter in the dripper and rinse it with hot water to eliminate any papery taste and preheat the brewing vessel.
5. Measure Your Coffee and Water: A common ratio is 1:15 (coffee to water). We recommend using 24 grams of coffee to 350 grams of water.
6. Bloom the Coffee: Add the ground coffee to the filter. Start your timer and gently pour 50 grams of water to saturate the grounds. Let it sit for about 30 seconds to allow the coffee to "bloom," releasing carbon dioxide and enhancing flavor extraction.
7. Continue Pouring: After the bloom (approximately 1 min on your timer), slowly pour 150 grams of water in a circular motion, ensuring even saturation of the coffee grounds. At around the 1:30 min mark on your timer, pour another 150 grams of water. The whole process should take about 2:45 - 3:15 minutes in total.
8. Enjoy Your Brew: Once the water has dripped through, remove the dripper, and savor the fresh cup of coffee that showcase the unique flavors of our ethically sourced beans.
Sip by Sip: Pour-Over vs. Chemex
While pour-over brewing is celebrated for its clarity and control, it often finds itself compared to the Chemex method, another type of a pour-over method. The Chemex, designed by Peter Schlumbohm in 1941, stands out with its elegant hourglass shape and thicker paper filters. These filters contribute to the aesthetics of the brew and play a crucial role in the flavor profile of the coffee.
In addition to its unique flavor profile, the Chemex is particularly known for its larger brewing capacity. This makes it an excellent choice for gatherings or when serving multiple cups at once.
Both pour-over and Chemex methods provide distinct experiences for coffee lovers. Pour-over allows for meticulous control over every variable—from grind size to water temperature—inviting the brewer to experiment and perfect their technique. In contrast, the Chemex offers simplicity with its iconic design, making it ideal for serving multiple cups at once.
As you explore the pour-over method, remember that each brew is an opportunity to connect with the women coffee producers behind our beans. By supporting women-owned farms, we have the ability to enjoy exceptional coffee at home and at the same time empower women and their entire communities around the world.
Happy brewing, and enjoy your journey into the world of coffee that makes a difference!
