Pour Over

Pour Over Brewing Guide for First Principle Coffee

Discover the bright and complex flavors of First Principle Coffee with our detailed pour over brewing guide. This method allows you to control every variable in the brewing process to create a cup that's exactly suited to your preferences.

What You'll Need:

  • Freshly Roasted First Principle Coffee beans
  • A burr grinder
  • A pour over dripper (like a Hario V60 or a Chemex)
  • A pour over filter (ensure it's the right type for your dripper)
  • A digital scale (optional, but recommended for precision)
  • Clean, filtered water
  • A gooseneck kettle (for controlled pouring)
  • A long spoon or stirrer
  • A timer
  • A carafe or mug

Step 1: Measure Your Coffee and Water

The general guideline for pour over coffee is a 1:16 ratio of coffee to water. That means for every 1 gram of coffee, add 16 grams (ml) of water. This can be adjusted to taste, but provides a good starting point for most coffees. For example, for a single cup, you might use 20 grams of coffee to 320 grams (320 ml) of water.

Step 2: Heat Your Water

Heat your filtered water in your gooseneck kettle to about 205°F (96°C). If your kettle doesn't have a temperature gauge, bring the water to a boil and then let it sit for about 30 seconds to cool slightly.

Step 3: Grind Your Coffee

Grind your First Principle Coffee beans to a texture similar to sea salt. The grind size for pour over is typically medium-fine, but can be adjusted depending on your particular dripper and taste preferences.

Step 4: Prepare Your Dripper and Filter

Place your filter in the dripper. Rinse the filter with hot water to remove any paper taste and to preheat the dripper. Discard the rinse water from the carafe or mug.

Step 5: Add Your Coffee

Add your ground coffee to the filter. If you're using a scale, place your dripper and carafe or mug on the scale and tare it to zero before adding your coffee.

Step 6: Bloom Your Coffee

Start your timer. Slowly pour just enough water (about twice the weight of the coffee) in a spiral motion to saturate the grounds, then wait for about 30 seconds. This allows the coffee to "bloom" or degas, releasing carbon dioxide and opening up the coffee to better extraction.

Step 7: Continue Pouring Water

Continue pouring the water in a slow, spiraling motion, starting from the center of the grounds and moving outward, then back to the center. Try to keep the water level consistent. The entire pour should take about 2-3 minutes for a single cup.

Step 8: Let It Drip

Once you've added all the water, let the water finish dripping through the coffee grounds. This should take another 2-3 minutes.

Step 9: Enjoy Your Coffee

Discard the used grounds and filter. The coffee in your carafe or mug is now ready to be savored.

Brewing with the pour over method may require a bit more attention and precision, but it rewards you with a clean, bright cup that highlights the unique flavor profile of your First Principle Coffee. Enjoy the process and the delicious result!