A Step-by-Step Guide to Making Pour-Over Coffee

POPSUGAR Photography | Camila Barbeito

Whether you're a coffee aficionado or more on the Starbucks Frappuccino side of things (I've accepted I'm team vanilla bean), making your own batch of pour-over coffee is one of life's simplest pleasures. The taste is fresher than any coffee I've had — even more so if you grind your own coffee beans beforehand.

The tools for making pour-over coffee are also gorgeous, and I love leaving my Fellow Stagg EKG Electric Kettle and Pour-Over Set on the kitchen counter as part of the room's overall decor. But the process of actually making the coffee? Not as simple as I initially thought. After a few tries of placing the materials in the wrong order or pouring the scalding water too high (that was a close one), I digested countless articles and videos to find the perfect pour-over coffee strategy. Keep reading to see exactly how I make pour-over coffee so you can get sipping sooner!

Lay Out Pour-Over Materials
POPSUGAR Photography | Camila Barbeito

Lay Out Pour-Over Materials

Lay out all the materials you need to make your pour-over coffee. Apart from ground coffee beans, you'll need a pour-over kettle like this Fellow Stagg EKG Electric Pour-Over Kettle ($149) and a pour-over set that comes with a dripper, glass, and filters like this Fellow Stagg [X] Pour-Over Set ($69). You could also buy the dripper, glass, and filters separately. Now you're ready to get pouring!

Heat the Water
POPSUGAR Photography | Camila Barbeito

Heat the Water

Fill up your kettle to the suggested line, and heat your water to 200 degrees Fahrenheit or 93 degrees Celsius. This is the recommended pour-over coffee temperature for a perfect brew.

Set Up the Dripper
POPSUGAR Photography | Camila Barbeito

Set Up the Dripper

Place the dripper on top of your glass, then set the filter right on top.

Pour in the Coffee
POPSUGAR Photography | Camila Barbeito

Pour in the Coffee

Add two standard coffee scoops of ground coffee to the filter. Either use your ground coffee of choice or grind your own beans for maximum freshness.

Saturate the Coffee Grounds
POPSUGAR Photography | Camila Barbeito

Saturate the Coffee Grounds

Pour in just enough water from the kettle to saturate the coffee grounds, and wait 30 seconds. This is so the CO2 can escape, creating a "bloom" that allows for stronger flavors.

Time For the Pour
POPSUGAR Photography | Camila Barbeito

Time For the Pour

Resume pouring water over the grounds in a spiral, keeping the grounds fully saturated constantly but pausing at times so the water does not go over the filter.

Don't Fill Too Much
POPSUGAR Photography | Camila Barbeito

Don't Fill Too Much

Having learned my lesson from overeager mistakes, pour less water than the actual limit.

Sip On Incredible Coffee
POPSUGAR Photography | Camila Barbeito

Sip On Incredible Coffee

Enjoy!