Pour over, drip brew or hand pour coffee is popular amongst specialty coffee enthusiasts, however, this method has some challenges, especially on how to keep pour over coffee hot.
It can be a complex process, so it is important that you learn how to pour in a way that keeps your brew hot, and that all the effort is worth the drink.
In this article, we will explain what pour over coffee is, how it is unique, and ultimately help you on how to keep the coffee hot.
Quick peek at how to keep pour over coffee hot:
- Boil water to the right temperature.
- Use the correct grind size.
- Warm the vessel and brewing device.
- Keep kettle spout close
- Try using an Espro Press
- Warm water baths
Table of Contents
What Is Pour Over Coffee?
The pour over brewing technique was earlier used in Europe and Japan, however, it has been rediscovered in recent times.
A pour over coffee method comprises pouring water that is to the right temperature through fresh ground coffee that is placed within a filter, such as a V60.
The hot water, thus poured, is filtered into a mug that is placed below. It is also termed as manual or hand coffee brewing.
“What sets pour over apart is that it is made by hand-pouring the water over the coffee. So you may hear it called hand brewing or manual brewing”.
perfectdailygrind.com
Why Use The Pour Over Brewing Method?
The following aspects make the pour over coffee brewing method unique and special:
- Pour over enhances coffee flavours intricately relative to other methods of coffee brewing.
- This method permits the aroma and flavour to shine.
- The brewed coffee is clear, consistent, and clean.
- Hot water poured over coffee grind extracts the coffee fragrances and oils in their own time.
- The filter holds the oils and coffee grounds while the drip coffee is collected at the bottom, the outcome is a clean cup of filtered coffee.
- This process involves infusion, which makes it more efficient in extracting the maximum coffee soluble.
- This method is more efficient than other immersion processes, such as a french press, as the water saturates in an immersion technique, while pour over coffee has a consistent fresh hot water supply.
How To Keep Pour Over Coffee Hot?
Pour over coffee is a technique of collecting filtered coffee below into a cup by pouring hot water through the fresh coffee grounds filled on a paper coffee filter.
Below we will highlight some tips to keep pour over coffee hot.
Boiling Water To The Right Temperature
The perfect water temperature is between 198 to 212 degree celsius for a pour over coffee.
This temperature is perfect to get a hot extraction through pour over coffee grinds.
Ensure the water is not too hot when starting, to avoid scolding the coffee grinds, so just off the boil is perfect.
You can use a digital thermometer for the right temperature.
Correct Coffee Grind Size
Over extracting from your coffee grinds can result in a long period of time for the pour over coffee brew to be completed.
Therefore, the coffee grind should be of a suitable size for a pour over to ensure a proper rate, and eventually to keep it hot as well.
Warm The Collection Vessel/Jug
It is essential to note that when you pour boiling water into a vessel that is kept at room temperature, the temperature of the water almost drops right away.
If the water is boiled to 98 degree celsius, then the temperature drop is to about 89 degree celsius.
This is because the heat from the hot water is sucked up by the vessel being used, therefore, to keep the heat sustained, you can warm the collection vessel as well.
This way, the temperature of the filtered coffee also does not drop down. In this case, when the vessel was warmed, the fall of the temperature from 98 degrees celsius was to only 96 degree celsius.
Keep Kettle Spout Close
The kettle that pours the hot water should be kept quite close to the coffee grounds.
If a kettle with a gooseneck spout is used for pouring water, it should be kept closer to hit the coffee grinds.
This is because hot water, which comes in a thin stream, can cool down before it hits the coffee grinds if kept at a distance.
Use An Espro Press
Using an Espro Press can take a while for the coffee in lowering its temperature as it has double wall and steel construction. You can use this for filtered coffee collection.
Warm Water Bath
Filtered coffee can be kept hot by immersing the decanters or collectors in a warm water bath.
You can make a warm water bath by heating some water and holding the decanter in this hot water while on a low flame.
This method is considered an easy option to maintain the heat in pour over coffee without deteriorating the coffee flavour.
How To Perfect A Hot Pour Over Coffee?
The below step by step process can ensure you perfect a hot pour over coffee;
1. Rinse – Repeat
Place your brew filter before brewing, in a brewer and rinse with hot water. This will clean the paper residue that can result in a woodsy flavour.
This will also seal the filter, thereby warming the coffee brewer, and ensuring you do not lose any heat on the final brew.
2. Correct Coffee Grind
Three primary elements of a coffee grind are how, when, and the size to perfect a pour over coffee.
Grind the coffee beans just before the brew. This is essential to get a fresh coffee brew and aroma, not diluting away with time.
Ground coffee starts to age quickly, and oxidises post the grinding process.
3. Grinding The Right Way
Ground coffee particles and their size impact extraction. Using a burr grinder is the best option for coffee grinding as they can grind to a consistent size.
Regular blade grinders will chop into an unevenly sized grind, which is not good for pour over coffee, this also results in the extraction of the coffee to be uneven.
4. Perfect The Hot Water Pour
A Bloom pour or the first pour is done to saturate the coffee grounds.
This will assist in even coffee extraction. Then pour the hot water of 205 degrees celsius in twice the amount on coffee grounds while stirring gently.
The process takes about 30 to 45 seconds. Pour steadily in spiral motions and slowly for an even extraction. A gooseneck spouted kettle will help you with a closer pour and a precise brew.
5. Coffee Water Ratio
1:17 ratio of 42g of coffee to 700 grams of water is right for a perfect brew.
How To Keep Pour Over Coffee Hot F.A.Q’s
A: Those who are seeking a smooth-tasting cup of coffee similar to a drip coffee will prefer the taste of pour over compared to French press. It’s also much easier to clean compared to the French press.
A: Yes. Pour over coffee brewing is worth the effort. It’s mentally rewarding, produces delicious coffee, and genuinely improves my love for coffee.
A: In a single serving of espresso, there is only 40-75 mg of caffeine. In a single serving of pour over coffee, there is 80-185 mg of caffeine.
A: 5-6 minutes – some coffees can taste better once it cools down a bit.
Conclusion: keep pour over coffee hot
Overall, pour over coffee is considered as one of the best brewing methods to try, giving you a unique and complex specialty coffee.
This method will really take your coffee to the next level. Yes, it may take some getting used to in order to perfect it, however, the results are well worth the effort.
Remember, to keep pour over coffee hot, use a gooseneck spouted kettle, the right size of coffee grinds, warm the brewer, and try different techniques such as a warm water bath.
If you enjoyed this article, read more like this by checking out our Specialty Coffee Beginners Guides.
