Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Up Your Cup: Pour Over Coffee

“Many people have never experienced the true taste of coffee. And no, Starbucks is not ‘true’ coffee.” That’s Anthony Grieco, award-winning screenwriter and coffee fanatic. He spends most of his free time making coffee, thinking about coffee, drinking coffee, researching coffee, and attending trade shows. He saves us a lot of time by distilling all that work down into an easy to digest, how-to-up-your-coffee-game: the pour over technique.

It all starts with the beans:

Recommended Videos

“One can almost view coffee through the same prism that one sees wine. There are specific beans from specific parts of the world, roasted to specific levels. It took me a long time to realize that my coffee drinking ways were that of a philistine, but I eventually got wise. Try to wean yourself off of dark roast. It’s like getting your steak well done. You’re not really getting any of the bean’s ‘blood.’”

To find your favorite, Grieco suggests starting out at Craft Coffee where you can get a subscription plan for different beans. It’s a great way to get to know your preferences, especially if you have no idea what you like or where to begin. Thanks to the samples they send, your palate will begin to distinguish coffee beans in subtle and specific ways: you’ll learn what regions you like and what level of roasting you prefer. “And do not put sugar, milk or creamer in this coffee. That’s like adding Coke to a glass of Whistle Pig. Stop being a monster and grow up,” Grieco oh-so-gently suggests. If you’re in the Los Angeles area, he recommends Intelligentsia, Go Get ‘Em Tiger, Blue Bottle, and Verve for good places to buy fresh beans.    

How To: The Pour Over Method

You’ll need some equipment for this process. Grieco likes the Chemex coffee maker, Chemex bonded filters, a Hario grinder, the Bonavita Gooseneck electric kettle, and the beans you’ve chosen. “All this equipment is top notch and should last you for years. Play it cheap, that’s your business, but it’s no way to live. And trust me, you spend more on shitty take-out coffee in two months than you will on this gear.”

Grieco prefers the ratio of 5 tbs of beans to 16 oz. of filtered water. “Grind those beans and boil that water to roughly 200 to 205 degrees,” he instructs. Pour a little of your boiling water into the filter to wet it and form it to the sides of the carafe. Then dump out that water to get rid of the paper taste. “[Now pour the grinds] into the filter that sits in your handsome Chemex carafe. Shift the filter to level the grounds out a bit for a more even surface, and then soak them just enough with some of the boiled water.

Wait about a minute and watch the grinds bloom. Yes, bloom. That’s the CO2 that’s trapped inside. If it doesn’t bloom, you probably bought your beans at a grocery store, you cheap bastard. Good roasters post their roast dates on the bag to indicate its freshness.” The general consensus is coffee doesn’t really go bad, but peak freshness lasts until about two weeks after roasting. “After a minute, continue to pour over the water. You can go in a circular or a zigzag motion. Be creative, but soak all the grinds. Do that for another 30 seconds, then wait for 30 seconds. Now finish pouring the remainder of the water. That’s it. Enjoy your coffee before climate change wipes out all the farms.”

Why all this time, effort, and money when you can just set your coffeemaker to start brewing when you wake up? The pour over method allows you to control the speed of the pour, slowing it down so that you get an intensely flavorful cup.  Plus, it looks cool.

Elizabeth Dahl
Elizabeth Dahl is a southern girl in the heart of Los Angeles who lived far too long before learning what an incredible food…
The 6 best Keurig coffee makers after making countless cups of coffee
Check out this list to find your next coffee machine
A blue Keurig K-Classic Single Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker placed on a kitchen countertop with plants nearby

If you're a coffee drinker, or even if you're not, you've had to have heard of the single-serve pod-cased coffee system Keurig by now. The system took the world by storm almost three decades ago and never looked back. Whether you're interested in joining team Keurig or have been a long-time Keurig fan, now there's a Keurig for every type of coffee drinker

The thing is, there are a staggering number of Keurig models to choose from, so being confident you've found the best one can be tough. Choosing from a list of the best Keurig coffee makers will make it easier to enjoy a stellar cup of joe every morning. Here are some of our favorite Keurig models to help you narrow down your options in 2025.

Read more
Arabica coffee shortages may make your morning breakfast pricier in 2025
Eggs aren't the only breakfast item with rising prices
Coffee liqueur in a glass with coffee beans

Recent news stories have highlighted the rising cost of eggs due to the bird flu, but another critical problem is emerging. Last week, Arabica coffee prices closed at a record of $4.04 per pound and are expected to rise higher this week. This rise is up 26% since the fourth quarter of 2024, when prices remained around $3.20 per pound. Recent reports of a dry, hot weather system forming over Brazil's coffee areas are contributing to new price peaks, as farmers in the world's top coffee-growing regions are reluctant to sell. Brazil produces over half of the world's Arabica coffee beans, posing a serious problem for coffee drinkers around the world.

Experts such as Bank of America's analysts have warned consumers about the growing shortage of Arabica coffee beans, preparing them to brace for retail coffee prices to rise. Analysts note that the outlook for coffee crops in Brazil is quite uncertain, especially given the potential for unfavorable weather conditions in upcoming months. Dry El Nino weather and low rainfall in Brazil have damaged coffee trees during an essential stage of coffee growing. Weather reports also indicate Brazil has faced the driest weather conditions since 1981, worsening the Arabica coffee outlook.

Read more
Nespresso teams up with Oatly to offer new limited-edition coffee capsule for oatmilk lovers
Espresso and oatmilk paired together
Nespresso Oatly capsules

Oatly, the world’s original and largest oat milk company, and Nespresso have teamed up with an exciting new launch for oat-milk drinkers. The latest, limited-edition Oatly Barista Edition Coffee Capsule is a first-of-its-kind coffee blend designed specifically to pair with Oatly’s Barista Edition Oatmilk. Inspired by the growing popularity of milk alternatives such as oatmilk, this collaboration delivers a unique coffee experience for the conscious consumer without compromising on the unforgettable taste that both Nespresso and Oatly are known for.

Oatly’s Barista Edition Oatmilk capsules are designed exclusively for Nespresso’s Vertuo system, the Oatly Barista Edition Coffee Capsule displays strong cereal and sweet aromatics, complemented by a smooth texture, low bitterness, and light body when paired with Oatly’s Barista Edition Oatmilk. The limited-edition capsule features a meticulously crafted blend of quality Arabica coffee beans, delivering rich and biscuity notes chosen to highlight the subtle sweetness of oats. When paired with Oatly, the blend displays strong cereal and sweet aromatics, complemented by a smooth texture, low bitterness, and light body.

Read more