Pour Over
V60, Chemex, and Kalita Wave — the definitive percolation brewing guide.
Pour over brewing produces some of the clearest, most nuanced cups in coffee. Water is poured manually over a bed of grounds in a filter, and gravity pulls the brewed coffee through.
Hario V60
The V60 is the benchmark pour over brewer. Its large central hole and spiral ribs give you maximum control — and maximum room for error.
Recipe
- Ratio
- 1:15
- Temperature
- 93°C
- Grind
- medium-fine
- Total Time
- 3:00–3:30
Technique
- Rinse the filter with hot water (removes paper taste, preheats the vessel)
- Add your ground coffee, tap to level
- Bloom — pour 2× the coffee weight in water, wait 30–45 seconds. This lets CO₂ escape for more even extraction.
- Continue pouring in slow, concentric circles every 45 seconds until target weight is reached
- Total draw-down should finish at 3:00–3:30
If it's drawing down too fast, go finer. Too slow, go coarser. Aim for the last drop to fall just as you hit your target weight.
Chemex
The Chemex uses a thicker paper filter that removes more oils, producing an exceptionally clean, tea-like cup. It's also gorgeous on a coffee table.
Recipe
- Ratio
- 1:15
- Temperature
- 94°C
- Grind
- medium-coarse
- Total Time
- 4:00–4:30
What Makes Chemex Different
The thick bonded filters mean slower flow and higher clarity. Use a slightly coarser grind than V60. The Chemex works particularly well with lighter roasted, high-acidity coffees like Ethiopian naturals.
Kalita Wave
The Kalita Wave has a flat-bed design with three small holes. This creates a more forgiving, even extraction compared to the V60's single central hole.
Recipe
- Ratio
- 1:15
- Temperature
- 93°C
- Grind
- medium
- Total Time
- 3:00–3:30
Why the Wave is Beginner-Friendly
The flat bed levels the extraction across the entire coffee bed rather than funneling water to a center point. Small variations in pour technique have less impact on the final cup.
Grind Size Guide
| Brewer | Grind | Particle Size |
|---|---|---|
| Chemex | Medium-coarse | ~800–1000µm |
| Kalita Wave | Medium | ~600–800µm |
| V60 | Medium-fine | ~400–600µm |
Always grind immediately before brewing. Pre-ground coffee goes stale within minutes.