Jump to:
Coffee has become a staple in many routines worldwide, with some people incapable of starting the day without a fresh cup. However, in the busy lives of these people, making coffee can be tiresome which is where the best coffee for pour over comes in. It is a way to make your coffee with minimal effort.
In this article, we will first look at what pour over coffee is and what the best type of coffee to use for this process is.
We have compiled a list of our top 8 picks of the best coffee for pour over to help you decide which option to try next time. These have all been compared based on the price, the origin of the coffee beans, and the taste of each.
at a glance: Best Coffee For Pour Over
What to Consider Before Buying
What is Pour Over Coffee?
Before we get into what the best coffee for pour over is, it is important to understand what pour over coffee is. It is a slow and inefficient way to make coffee which is a deterrent for most people, however, the reason pour over coffee is popular is due to the deep and rich flavor that this method results in.
Pour over coffee is a method of slowly pouring boiling water over coffee grounds which allows the full flavor of the grounds to be extracted.
This can result in a better quality of coffee than using some faster methods, theoretically, as there is less risk of the grounds being pushed into the coffee and the grounds are less likely to burn.
This is also a popular method as it is a simple process that does not require an expensive coffee machine, like an espresso-based machine, a French press, or a drip machine.
You only really need a coffee cup, hot water, a filter, and a funnel to channel the water through.
How to Choose Your Pour Over Coffee
Choosing the right type of coffee to pour over is an important factor as the type of roast, the size of the coffee grounds, and the filter you use can all result in a different taste.
It is interesting to note that depending on the type of method, with a slow drip, quick machine, or pour over, you can use the same coffee but have a different result.
Due to the process involving pouring hot water over the grounds, there is a short space of time where the flavor can be extracted from the coffee grounds.
It is therefore important to have the right size coffee grounds to ensure as much flavor can be extracted as possible during this time.
According to the Perfect Daily Grind, the ideal grind size is medium. This size has the right amount of surface area to extract the flavor, however, they suggest you try the coffee the first time you make it and adjust. If the coffee is too watery, a finer grind is better.
If the coffee is too bitter or acidic, you may need to try a coarser grind size as this will increase the surface area, allowing more flavor to be extracted as the water is added.
Not all pour-overs will result in the perfect coffee immediately, so it is important to reevaluate as you go to make it suitable for you.
Things to Look For In Coffee
Various factors will cause your coffee to differ, including the type of roast, the origin of the beans, and the type of beans used. 3 different types of roast are often used, light roast, medium roast, and dark roast. Each of these roasts has different qualities based on acidity, flavors, and appearance.
The irony with these names is that they are based on the visual aspect of the coffee, not the characteristics. Light roast contains more caffeine than the other 2 types and dark roast contains the least amount of caffeine. However, light roasts have a light body while dark roasts have a deeper body.
Medium roast tends to be richer with a balanced body, moderate acidity, and little bitterness. The other difference between the roasts is the underlying tasting notes that come about, whether it is the fruitier flavors of light roasts, cocoa or toasted notes of dark roasts, or the sweet element of medium roasts.
The type of coffee beans is usually based on whether it is a Robusta bean or an Arabica bean.
Robusta beans have a stronger flavor, with a higher acidity level and a more bitter finish. Arabica is usually a sweeter bean and is often used by coffee beans due to its quality. The beans have a deeper flavor and are less acidic than its counterpart.
How Do You Make Pour Over Coffee?
As it is a simple method, this is an easy way to make your morning cup of coffee without requiring expensive machinery. All you need is a kettle, a coffee cup, filters, and coffee. It is best to use a ratio of coffee to water of 1:15. This means that you add 15 grams of water for every 1 gram of coffee, ensuring the drink is not too strong to drink.
Start by boiling your water and prepare your funnel with the coffee filter. The filter prevents the coffee grounds from seeping into your mug which would add an unwanted element to your beverage.
Place your coffee in the filter and start by slowly pouring the hot water over the coffee, allowing the coffee liquid to flow into your cup.
You can then doctor your coffee with creamer or milk, and your chosen sweetener to ensure that the drink is perfectly suited to your preferences.
It is best to repeat the process of pouring the water 4 times as it will allow the full flavor to be extracted, improving your finished coffee.
Quick Overview: Our Top Picks for Best Coffee For Pour Over
IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | |
---|---|---|---|
Stumptown Coffee Roasters Coffee Bean |
| CHECK CURRENT PRICESee Customer Reviews | |
San Francisco Bay Coffee Fog Chaser |
| CHECK CURRENT PRICESee Customer Reviews | |
Lavazza ¡Tierra! Organic Roast |
| CHECK CURRENT PRICESee Customer Reviews | |
Kicking Horse Coffee, Smart Ass |
| CHECK CURRENT PRICESee Customer Reviews | |
Black Rifle Coffee Silencer Smooth |
| CHECK CURRENT PRICESee Customer Reviews | |
Gevalia French Roast |
| CHECK CURRENT PRICESee Customer Reviews | |
illy Intenso Ground Drip |
| CHECK CURRENT PRICESee Customer Reviews | |
Peet's Coffee |
| CHECK CURRENT PRICESee Customer Reviews |
Top 8 Best Coffees for Pour Over
1. Stumptown Coffee Roasters Medium Roast Beans
Having been established in 1999, Stumptown Coffee Roasters is a company that offers organic coffees that have been carefully roasted and harvested ethically. This ties into their promise of fair business practices, having no impact on the planet or the people involved in production.
One of their offerings is their medium roast which is available as a whole bean and must therefore be ground before it can be used to make pour over coffee. With sweet-tasting notes which are supported by the Arabica beans used, this coffee is an ideal option for those wanting a rich coffee taste with less acidity.
This coffee is a medium roast, meaning it has a balanced flavor profile and less acidity and bitterness than light roasts. It does however contain more caffeine than a dark roast and has tasting notes of caramel, hazelnut, and citrus zest. This leaves the coffee having an appealing and rich taste ideal for a morning cup of coffee with breakfast.
Quick Facts
- Price: At a price of approximately $16 per 12-ounce bag, this is a somewhat affordable coffee that can meet most budgets. The price per ounce is $1,25 which makes it a higher-priced coffee at the base level so you should consider your budget and needs before buying this product.
- Origin: Made from 100% Arabica beans, this coffee originates from Central America, Indonesia, South America, and East Africa. the beans have all been collected directly from where they are grown, ensuring the cost of the beans is paid directly to those collecting them.
- Additional Information: This coffee needs to be ground to be the ideal size for pour over coffee but can then be used with a variety of brewing methods aside from pour over, including automatic coffee machines and French presses.
2. San Francisco Bay Coffee Fog Chaser Grounds
For those who want to know that their purchases are directly supporting farming communities, San Francisco Bay Coffee is a good company to support.
By purchasing their products, you can ensure that good work is being done behind the scenes. One of these products is the Fog Chaser, which refers to the common weather occurrence in San Francisco.
Among the many offerings from the brand, there is a variety of roasts from light to dark, decaffeinated options, and blends made with specific methods.
These include their Hawaiian blend and Italian blend, their organic offerings, and flavored versions including praline pecan and hazelnut crème.
Aside from their pledge to support the farmers directly involved in this process, the company has a Roger’s Family Trust which is doing important work.
Proceeds from their sales go towards establishing new schools, improving housing for the farmers, and providing medical care to the farmers and the communities in which they operate.
Quick Facts
- Price: For a 28-ounce bag of coffee, the price of $25 may seem quite steep. Although it is a higher investment in the immediate term, it is important to recognize that the price per ounce is $0,89. This makes it comparatively cheaper although it is more expensive at face value.
- Origin: As a medium roast and made from 100% Arabica beans, this coffee has been certified Kosher. The beans are sustainably grown and sourced from Honduras and Colombia, with the brand recognizing the farmers who oversee harvesting the beans to produce this blend.
- Additional Information: San Francisco Bay Coffee has made it a vital element of their business practices that their coffee beans are ethically sourced, and the farmers involved are supported and not taken advantage of. This focus ensures that the quality of life of these individuals is improved and not hindered.
3. Lavazza iTierra Organic Amazonia Ground Coffee
Some individuals are concerned about where their coffee comes from and the impact it can have on the environment. Lavazza has thus created this iTierra Amazonia ground coffee to meet these expectations. This coffee has been certified as USDA organic ensuring that it has been treated properly while being grown.
It is then hand-picked on the plantations to ensure that only the ripest coffee is collected, resulting in a better quality coffee product. When it comes to the plantations, the ones that work with Lavazza have been certified as sustainable, ensuring their practices do not harm the environment.
This coffee has a sweet aroma with underlying notes of fruit and florals, making it a sweet and tasty coffee. As a medium roast, this blend is not too acidic and is less bitter than the light roasts available from the brans.
For those concerned about the quality of their coffee and the origin of the coffee beans, this is a good option. The coffee beans are all organic and are harvested via a collaboration with specific plantations to ensure that the coffee beans are harvested correctly and are not treated with harmful chemicals.
Quick Facts
- Price: Available in a 10.5-ounce bag, this coffee can be bought for approximately $14. While this may be a low price at face value, it is one of the higher-priced options when the per-ounce price is considered. Per ounce, this coffee costs $1,33 putting it at the middle of the price-range level.
- Origin: The coffee used to make this blend is 100% Arabica, originating from South America, with the specific country that these beans are collected from being Peru.
- Additional Information: Lavazza has described this coffee as having a 5/10 intensity making it an ideal option for those who prefer a less intense coffee. For those who want their coffee to be more intense or have a deeper flavor, it is best to look at other Lavazza offerings.
4. Kicking Horse Coffee Medium Roast Grounds
As a company focused on fair trade and ethical coffee production, Kicking Horse is a company that supports farmers and ensures organic coffee production.
They have several offerings available that range from light roast to dark roast and are made with coffee beans originating from Central and South America as well as Africa and Indonesia.
Aside from the smart ass medium roast coffee, Kicking Horse has a kick-ass blend that is made as a dark roast option. This coffee has tasting notes of milk chocolate, sugar cane, and honeyed berry. It is then balanced by the tart red currant to ensure that the flavor is not too sweet and overwhelming for customers.
Quick Facts
- Price: The cheapest option on this list, Kicking Horse can be bought for approximately $7 per 10-ounce bag. This translates to a cost of $0,70 per ounce, making it affordable at the base level as well.
- Origin: These coffee beans have been grown and then harvested in several regions, including Africa, South America, and Central America. The coffee is made using Arabica beans ensuring that the medium roast is sweet with low levels of acidity and bitterness.
- Additional Information: Kicking Horse produces its coffee with a focus on Fair Trade practices, ensuring the people involved in producing the coffee are treated well and are not negatively impacted by the brand’s business. Additionally, these coffee beans have been certified as Kosher making them ideal options.
5. Black Rifle Coffee Silencer Smooth Grounds
Founded by veterans, Black Rifle is a brand of coffee with more than 20 types of coffee available. A popular, light roast option from the brand includes their Silencer Smooth which is made from 100% Colombian Excelso beans. This coffee comes from a range of blends which are named with terms common in the service.
This coffee has a smooth finish and a high acidity level making it ideal for experienced coffee drinkers. Additionally, the coffee has a sweet aroma and flavors of citrus making it an ideal option for an early-morning coffee or a pick-me-up later in the day.
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each blend goes towards supporting first responders and veterans, as the company was founded by a group of veterans.
Quick Facts
- Price: Black Rifle coffee is available for $18 per 12-ounce bag, with the price per ounce coming to $1,50. This makes it another ideal option for those not wanting to spend too much on their coffee. However, an interesting aspect of this coffee is that a portion of the proceeds goes towards supporting veterans and first responders.
- Origin: This coffee has been made with beans originating from Brazil and Colombia with 100% Colombian Excelso beans used. These beans are then roasted to ensure that the coffee has the ideal flavor once it has been brewed, with the specific roast type being a light roast.
- Additional Information: Aside from the Silencer Smooth blend, Black Rifle has several roasts available ranging from light roast, medium, dark, and extra dark. Each of the company’s blends is named after terms from the military, tying to the name of the company.
6. Gëvalia French Roast Dark Grounds
Among the many offerings from Gëvalia, is their French Roast ground coffee which is a dark roast available in a 20-ounce bag. This coffee has been indicated as being a good choice for a pour over as the nuanced flavors within the grounds can be fully extracted using this method of brewing.
As a dark roast, this coffee contains less caffeine than their light and medium roasts but more coffee than their bold roast which is roasted longer than the dark roast.
This coffee has a full body with subtle notes of caramel and is sure to leave the coffee tasting sweet and rich.
With a resealable bag, this coffee is a good option for those who do not make coffee often and want to maintain the freshness in the grounds.
Gëvalia has indicated that this coffee is ideal for those who keep Kosher. It is made by slow roasting the beans to ensure that the full flavor profile is maintained and elevated.
Quick Facts
- Price: This dark roast coffee can be bought for approximately $13 per 20-ounce bag making it a somewhat affordable option. It is ideal for those who prefer to buy larger bags, with the price per ounce being $0,63. Although it is not the cheapest option on the list at face value, it is the cheapest per ounce.
- Origin: Made from 100% Arabica beans to leave a sweeter taste, this coffee has been sourced from multiple sources worldwide, including Colombia, Costa Rica, Kenya, and Guatemala. Having multiple sources ensures that only the best beans are used, maintaining the quality of the product.
- Additional Information: Aside from coffee grounds, this blend is available in whole bean giving customers more options. Additionally, there are several roasts available from the brand, including their espresso roast, majestic roast, house blend, and traditional roast.
7. Illy Intenso Ground Coffee
Illy is a coffee brand that is known for its silver tin packaging, its ethical business pledge, and its variety of coffees. Aside from their Intenso ground coffee, they have a Classico medium roast, a Forte dark roast, and a decaffeinated medium roast available for purchase.
This coffee, as a bold roast (like a dark roast), has a deep flavor with some acidity. It has notes of cocoa, making it a rich beverage ideal for coffee lovers with a sweet tooth. There is an option to purchase this coffee in a pack of 6, with each tin containing 8,8 ounces of coffee grounds.
Quick Facts
- Price: Although this coffee can be bought for approximately $14 at face value, the price per ounce for this coffee is $1,59. This makes it the most expensive coffee on this list at a base level even though the face value cost is among the middle of the options.
- Origin: Using 100% Arabica beans originating from Guatemala, Colombia, Ethiopia, and Cost Rica, Illy works to produce coffee using ethical business standards, ensuring the farmers they work with are treated fairly and the environment is not negatively affected.
- Additional Information: Illy has been recognized as an ethical manufacturer of coffee, having been honored on the Ethisphere list of the world’s most ethical companies several times over the years. Additionally, the brand has been certified as a B-Corp company which highlights the high standards the company meets.
8. Peet’s Medium Roast Coffee Grounds
Peet’s is another brand that has a focus on sustainable business production, knowing that harvesting coffee beans can harm the environment and may promote unfair trade practices. They have therefore made their medium roast coffee grounds while ensuring full transparency and ethical harvesting.
The brand makes it a point to print the date of each roast on the packaging and aims to deliver the coffee to customers within 90 days.
This allows the company to show full transparency with customers and helps to create the ‘perfect’ cup of coffee each time by ensuring it is consumed during the ideal window.
This medium-roast coffee has a sweeter taste and a balanced body. The rich notes of the coffee are elevated when it is made with a pour as the full nature of the coffee can be extracted. Other ways to make this coffee include using a French press or using it to make cold brew coffee.
Quick Facts
- Price: Another mid-range price, this coffee can be bought for approximately $13,60, with a price per ounce being $0,75. This is another good option for those who have a lower budget for coffee, with the added benefit being that this coffee comes in 18-ounce bags.
- Origin: Made from 100% Arabica beans, this coffee originates from Ethiopia. These beans have been sourced ethically, keeping with Peet’s promise of ethical business practices which have no negative impact on those who collect the beans or the environment.
- Additional Information: Aside from the 18-ounce bag, there is another option which is a 10,5-ounce bag that can be bought in a pack of 6. Other blends from Peet’s includes the single-origin Brazil blend and the Café Domingo blend, both of which are medium roast options.
The Best Coffee For Pour Over – Final Thoughts
Depending on the frequency at which you drink coffee, the most important factor in choosing the best coffee to pour over may be the budget you have set, and which coffee will have less of an impact on your budget.
For those looking for an affordable option, Kicking Horse is the best option at a price of approximately $7. In comparison, the priciest option on this list is the San Francisco Bay coffee grounds which can be bought for approximately $25. Keep in mind that some of the options on this list are bulk items to save money in the long run.
Looking at the price per unit, the best option is the Gevalia French roast which has a price of $0,63 per ounce. Meanwhile, per ounce, the most expensive option is Illy Intenso coffee at a price of approximately $1,59 per ounce. Looking at the price per ounce makes it easier to work out how much you are truly spending for your coffee.
Identifying the best coffee overall would be difficult as the different beans used, the different roasts, and the underlying flavors may have a different weighting for some individuals than others. Overall, the best coffee for pour over will be the one that you find value from, and which has a higher value for you.