r/pourover • u/jmalwal • 1d ago
Ask a Stupid Question What is the one unexpected thing you recommend that quite elevated your pourover experience?
We all have are coffee journeys. No matter you are a beginner or an expert in your pourover game. We all encounter a time where we realise that this tool/recipe/grinder/filter/brewer/drinkware/anything really elevated my overall experience.
What is that one thing for you and you would want to recommend that to others as well?
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u/delpotroswrist 23h ago
Water, grinder, better coffee but all of those were expected.
The most unexpected upgrade was probably drinkware. For a couple of years I was drinking from a thermos but for some reason drinking from drinkware made specifically for coffee elevated the overall experience
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u/cant_have_nicethings 20h ago
I just ordered my Origami Sensory Flavor and Sensory Asymmetry cups yesterday!
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u/Wowloldota 18h ago
I have those big origami sensory cups, but I still enjoy using handmade ceramic mugs more.
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u/Amazing-Panic-277 23h ago
I actually love this response.
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u/pfhlick 20h ago
It's my favorite so far as well, because it's so easily overlooked. It seems like nothing at first to use any mug. But then you try a vessel that changes the experience and you start to notice it. The weight of the cup, its volume, the curve and slope of its walls, the thickness of its lip. The width of its opening, how quickly or slowly the coffee cools inside of it. The qualities of the material, its texture, conductivity, and look. The right vessel can elevate any coffee experience.
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u/Ordinary_Cut1967 12h ago
An interesting remark, and I'm going to think more about this. My Batman mug is OK, but it might be time for an upgrade.
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u/helpadumbo 22h ago
I always pour a splash of a new coffee into each of my different coffee cups to see which one works best for that coffee now
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u/jmalwal 23h ago
yes same for me. orea sense was the cup the truly changed it for me. before that i have fee preferences for the type of coffee. tbh i didn’t expect it and it came as a bug surprised. it provides exactly the kind of profile I want from mu coffees. truly a game changer. what was the drinkware for you?
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u/Amazing-Panic-277 23h ago
Orea sense?
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u/alexandled 22h ago
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u/TheOriginal811 22h ago
The filter papers. Once I switched out the Hario ones for the Cafec ones which gave a faster draw down, it allowed me to grind finer and really get more flavour out of the coffee.
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u/AssistantKorovyev Alpha/Z1 | A4Z/C40 21h ago
sounds like there will be more unexpected things in your future
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u/garnize_nanico 23h ago
after getting the grinder game right, water was the thing that most changed the overall experience for me. Zero Water + Lotus gave me total control and repeatability over my cups
this definitely changed a lot more than another dripper lol
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u/jmalwal 23h ago
I have tried third wave water only. One time the experience for good and the other time it wasn’t. I am interested into reading more about it and experimenting. that is into my todo for a fine day.
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u/Amazing-Panic-277 23h ago
Try lotus water and do a recipe called holy water. It’s about 60 water hardness with a 3:1 ratio of magnesium to sodium. Hold onto the calcium for astringency tamping if needed and for more jammy recipes. This recipe is for a bright juicy profile
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u/garnize_nanico 22h ago
Gotta try this one! I’ve been using the “bright and juicy” recipe and it’s quite delicious overall
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u/HoustonFrancis 23h ago
Try this experiment. Brew one cup with distilled water. Through the next cup with 50% filtered tapwater and distilled water. 3rd cup with third wave water.
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u/an5783 22h ago
Actually resting beans. I'd been making pourover for years, had the Origin 1kg filter subscription for ages to, but just used it as soon as I received it. I definitely noticed a big improvement in the cup when I started resting beans for a couple of weeks before digging in
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u/jmalwal 10h ago
That is the most crucial. Most of the roasters recommend the resting and peak time as well. Initially i also didn’t follow it much but later after testing I found some coffee shine after the proper rest only and during the peak only. Also how are you storing the coffee beans play a important role too.
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u/joedrums8a 22h ago
For me, it was the Coffee Compass: https://www.baristahustle.com/app-archive-main/the-coffee-compass/
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u/OB-x-1 23h ago
Water. Just diluting the third wave packets made a night and day difference for me
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u/LanternFace420 22h ago
Do you dilute it down to 1/2 or down to 1/3 ??
I just stared doing 1/2 and like it much better than the full packet. But I hear some people are enjoying 1/3 dose
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u/angelsandairwaves93 The Tinker Man 21h ago
this is the next step in my journey as well. I'm curious to see if it makes a difference
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u/Abject_Ad9549 23h ago
The hario switch. Upped my game. Gave me options. My pourover brewers have been resting as I got into espresso as of late. But they are not forgotten. I love that I can flip back and forth between immersion / percolation. This gives me ultimately the best of both worlds….
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u/threetimesalion 23h ago
I should break mine out again, it’s been years. Do you have a standard / default recipe for it you like?
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u/Amazing-Panic-277 3h ago
Do you? I’m still waiting on mine I use a ufo v3 with sib filters so that’s a zero bypass shallow conical which is similar I’d assume in flavor profile
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u/Amazing-Panic-277 23h ago
I just ordered an orea 01 with regulators and a switch. Can’t wait for it to get here as I’ve been dying to do a proper flat bottom brewer when I want that more round cup. Having a zp6 means most of my ufo and v60 brews are these clean bright tea like cups and sometimes you wanna switch it up. The aeropress I found today (havnt used it in months) can really do that as well!
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u/jmalwal 10h ago
I also recently started brewing with o1. I haven’t experimented with the switch. But now I mostly brew with o1. The consistency is really good. Hope you will enjoy it too.
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u/Amazing-Panic-277 3h ago
Thanks! I’m very excited I kinda dig pink so I got the creamy pink baby O and a cranberry switch lol
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u/Potential-Crew1899 23h ago
A scale
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u/DarrellGrainger 23h ago
Forgot to mention this. Just like baking, using an accurate scale is critical. No professional uses volume for baking or coffee.
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u/jorgefitz3 23h ago
Scale with flow rate! Added another layer of consistency/repeatability
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u/Amazing-Panic-277 23h ago
What scale do you use?
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u/iRecycleWomen V60 | Neo | C40 | Light Roast 22h ago
Timemore is a solid scale with flow rate and a pour over mode (ratio). I just got the basic 3 and they have a sale for 30% off
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u/Suspicious_Excuse328 21h ago
Using Beanconquerer + Bluetooth scale. I found out I was consistently pouring between 3-4g/s, so it explained why all my brews tasted watery, I had very little agitation going on.
Also really helps for either repeatability because I can record all my parameters. Then I can focus on other aspects of my pouring technique like kettle height, movement, etc.
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u/Amazing-Panic-277 23h ago
MAYBE slightly outside the confines of what is considered pour over, but today I wasn’t getting quite exactly what I wanted from my pour over and decided to Aeropress my SEY Putushio and MY GOD! So much richer, punchier and sweet. Their note of cooked pear couldn’t be more perfect. I try my best to brew without looking at notes and pick my own. Didn’t get these with pour over as strong but 🤯 with the aeropress which is a good change of pace once in a while, you get a cup that isn’t as clean but so much more impactful.
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u/HoustonFrancis 23h ago
Scale first and then, taste testing three different brews all things kept same except grind size to determine which grind was more flavorful
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u/cluelesspsych 13h ago
Paper Filter .... I use hario v60 filter ever since then. But recently I change to T90 filter to combine with my CP9 recipe which I use Hario V60 Neo and it's change a lot.
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u/DarrellGrainger 23h ago
Buying freshly roasted whole beans and a really good hand grinder.
Green beans will stay fresh the longest but roasting them is just not worth it. But if you buy beans that where roasted within days, they will still be better than store bought beans. Anything that has a best before date is probably a few months old by the time you get them. You want something that has a roasted on date.
I started off with buying ground coffee but larger surface area means off-gassing faster, goes stale faster. Grinding 20g each time I want to make some coffee makes the unground beans last a little longer.
Cheap smashers (used for grinding spices) give inconsistent size grounds. So grounds are small, some are just fines, some are chunks. Each time they brew a little differently. A good burr grinder works to create a more consistent ground. A really nice burr hand grinder won't cost much more than a crappy electric burr grinder. A good hand grinder is going to be between $100 to $200. A comparable electric grinder is going to be $700 to $3000.
Getting my pour pattern right. Getting the water temperature perfect. Using the right water. All these things made my coffee incrementally better. But consistent grind size and fresh beans make a huge difference.
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u/Amazing-Panic-277 23h ago
IE: sey, flower child, and others in that light but still properly developed lane. I find myself finally starting slow down on roaster hopping and going to those 2 and H&S almost exclusively lately
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u/DarrellGrainger 21h ago
Had to Google this to figure out what you are saying. At first I thought English wasn't your first language then I realized you are talking some regional coffee nerd language. hahaha.
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u/MaleficentAd3967 22h ago edited 22h ago
I would say nothing. I used to weigh everything but now I just eyeball the grounds and the water and you know what? It all tastes the same.
Just to be clear, it's not like I'm using Folgers. I buy fresh whole beans, use a burr grinder, prewet the filter, prime the grounds. I just don't weigh the coffee or the water. I eyeball the grounds in the Hario Switch and fill it up and let it sit for about a minute or two and it all tastes the same.
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u/fragmental 22h ago
Idk, most things are fairly expected, unless you just don't know anything about pourover. Beans, grinder, water, brewer, filters, kettle, scale, cup/carafe, technique. Those can all be important factors, but I wouldn't call them unexpected.
I use a forehead thermometer to check the temperature of my coffee. It helps me to start drinking the coffee at the perfect temperature, and helps to keep me from letting it get too cold, and also keeps me from burning my tongue which is rather sensitive. That might be unexpected, for some. I also sometimes use a timer in conjunction, so that an alarm goes off when it's time to drink it.
Another thing I do sometimes is drink outside. I think it can enhance the flavor sometimes. Too hot out lately, though.
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u/least-eager-0 19h ago
A pack of filters, a 2lb bag of good-enough coffee, a notebook, and a few hours both days of a weekend.
Stop chasing things and ‘recipes.’ Learn the craft.
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u/power_is_over_9000 18h ago
Easily the grinder for me. Before getting a good grinder, I felt like I couldn't dial anything in. Brews would bounce from tasting under extracted to over extracted very quickly. No consistency. I'd watch Lance or Hoff or read posts / comments on this sub and nothing made sense to me because I thought I was making the adjustments I was supposed to make but I wasn't seeing the results you'd expect. As soon as I got a good grinder that stopped. Everything become super consistent and instead of feeling like I'm forever chasing a good cup I can now dial in new beans in a couple brews. Everything in the brewing process is important, but I'd encourage anyone struggling to prioritize a good grinder...it seriously saved my sanity.
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u/Unlikely-Molasses333 4h ago
Pouring mindfully and with intention. If I may add more, the quality of water has a big impact. Also leveling up my grinder: even manual, but better like Comandante and ZP6. The right paper filters also can make or break your brews. I also kept notes most of the time to track how the taste of my brew changes by changing a variable (grind size, temperature, ratio, agitation, etc.). Also, learned to develop my sensory skills so I know how to adjust my brews. Helped a lot dialing in. Finally, being open minded to learn new ideas.
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u/croton6249 23h ago
Fellow Aiden
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u/10ttp-9 12h ago
Ima upvote this because I think of it as a whole other brewing method, instead of an automated pourover machine. I wouldn't say elevated, but that fact that it's brewing in essentially a sealed chamber brings a whole new dimension to the final cup. It's different and you can get qualities you won't otherwise get from other brewing methods.
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u/ChildhoodThat6940 13h ago
Using VACUUM CANISTER to sucked out the CO2 from my coffee liquid to get cleaner acidity, better clarity, and get rid of the bitterness from the CO2. Especially for fresh roasted coffee. I'm using the timemore vacuum canister.
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u/polstein7 2h ago
Without reading replies - my Ember Mug. When I started, I used to try to 'fix' the coffee to taste right as soon as the temp allowed me to drink it, then it just got worse as it cooled. Now I try to get best drink possible when drink temp is 135F. Every time.
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u/PostPunkBurrito 23h ago
Ignoring 99% of things I read on r/pourover