What should you do when you suddenly want to make a pour-over coffee but don't know how to make it? I think most of you will search for these tips on Google or Youtube, right?
Perhaps we've all had similar experiences when we search for information, and what comes up is a wide variety of coffee utensils, from glass to ceramic, to metal, and so on.
Facing such a wide range of utensils, what do we need to make a good cup of pour-over coffee? Let's learn together what kind of filter cup will allow us to brew a unique cup of coffee.
What is the Unique Pour Over Coffee?
What kind of pour-over coffee, is unique coffee?
What kind of flavor, is the flavor we are seeking?
The answer is: there is no standard.
Yes, coffee is a very ritualistic, process-seeking drink. Just like a hundred readers have a hundred of Hamlet's truth. We like to drink coffee, we must have been to different coffee shops, so, what do you think "bad coffee" is the taste?
What is not good coffee?
The taste of coffee is not only related to the production process, but also the raw materials used in coffee. The goodness of the coffee beans can largely determine the taste of coffee! If the coffee beans are normal, the accepted scoring criteria is to evaluate a cup of coffee from the smell (including dry and wet aroma), taste (balance of sweet, sour, bitter and salty, texture, smooth or rough), and aftertaste (the aftertaste after drinking the coffee).
Coffee is a very personal drink, for me, as long as the coffee does not have an obvious bitterness, or moldy taste (for example, the beans have been moldy mixed together with grinding), it is a qualified cup of coffee.
Since we can't make a recognized "unique coffee", we can find the most unique and suitable appliance from the coffee appliance.
How to Choose the Right Appliance for You?
To make pour-over coffee, the common utensils are: filter cups, hand-brew pots, and of course coffee beans, grind level, and water temperature are a few factors. Today we will start by knowing what are the main factors that influence the filter cup on pour-over coffee.
What are the effects of different filter cup structures on hand-brewed flavor?
The structure between the filter cups is different and the extracted flavor and taste are completely different.
It is mainly reflected in the speed of water flow, which determines the length of contact time between water and powder, that is, the length of [extraction time].
With a faster flow rate, the contact time between powder and water is shorter, and the aroma and fruit acidity will be more pronounced.
With a slower flow rate, the contact time between powder and water is longer, and the sweetness and taste will be more pronounced.
During the extraction process of coffee, its flavor presentation order is aroma acidity, sweetness, sweetness, bitterness, and taste.
Different types of filter cups have different effects on coffee extraction, let's keep learning.
What are the types of filter cups?
There are three common types of filter cups: conical filter cups, fan-shaped filter cups, and flat-bottomed filter cups.
1. conical filter cup
Can increase the concentration of water flow, but also can make the coffee powder more concentrated, conducive to the initial smothering steam. The fastest flow of water through the filter extraction, in a short period, mainly dissolved in the first part of the coffee's floral, fruity and refreshing acidity, and sweetness, the most can show the unique flavor of the coffee.
However, because the conical design makes the powder layer thick in the middle and thin all around, this tends to cause partial over-extraction or under-extraction and partial under-extraction of the coffee powder, so it requires a certain brewing skill and stability.
2. Fan-shaped filter cup
It is conducive to the concentration of water so that the coffee powder can be evenly distributed, avoiding the situation of stacking.
It has a slower flow rate, mainly using the extraction method of immersion, extraction is more adequate.
The slow extraction speed brings out the acidity, bitterness, thick taste, and sweetness of the coffee, retaining the acidity, bitterness, and sweetness of the coffee to a greater extent, bringing out a distinct coffee hierarchy, suitable for the hand brewing needs of medium to dark roasted coffee beans.
Novice coffee lovers can choose this filter cup, as it can help you extract fully. However, it is best not to have too fine a grind and the brewing water temperature should not be too high.
3. Flat bottom filter cup
Extraction speed is medium, thick taste, sweet aroma obvious, and filter paper shape like our usual cupcakes, so also called cake cups. Similar to a fan-shaped filter cup, the coffee powder can be extracted evenly, but also more like immersion extraction, the same to avoid over-extraction.
The flavor is more balanced, and the taste will be more intense. When brewing hot water, try not to inject water along the edge, water should be injected into the center, and the water flow will be smoother.
The brewed coffee will retain the maximum flavor and thickness, and the sweetness, acidity, and bitterness will be presented in a balanced way, so it is suitable for all kinds of roasted coffee. It is also suitable for novices.
Which material is appropriate?
At present, the filter cups on the market are generally based on ceramic, resin, glass, and metal four kinds of materials, different materials will affect the water temperature.
Metal: brass is the main material, thermal conductivity and insulation are good, storage is not easy, easy to rust
Resin: more heat-resistant resin, easy to observe the smothering degree of steam
Ceramic: need to preheat, good heat preservation, suitable for winter use
Glass: high transmittance, general heat preservation
Comparison of insulation performance after preheating:
ceramic>brass metal>glass>resin
If not preheated:
resin>brass metal>glass>ceramic
Resin is light and unbreakable, stable temperature, and the grooves in the inner wall of the filter cup are more obvious, which is conducive to the smooth flow of water. And ceramic because of the process of different differences are obvious, strong insulation performance. Stainless steel is more durable, but because the metal material has thermal conductivity and heat loss faster, so pay attention to the warm cup before use.
Tips for the Best Pour-Over Coffee
1. select coffee beans
There is a saying that the quality of coffee beans has more than 70% influence on the taste of a cup of coffee. So be careful in the choice of coffee beans. It is best to pick high-quality guaranteed coffee beans and to choose freshly roasted coffee beans.
2. Hand brewing tools
Hand brewing tools: bean grinder, filter cup, filter paper, sharing pot, hand brewing pot, thermometer
Water to powder ratio: 0.46 oz powder plus 6.09 fl oz water, brew 5.07 fl oz coffee.
Water temperature control: 179.6~185 °F - deep roast, deep roast; 203~185 °F - shallow, medium, medium deep roast.
3. hand brewing skills and steps
Grind degree: the finer the grind, the stronger the bitterness, and the weaker the acidity.
Water temperature: as the water temperature rises, the bitterness is enhanced and the acidity becomes weaker.
Brewing time: the longer the brewing time, the stronger the bitterness, and the weaker the acidity.
Enjoy every moment of brewing coffee.I hope the above will help you find the right filter cup.
