How to Make Pour-Over Espresso (Step-by-Step)

If you don’t have an espresso machine and you want to brew espresso coffee on your own, you can use a pour-over coffee maker.

Many people who regularly brew their coffee with pour-over can also try making espresso in it.

Brewing espresso using a pour-over maker is one of the brewing methods with which you can make espresso even without an espresso maker.

In this article, I will give you a step-by-step method to make pour-over espresso without making a mess in your kitchen.

Let’s start.

Can you make espresso using pour-over?

Traditional espresso requires high pressure and specific equipment which makes it challenging to replicate precisely with a pour-over method.

But yes, you can create a concentrated, flavorful coffee resembling espresso by adjusting grind size, coffee-to-water ratio, and pouring technique.

However, the resulting coffee won’t be identical to espresso.

Things you need to make espresso with pour-over

1) High-quality coffee beans

Choose a freshly roasted blend or single-origin beans.

2) Burr grinder

Ensure a consistent grind size, resembling fine sand.

3) Pour-over cone or dripper

Opt for a design that accommodates a fine coffee grind.

4) Paper or metal filter

Select a suitable filter based on your preference.

5) Gooseneck kettle

Enables precise water control, maintaining the ideal temperature.

6) Scale

Ensures accurate coffee-to-water ratio.

7) Timer

Helps control brewing time for optimal extraction.

8) Mug or server

Collects the brewed coffee.

How to make pour-over espresso coffee?

1) Gather Your Tools and Ingredients

Start by assembling all the necessary tools and ingredients for your pour-over espresso. You’ll need high-quality coffee beans, a burr grinder, a pour-over cone or dripper, paper or metal filters, a gooseneck kettle, a scale, a timer, and a mug or server.

2) Measure and Grind

Measure the desired amount of coffee beans using the scale to maintain precision in your brewing. Use the burr grinder to achieve a fine grind, similar to the texture of fine sand. This consistency ensures even extraction of flavors during the brewing process.

3) Preheat Your Pour-over Cone

Position the pour-over cone or dripper over your mug or server and preheat it by pouring hot water through. This step ensures that your coffee brews at the right temperature, optimizing flavor extraction.

4) Add Coffee Grounds

Place the finely ground coffee into the preheated pour-over cone. The amount will depend on your preferred coffee-to-water ratio, which you can experiment with to suit your taste.

5) Blooming

Initiate the brewing process by pouring a small amount of hot water over the coffee grounds to facilitate blooming. Blooming allows gases to escape from the coffee, enhancing the overall flavor. Let it bloom for around 30 seconds.

6) Pour in Stages

Begin the pouring process in a slow, circular motion, starting from the center and gradually moving outward. Pour the water in stages, ensuring a consistent flow to avoid over-saturation and uneven extraction.

7) Control Brewing Time

Utilize the timer to control the overall brewing time. Aim for a total brewing time of approximately 2 to 4 minutes, adjusting based on your preferences for strength and flavor complexity.

8) Adjust Variables

Feel free to experiment with various brewing variables such as the coffee-to-water ratio, grind size, and pouring technique. These adjustments allow you to fine-tune the flavor profile according to your liking.

9) Complete the Brew

Once the desired amount of water has passed through the coffee grounds, signaling the completion of the brewing process, carefully remove the pour-over cone or dripper.

10) Serve and Enjoy

Stir the brewed coffee in your mug or server and take a moment to appreciate the aroma and flavors of your meticulously crafted pour-over espresso. Enjoy the fruits of your labor and the unique characteristics of this artisanal brewing method.

Is brewing espresso in a pour-over maker worth it?

To be honest, no brewing espresso in pour-over isn’t worth as same as making espresso using an espresso machine.

It is because the real enjoyment of espresso is having a crema layer on it which you will never get in the espresso made by using pour-over.

So, I will never promote making espresso in this way but still, you can take it as an adventure and do it.

Best practices to follow while brewing pour-over espresso

1) Use Fresh, Quality Coffee Beans

Start with high-quality, freshly roasted coffee beans. The flavor of your pour-over espresso greatly depends on the quality and freshness of the beans.

2) Grind Consistency is Key

Invest in a burr grinder for a consistent grind size resembling fine sand. Consistency ensures even extraction and a balanced flavor profile in your pour-over espresso.

3) Adjust Grind Size for Extraction

Experiment with different grind sizes to find the one that suits your taste preferences. A finer grind generally results in a more intense flavor, while a coarser grind can produce a milder cup.

4) Preheat Your Equipment

Preheat the pour-over cone or dripper, as well as your mug or server, to maintain the optimal brewing temperature. This ensures that the coffee grounds are evenly saturated during the brewing process.

5) Bloom Effectively

Initiate the brewing process with a blooming phase. Pour a small amount of hot water over the coffee grounds and let it bloom for about 30 seconds. This allows gases to escape, enhancing flavor extraction.

6) Precision Pouring

Use a gooseneck kettle for precise water control. Pour water in a slow, circular motion, starting from the center and moving outward. Pour in stages, maintaining a consistent flow to avoid over-saturation.

7) Control Brewing Time

Use a timer to control the overall brewing time. Aim for a total brew time of approximately 2 to 4 minutes, adjusting based on your preferences for strength and flavor complexity.

8) Experiment with Ratios

Play with the coffee-to-water ratio to find your preferred strength and flavor balance. A scale helps achieve accurate measurements and maintain consistency.

9) Regular Equipment Cleaning

Keep your pour-over equipment clean. Residual coffee oils can affect the taste of future brews. Regularly clean the pour-over cone, grinder, and any other equipment you use.

10) Document Your Brews

Keep a coffee journal to document your experiments and findings. Note the grind size, coffee-to-water ratio, and brewing time for each session. This helps you refine your technique over time.

11) Enjoy Freshly Brewed Coffee

Pour-over espresso is best enjoyed immediately after brewing. The flavors are at their peak freshness, providing a rich and aromatic experience.

Limitations of brewing espresso in pour-over

1) Pressure and Crema

Traditional espresso machines use high pressure to extract coffee, resulting in the creation of a distinct layer of crema on top. Pour-over methods lack the pressure needed for crema formation, which may impact the visual appeal and texture of the espresso.

2) Intensity and Extraction Speed

Pour-over espresso typically lacks the intensity and rapid extraction achieved by espresso machines. The prolonged extraction time in pour-over methods might produce a concentrated coffee but may not fully replicate the boldness of a traditional espresso shot.

3) Temperature Control

Maintaining precise water temperature is challenging in pour-over methods. Espresso machines can consistently provide the high temperatures needed for optimal extraction. While a gooseneck kettle can help, it might not reach the same temperatures achieved by espresso machines.

4) Body and Mouthfeel

Pour-over espresso may not exhibit the same body and mouthfeel as traditional espresso. The lack of pressure in pour-over brewing might result in a coffee with a different texture and viscosity.

5) Consistency

Achieving consistency in pour-over espresso can be challenging. Factors like pouring technique, grind size, and water distribution can vary, impacting the uniformity of each brew. Espresso machines, with their automated processes, often provide more consistent results.

6) Equipment Complexity

Pour-over espresso demands a certain level of skill and attention to detail. Controlling variables like grind size, pouring rate, and water temperature requires practice. Traditional espresso machines, though potentially more expensive, offer a more automated and consistent process.

7) Volume Output

Pour-over methods are generally designed for brewing one or two cups at a time. If you need to produce larger volumes of espresso consistently, a traditional espresso machine may be more efficient.

Wrapping up

Here, I have got you covered with the step-by-step process to make espresso coffee using pour-over.

Though a pour-over coffee maker can’t brew espresso identical to espresso brewed by an advanced espresso machine, it can be a good option to make espresso when you don’t have an espresso machine.

However, by considering the best practices, you can brew a good espresso with pour-over.