There's a moment on a cold morning — sun just cresting the ridge, fire still smoldering — when a well-made cup of coffee feels like the whole point of the trip. Pour over is how we get there.
It's a simple method. No machine, no electricity, no compromise on flavor. Just hot water, good coffee, and a little patience. Here's how to do it right.
What You Need
- A pour over dripper (V60, Chemex, or Kalita Wave all work)
- Paper or metal filter
- Freshly ground coffee — medium-coarse grind
- Hot water (200°F / just off boil)
- A gooseneck kettle (ideal, but not required)
- A scale or tablespoon for measuring
The Ratio
Start with 1:15 coffee to water — about 25g of coffee to 375g of water for a single 12oz cup. Adjust to taste: more coffee for a bolder cup, less for something lighter.
Step-by-Step
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Rinse your filter. Pour hot water through the filter before brewing. This removes any papery taste and preheats your dripper. Discard the rinse water.
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Add your grounds. Use a medium-coarse grind — think sea salt texture. Fine grinds choke the flow; coarse grinds rush through too fast.
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Bloom. Pour just enough water to saturate the grounds (about 2x the weight of your coffee — so ~50g for 25g of coffee). Wait 30–45 seconds. You'll see the grounds bubble and rise — that's CO₂ releasing, a sign of fresh coffee.
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Pour in slow circles. Starting from the center and spiraling outward, pour steadily. Keep the water level consistent — don't let it drain completely between pours. Aim to finish all your water by the 3-minute mark.
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Let it drain. Total brew time should be 3–4 minutes. If it's draining too fast, grind finer. Too slow? Go coarser.
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Drink it while it's hot. Pour over peaks immediately. No holding it on a burner.
The Coffee Matters
Pour over is a transparent method — it shows off everything in the bean, good and bad. That's why we roast to order. Our Campfire Blend was built for exactly this: a medium roast with enough body to hold up outdoors and enough brightness to reward a careful brew. Or explore our full Coffee collection to find your trail companion.
On the Trail
Pour over travels well. A collapsible dripper and a small bag of pre-ground coffee adds almost no weight to your pack. Boil water over your camp stove, let it cool for 30 seconds, and brew directly into your mug. The ritual is half the point.
Troubleshooting
- Tastes bitter: Grind coarser, or shorten brew time
- Tastes sour or weak: Grind finer, or use hotter water
- Draining too slowly: Grind coarser, or check for a clogged filter
- Draining too fast: Grind finer
Ready to brew? Start with freshly roasted beans — shop our Coffee collection and we'll roast your order.