Making pour-over coffee without a scale can be a bit of a challenge because the coffee-to-water ratio is an important aspect of brewing a great cup. However, with a few household items and some estimation, you can still enjoy a delicious pour-over. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you with the process.
Step 1: Gather Your Supplies
Before you start making your pour-over coffee, ensure you have the following items:
– Pour-over coffee dripper
– Coffee filter (compatible with your dripper)
– Fresh coffee beans
– Coffee grinder (if using whole beans)
– Kettle to boil water
– Measuring cup or measuring spoons
– Mug or carafe
Step 2: Heat the Water
Begin by heating water in your kettle. The ideal temperature for brewing coffee is around 195°F to 205°F (90°C to 96°C), just below boiling. If you don’t have a thermometer, boil the water and let it sit for 30 seconds before brewing.
Step 3: Measure Your Coffee
A standard ratio for pour-over coffee is approximately 1:16, which is one part coffee to 16 parts water. Without a scale, you can use a tablespoon to measure your coffee. A rule of thumb is to use about 2 tablespoons of coffee for every 6 ounces (180 ml) of water.
To measure without a scale:
– Use 2 tablespoons of ground coffee for a standard cup (6 ounces).
– If you prefer a stronger brew, add an extra tablespoon.
Step 4: Grind Your Coffee
Grind your coffee beans to a medium-coarse consistency, similar to sea salt. If you’re using pre-ground coffee, you can skip this step. However, freshly ground coffee will provide a better flavor.
Step 5: Prepare the Dripper and Filter
Place the coffee filter in your dripper and then set the dripper over your mug or carafe. Wet the filter with hot water to rinse away any paper taste and to preheat your mug. Dispose of the rinsing water before proceeding.
Step 6: Add the Ground Coffee
Add the measured ground coffee to the filter. Give the dripper a gentle shake to level the coffee bed, which will aid in even extraction.
Step 7: Bloom the Coffee
Pour just enough water to saturate the grounds (about twice the amount of coffee in weight), and let it sit for 30 seconds. This allows the coffee to degas and helps to enhance the flavor by allowing for a more even extraction.
Step 8: Continue Pouring Water
After the bloom, slowly pour the remaining hot water over the grounds in a spiral pattern, starting from the center and moving outwards. The total brewing time should be around 2 to 3 minutes. If your timing is right, adding the remaining water should take the entire length of the brewing process.
Tip: To ensure even extraction, try not to pour water directly onto the filter but keep it over the coffee grounds.
Step 9: Allow Coffee to Drip
After you’ve added all the water, allow the coffee to finish dripping. This may take another minute or so. Once the dripping slows to an occasional drop, your coffee is ready.
Step 10: Enjoy Your Coffee
Carefully remove the dripper and discard the used grounds and filter. Give the coffee a gentle stir in the mug or carafe, if needed, to ensure any remaining coffee grounds are mixed in. Pour into your favorite cup and enjoy your hand-crafted pour-over coffee.
Making pour-over coffee without a scale certainly requires a bit of guesswork and personal adjustment, but with practice, you’ll be able to consistently make coffee that suits your taste preferences. Remember that the key to a great cup of coffee is the quality of the beans, the grind, the coffee-to-water ratio, and the brewing time. Experiment with these variables until you find the perfect brew for you.