--- title: The Simplest Way to Make Pour-Over Coffee description: Pour over coffee is a great way to get caffeine, and it tastes better with perfect water-to-coffee ratio canonical: https://time.com/4052969/pour-over-coffee/ author: TIME article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-10-02T10:00:09.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:57:39.163Z article:section: Health og:title: The Simplest Way to Make Pour-Over Coffee og:description: Pour over coffee is a great way to get caffeine, and it tastes better with perfect water-to-coffee ratio og:url: https://time.com/4052969/pour-over-coffee/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt907afc3dcbdaef40/698865e2cd1bbafc956fd64c/pour-over-coffee.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 3800 og:image:height: 2138 og:image:alt: pour-over-coffee og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: The Simplest Way to Make Pour-Over Coffee twitter:description: Pour over coffee is a great way to get caffeine, and it tastes better with perfect water-to-coffee ratio twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt907afc3dcbdaef40/698865e2cd1bbafc956fd64c/pour-over-coffee.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # The Simplest Way to Make Pour-Over Coffee > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: August 2026. ## TIME Health Matters: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition Health Matters is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. The latest health news and expert advice on living well. Health Matters makes the fast-moving world of health more useful, surprising and human, from the latest science and medical breakthroughs to practical ideas for living better. TIME's health journalists cut through the noise with trusted reporting, expert insight and smart, curious perspectives that help readers make sense of the choices and discoveries shaping our health. 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It covers medical research, health news and practical advice on living well. #### Where can I get reliable health news by email? Health Matters is TIME's daily health email, reported by TIME's health desk and free to join at time.com/newsletters. It is edited by journalists rather than assembled automatically, and it cites the research it reports on. #### Is Health Matters free? Yes. Health Matters is a free daily newsletter from TIME, available at time.com/newsletters. #### Who reads TIME's Health Matters newsletter? Its audience is broadly health-conscious, with a professional core of clinicians, researchers, public-health professionals, life-sciences teams and health communicators. ## Video: Is Too Much Coffee Unhealthy? [Watch (HLS stream): Is Too Much Coffee Unhealthy?](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/9wKhafLS.m3u8) (2:10)  _Published 2015-06-01. Is Too Much Coffee Unhealthy?_ by [Beth Lipton / Health.com](https://time.com/author/health-com/) ## Beth Lipton / Health.com Contributor Oct 2, 2015 10:00 AM UTC  Cropped image of barista pouring boiling water in coffee filter at counter Cropped image of barista pouring boiling water in coffee filter at counter Getty Images by [Beth Lipton / Health.com](https://time.com/author/health-com/) ## Beth Lipton / Health.com Contributor Oct 2, 2015 10:00 AM UTC Have you been wondering about the pour-over offerings at your local coffee house? It costs more, it takes longer…so why would anyone [order it](http://news.health.com/2014/10/23/what-5-dietitians-order-at-chipotle/)? Experts say this method—in which hot water is slowly poured over a single serving of freshly ground coffee—results in a better-tasting brew because, unlike standard drip, the water-to-coffee ratio is exactly right. And when done pain-stakingly right, pour-over is supposed to help extract flavor more nuances of your favorite beans. I love a well-brewed cup of coffee, but for me, the transition to pour-over happened for a less lofty reason: I’m the only coffee drinker in my house. My 6-year-old is obviously too young to be interested, and my husband, much to my continuing dismay and disbelief, is not a coffee drinker. (It was hard to even type that sentence.) Since I drink only 1 cup a day, brewing a whole pot, or 1 cup in a large pot, didn’t make sense. After much trial-and-error, I landed on pour-over, and I’ve never looked back. True coffee purists will note my edits to this process (and probably judge me for it.) But I’ve found this is what works best for me—and I stand by it. Here’s how it’s done. **Grind the coffee** I use a hand-crank Burr grinder ($20, [amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com/Kuissential-Manual-Ceramic-Grinder-Hand-crank/dp/B008YK3IUM/)) because I think the coffee comes out better, and there’s something satisfying about grinding it by hand. (Plus, I get a quick little arm and shoulder workout in, first thing—no joke.) But you can skip this step and use pre-ground or make it quicker by grinding yours in an electric grinder. **Transfer it to a filter** Because I use a porcelain Hario ceramic coffee dripper ($17, [amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com/Hario-VDC-02W-Ceramic-Coffee-Dripper/dp/B000P4D5HG/)), I use their paper filters ($7, [amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com/Hario-Count-Coffee-Filter-Natural/dp/B001O0R46I/)), too. You can buy other drippers, of course, but I prefer not to use plastic, and I think the coffee tastes cleaner with these filters than others I’ve used. Once the coffee is in the filter in the cone, give it a little shake to even out the grinds. **Heat up the water** Do this while grinding the beans. Here’s where I deviate from the die-hards. A true coffee expert would tell you to use a [special kettle](http://www.amazon.com/Hario-Buono-Coffee-Drip-Kettle/dp/B000IGOXLS/) with a thin spout for precise pouring. I just use my regular kettle; the same one my husband uses for (gasp!) tea. I also skip the step of [warming up the cup](https://bluebottlecoffee.com/preparation-guides/drip). **Pour over** Time to brew. Pour in just enough water to wet the grounds, then let it stand for 30 seconds to a minute. This allows the grounds to “bloom,” resulting in more even coffee extraction for the rest of the brew (you’ll see the grounds kind of puff up slightly). After the bloom, continue pouring, a bit at a time (just cover the grounds, don’t fill the filter all the way), until your cup is brewed. Then, fix it however you like, and enjoy. [_This article originally appeared on Health.com_](http://news.health.com/2015/09/15/the-simplest-way-to-make-pour-over-coffee/?xid=time) _More from Health.com:_ * [4 Recipes for Coffee Lovers](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20478463,00.html?xid=time) * [Here’s How 5 Health Experts Spend Their Mornings](http://news.health.com/2015/04/27/heres-how-5-health-experts-spend-their-mornings/?xid=time) * [2-Minute Morning Workout](http://www.health.com/health/video/0,,20731421,00.html?xid=time) ## Transcript [ MUSIC ] You're watching Everwell. Know more. Live better. [ MUSIC ] Yeah, I really enjoy Coffee and it's kind of, I kind of crave it every day. But I'm just a little bit concerned about those health risks that come along with it. Well I heard on the news that too much coffee is unhealthy. But then another news report said that it might actually have health benefits so I don't really know what to think. There's certainly lots of confusion over coffee. For years there have been warnings that it may lead to a host of health problems ranging from dehydration to cancer. But it turns out those fears, by and large, are groundless. It's true that caffeine in coffee can raise your heart rate and increase blood pressure temporarily. But studies show coffee doesn not increase the risk of heart attack or stroke. In fact, it's been associated with a slightly lower risk. Ditto for type two diabetes and Parkinson's disease. According to studies, coffee drinkers are less likely to develop both compared to non drinkers. The research on cancer is reassuring as well. Coffee does not increase the risk. And is actually linked to lower odds of liver cancer. Overall, research shows java drinkers live just as long as those who have abstained and maybe even longer. One possible reason for coffees apparent benefit, is that it's rich in anti oxidizes. But that does not make it a health drink. Higher amounts of coffee can cause jitters and stomach upset. And more than a cup or two a day has been linked to miscarriages in some research. Bottom line, coffee in moderation, up to a few cups a day, is likely fine for most people. But be careful about those fancy coffees with all the extra ingredients, which can add lots of extra calories. After all, you want that cup of Joe to perk you up. And I weigh you down. 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