kimr74•1d agoProlific Poster

Am I the only one who thinks pour-over is overrated?

Tried a Chemex at my buddy's place in Portland last weekend. Bitter mess, took 8 minutes for one cup. I'll stick with my $20 drip machine any day. Anyone else think the fancy stuff is just hype?

3 comments

3 Comments

max_torres4416h ago

Got that same bitter mess my first time, turns out my buddy had beans from three months ago and was pouring like he was putting out a fire. Once I dialed in fresh beans and a $15 gooseneck it was night and day, still love my drip machine for lazy mornings though.

patricia_gonzalez1d ago

Whoa, hold up now. You tried a pour-over once at a buddy's place and you're ready to write off the whole method? That's like trying a burger from a gas station and saying all burgers are trash. The Chemex is actually one of the most forgiving brewers once you get the grind right and the water temperature sorted. Your $20 drip machine probably heats water way too hot and just blasts the coffee grounds without letting them bloom properly. A proper pour-over lets you control every bit of the extraction, so you can pull out the sweet notes instead of that burned bitter taste. Sounds like your buddy either used stale beans or ground them too fine, because a good pour-over should taste clean and bright, not like a mess. Give it another shot with fresh beans and a simple gooseneck kettle, you might change your mind.

-1

knight.dylan23h ago

Patricia_gonzalez is absolutely right, and I say that as someone who once burned water trying to make instant oatmeal. I think pour-over can seem intimidating when someone's first try is a mess, but it's like saying all cars are junk because you rode in a friend's broken down Pinto. Fresh beans and a simple gooseneck kettle really do make a difference, I've learned that from the few times I've actually gotten it right. My drip machine just dumps water like a fire hose and calls it a day, no wonder my coffee tastes like regret. You hit the nail on the head Patricia, I'll give it another shot this weekend.