How to Brew Better Pour-Over Coffee
Discover how fluid dynamics can transform your daily coffee ritual—and help us learn what works best for real coffee lovers like you.
What if your coffee could taste better—not by changing your beans, but by changing how you pour?
That’s the question a group of physicists recently explored, and their results are surprising—even exciting—for anyone who brews coffee at home.
Published in Physics of Fluids and covered by the New York Times, this study looked at how water behaves when poured over coffee grounds. By adjusting things like pour height, flow rate, and stream steadiness, researchers found they could significantly boost extraction—and flavor—without changing the coffee itself.
What They Found
High, steady pour = more flavor. Pouring from higher up (but with a smooth stream) increased mixing and extracted more coffee particles.
Slow and continuous beats fast and choppy. This lets water stay in contact with the grounds longer, pulling out more flavor compounds.
Pouring in the center creates a "coffee avalanche.” This keeps the grounds moving and prevents channeling—where water slips around the edges without brewing properly.
Even saturation matters. Stream shape and flow pattern affect whether your grounds are brewed evenly or unevenly.
These findings might sound technical—but they're easy to apply. And that’s where you come in.
Try It Yourself: 3 Simple Experiments
Raise your kettle higher. Start by pouring from 4–6 inches above the coffee bed and see how the taste changes.
Slow it down. Time your pour—does a slow, steady stream result in more balanced flavor?
Keep the stream steady. Watch your pour: Is the water breaking into droplets? If so, try lowering slightly or refining your kettle pour.
Bonus: Try pouring just in the center vs. a swirling motion and compare.
Share What You Found (1-Min Survey)
We want to know what worked for you. Take 60 seconds to tell us:
Which technique(s) did you try?
Which gave you the best cup?
What kind of gear are you using?
👉Click here to take the quick survey
(We'll share results with the community)
Why We Care (and Why You Might Too)
At Heirloom, we’re designing a precision, repairable coffee maker that delivers café-quality taste every time—without the plastic parts, short lifespan, or planned obsolescence.
We believe great coffee comes from combining science, design, and ritual—and we’re building that into every detail.
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