• Setting up a pour-over for the first time doesn't require fancy gear—just a dripper, filters, a kettle (or saucepan), and a scale. The key is consistency: measure your coffee and water, keep the water temperature steady, and pour slowly in circles. Start with a 1:16 ratio, then adjust based on taste, changing only one variable at a time.
• Start with a 1:16 coffee-to-water ratio—it's forgiving and balanced.
• Water temperature matters: aim for 195–205°F; too hot can scorch the coffee.
• Pour slowly in spirals, starting from the center and working outward.
• Taste first, then adjust: bitterness means grind coarser, sourness means grind finer.
• Keep a simple brew log to track what works.