Countertop Appliances
Pour Over Coffee Vs. Drip: What's Better?
Do you enjoy waking up to the scent of freshly brewed coffee? Or is your preference to precisely brew a cup of coffee to your tastes with your own hands? Either way, enjoying a cup of coffee that is the right flavour, richness and strength for you usually comes down to how it is brewed.
Two popular coffee brewing methods are pour over and drip. Essentially, these are based on the same process of pouring hot water over coffee grounds to produce a flavourful cup or pot of coffee. That being said, each preparation method requires different equipment and this equipment directly influences the pour speed, water temperature and brew time, to name a few.
Learn more about pour over coffee vs. drip so you can kickstart your day by using one of these two brewing styles.
What is Pour Over Coffee?
Pour over is a special manual drip brewing method. It offers a good amount of control over the final product.
This method uses a cone that is equipped to hold a filter filled with coffee grounds. You slowly pour hot water, usually in a spiral pattern, over the grounds as the newly brewed coffee collects in a cup or mug below. You can enjoy control over things like grind size, water temperature and pouring speed, which may determine the coffee’s boldness and taste.
People who want to play home barista and experiment may prefer this method to drip. It is considered to be a good brew method for people who have the time, enjoy a more DIY brewing process and want to make coffee for only one or two people.
This process emphasizes flavour and many pour over coffee fans find the careful attention to detail to be enjoyable.
BREWER’S NOTE
There may be some confusion about the difference between pour over and French press since they are both manual coffee brewing methods.
The difference is in the extraction process. Pour over uses drip extraction while French press is based on the principle of immersion extraction. A French press coffee maker steeps coffee grounds in hot water before separating the grounds with the help of a plunger with fine metal mesh.
Pour over typically delivers a finish that is lighter and cleaner whereas a French press offers a more intense finish.
French press tends to have more grit in the final brew since it does not use a filter.
WHAT EQUIPMENT DO YOU NEED TO MAKE POUR OVER COFFEE?
FILTER
The pour over method needs filters to brew coffee. You place a filter inside the pour over cone and this will hold the coffee grounds in place. Pour over filters are available in paper, cloth or metal.
Look for filters that are specifically designed for the size of your pour over cone.
GOOSENECK KETTLE
Gooseneck kettles are designed with a uniquely shaped spout that lets you control the liquid being poured so that the coffee grounds are evenly saturated. KitchenAid® Gooseneck Kettles provide owners with precise pour control plus three unique flow rate settings so you can easily adjust your pouring rate on the fly based on your brew.
Looking for the best brewing temperature for coffee? Well, according to the National Coffee Association, the optimal temperature range is between 195 and 205℉ (90.5-96.1c). A gooseneck kettle featuring a built-in thermometer or an electric gooseneck kettle with variable temperature control make sure that you are brewing with water at the optimal temperature to achieve desired results. For instance, the variable temperature selector on the KitchenAid® Precision Gooseneck Digital Kettle lets you customize your desired brewing temperature in one degree increments (ranging from 140-212℉ (60-100C) and to hold it for 30 minutes.
MUG OR CARAFE
You will need a coffee mug or carafe to place under the cone to collect every drop of brewed coffee. Choose your mug or carafe based on how many cups you intend to brew.
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Model: KEK1025SS
Colour: Stainless Steel
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WHAT IS DRIP COFFEE?
For years, most households have relied on drip coffee. Typically, this method drips coffee that is brewed by a machine with an automated pour over process and mechanism. All you have to do is add water and coffee grounds to the appropriate compartments and press “start”. These coffee makers are engineered to heat water from a reservoir, then pass it over coffee grounds that have been placed in a filter basket. The brewed coffee is then collected in some kind of container that is situated below.
Depending on the size of your drip coffee maker, you can usually brew anywhere from 4 to 12 cups, at once. Some models let you brew more than 12 cups at a time.
An auto drip coffee maker is a good option for when you want to serve coffee to a lot of people like at a dinner party or gathering. The programmable options are a delight for coffee lovers looking for ease, convenience and consistency.
POUR OVER COFFEE VS. DRIP: WHAT’S BETTER?
There is no right answer to this question. The pour over method is all about control. It allows you to manually saturate your coffee grounds to make a brew to your liking. Auto-drip coffee makers with a showerhead can achieve similar results by helping evenly distribute water over coffee grounds.
Drip coffee excellence is achieved via the right design and is a popular choice for a lot of coffee shops. KitchenAid® drip coffee makers have a unique 29-hole spiral showerhead designed for optional extraction by evenly saturating coffee grounds. The result is a beautifully flavoured cup of coffee each and every time.
EQUIPMENT NEEDED TO MAKE DRIP COFFEE
AUTOMATIC DRIP COFFEE MACHINE
Auto drip coffee makers offer several brewing options. Even though the process is automated, you can still choose from a range of capacities and features that let you customize your brew to your preference. Some models have a warming plate to keep coffee warm, a brew strength selector to help you make your ideal cup or preset brewing times so you never have to wake up without the aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafting through your home.
ACCESS TO POWER
Unlike the pour over coffee method, an automatic drip coffee maker needs to be plugged into an electrical outlet.
FILTER
Many refer to the drip coffee method as filter coffee since filters are necessary to produce a quality brew and to minimize grittiness from coffee grounds. You can opt to go with paper filters or with a coffee maker equipped with reusable filters.
KitchenAid® drip coffee makers have a reusable gold tone filter with a dosage ladder making measuring a breeze.
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Model: KCM1208DG
Colour: Matte Charcoal Grey
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WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN POUR OVER AND DRIP COFFEE?
Pour over and drip methods both brew coffee by pouring hot water over grounds. The main difference between these coffee methods is in the journey taken by the water and coffee grounds to make a cup of coffee. Pour over might work for those who like having a semblance of control over the process, and drip coffee tends to work for those who prefer convenience or often find themselves making larger pots. The choice is yours and should be based on your preference.
| POUR OVER COFFEE | DRIP COFFEE | |
|---|---|---|
| Extraction Method | Manual Drip | Automatic Drip |
| Flavour Control | Water temperature, amount and quality Pour over timing, flow rate and technique Coffee bean dosage, quality and grind |
Water temperature, amount and quality Adjustable brew strength setting Coffee bean dosage, quality and grind |
| Number of Cups | 1-4 | 2-14 (typical range) |
| Equipment | Gooseneck Kettle, Thermometer, Pour Over Cone, Filters | Auto-Drip Coffee Maker, Filter |
| Cleanup | Discard grounds and filter, or wash reusable filters Wash cone |
Discard grounds and filter, or wash reusable filters Rinse carafe Run cleaning or descaling cycles according to owner's manual |
Freshly ground coffee beans can elevate any cup of coffee from ho hum to something exceptional. The KitchenAid® Burr Coffee Grinder lets you customize and fine-tune your grind. Select either a medium-fine grind for cone-shaped filters or a medium grind for flat-bottom filters.
BENEFITS OF POUR OVER COFFEE BREWING
The pour over coffee method is a great fit for dedicated coffee lovers who enjoy experimenting with the process of controlling the available brewing variables to reach a desired result.
Consider pour over coffee if:
- You have more time in the morning.
- You are always in search of the crisp and nuanced flavour that pour over coffee is known for.
- You enjoy handcrafting your own cup of coffee.
- You love experimenting with things like pour speed to fine tune flavour.
- You tend to drink only one or two cups of coffee a day.
- You appreciate the experience of working with brewing equipment and adjusting the settings to your liking.
BENEFITS OF DRIP COFFEE BREWING
Drip coffee can work well for casual coffee drinkers and those who value convenience or often find themselves brewing coffee for a group.
A variety of drip coffee makers offer a variety of settings, so despite the automated process, still allow for a personalized cup of coffee. If you’re a tad impatient and tend to hover in front of your coffee maker while coffee is brewing, there is a Pause and Pour feature on select KitchenAid® models. This feature lets you fill your mug mid-brew.
Consider drip coffee if:
- You enjoy (or need) more than one cup or tend to brew coffee for guests.
- You appreciate waking up to the rich scent of coffee that’s waiting for you, courtesy of a programmable auto brew setting available on certain models.
- You want to use less effort without sacrificing quality.
- You need to rush out the door but still want a hot cup of coffee ready to go as soon as you wake up.
- You prefer more flexibility and are intrigued by features like Pause and Pour or warming plates.
SHOP THE KITCHENAID® COFFEE COLLECTION AND FIND YOUR IDEAL BREWING METHOD
KitchenAid offers everything you need to brew your perfect cup of coffee. Shop for a precision kettle for pour over, programmable coffee makers for drip coffee and lots of other coffee brewing products. Don’t forget to grab a coffee grinder from KitchenAid. Check out this helpful guide to making the best cup of coffee at home.
Model: KCM1209DG
Colour: Matte Charcoal Grey
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