Water-Ground Relationships
The Ideal Ground To Water Ratio & Water Temperature For Velvety Smooth Pour Over
By simply fixing your coffee ground to water ratio, you can significantly improve the taste and quality of your brew. With too little water, your coffee will be overpowering, and with too much water, your coffee will be lacking in flavor and depth.
It’s subjective, but a good rule of thumb we swear by is 16.6 ml of hot water for every gram of coffee.
For example, for 30 grams coffee grounds (3 tbsp) we recommend around 500 ml of water (17.5 fl. oz.). But of course, there are exceptions. To enjoy the nuanced flavor of a single-origin coffee that is lightly roasted, we recommend less water: 15.2 ml of water for every gram of coffee.
(General coffee ground & water ratio)
As for water temperature, the ideal range is somewhere between 195°F (91°C) - 205°F (96°C) of hot water.
We recommend something closer to 205°F - but no more than that - boiling water will destroy the taste of your brew. And just like the ground to water ratio - water temperature is also a subjective matter - within these given parameters - that can vary depending on the specific type of coffee beans used.
Therefore it’s important to experiment! A good rule of thumb to understand is that hotter water will brew more powerful coffee, and vice versa.
In summary - we can’t - and won’t - try to give you a “golden ratio” that will work every time - but what we can do is provide you with the best starting points that tons of science, research, and personal experimentation has yielded for us.
At the end of the day, it is up to you to experiment with different ratios and temperatures to find the best fit for you. After all, coffee is a personal journey - and it is completely up to you - to brew the best cup you can enjoy.
We hope you find these guidelines handy in your personal journey into the world of coffee.
Cheers,
- Your Ovalware Team
Extra Tip
If you want to dilute or lessen the bitterness of your coffee, you can sprinkle a little bit of salt (about a quarter teaspoon of kosher salt for every 6 tablespoon of grounds) to smoothen out your brew. You might taste a hint of salt, of course, but research has proven that salt is much more effective in neutralizing bitterness than sugar. Try it out and see for yourself!
References:
http://theconversation.com/the-perfect-cup-of-coffee-boils-down-to-four-factors-30208
https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-relationship-between-coffee-grind-size-and-extraction
https://sca.coffee/research/coffee-standards?page=resources&d=water-standards
http://www.purewaterproducts.com/articles/water-and-coffee
https://www.thekitchn.com/alton-brown-coffee-tip-salt-267757
https://bluebottlecoffee.com/preparation-guides/pour-over
https://prima-coffee.com/learn/article/coffee-basics/h2o-hello-there-introduction-water-coffee-brewing/32706
http://www.manualcoffeebrewing.com/what-is-the-best-water-to-use-when-making-coffee/
https://thecoffeefolk.com/how-to-brew-the-perfect-cup-of-coffee/
https://www.javapresse.com/blogs/enjoying-coffee/water-temperature-coffee
https://www.littlecoffeeplace.com/coffee-to-water-ratio