Are you tired of spending too much money in cafes every day? There are different brewing options that can give you coffee that's almost the same as what your barista gives you. These two brewing methods are really popular and create a quick and delicious cup of coffee. 

The pour-over method and drip method are not the same, there are a lot of differences and we are going to show you how. 

POUR OVER METHOD

This brewing method has been in existence for a very long time. It resurfaced as third-wave coffee. The brewing process is intricate and efficient, no wonder coffee lovers keep revisiting this method. The pour-over method is quite simple and it produces vibrant results. 

HOW DID THE POUR-OVER BEGIN?

Although this brewing method has been there for a long time, it has been existence since the early 1900s. Melitta Bentz propelled this brewing method. Note that the lovers of this brewing method were not able to completely prevent the coffee grounds from entering the final cup but they still enjoyed the drink.

This because they were using filters like the linen and cloth filter, they were quite difficult to clean.

People were able to make very good coffee, with paper filters in 1908 when the paper filter was invented. Melitta Bentz got this brewing method when she attempted to brew coffee using a blotting paper from her son’s school book, and she succeeded. Since the other brewing methods rely on filters, she was able to aid the innovation of the pour-over method by discovering the paper filter method.

WHY DO PEOPLE PREFER THE POUR-OVER METHOD

One of the reasons people prefer the pour-over method is because it gives you control over the brewing process. You’ll be able to control the flavor extraction by monitoring how the grounds are saturated. You’ll not only have a delicious sip, but you’ll also have fun making the coffee. 

Many people prefer the pour-over method because they believe that it creates a more flavorful cup of coffee. This is because the brewing process is longer, which means there will be more flavor extraction. The slower the water passes through the grounds, the sweeter flavors it will extract.

DRIP COFFEE

One of the most common appliances you’ll see in the homes of some coffee lovers is the electric drip coffee maker. Although coffee is brewed using different vessels, when you hear coffee connoisseurs talking about drip coffee, they are referring to the electric drip coffee maker. 

HOW DID IT BEGIN?

Bentz's invention helped to fuel the practice of pour-over coffee and also helped with the invention of the electric drip coffee maker around the 20th Century. The first drip coffee maker was produced by Gottlob Widmann in 1954 in Germany.

Before then, people normally used the Moka Pot, percolator or any of the pour-over methods. The usage of disposable filters not only made it easier to brew drip coffee, but it was also efficient since the coffee drinkers were able to dispose of the filters. 

WHY DO PEOPLE LIKE DRIP COFFEE? 

Electric drip coffee makers have grown rapidly because it is efficient in the 9-5 work lifestyle. The brewer has even replaced the usage of Moka pots and percolators. We would say that the efficiency of the electric drip coffee maker is one of its intriguing characteristics.

The equipment controls the brewing process for you and is very simple. The only thing you have to do is put the water in the reservoir and the ground coffee inside the filter. 

BREWING PROCESS

Now that you know the difference between the two brewers, it's time to learn how to brew.

HOW TO MAKE POUR-OVER COFFEE

You can make delicious coffee with this brewing process by placing a filter and the amount of coffee grounds inside a funnel, then put the funnel over the carafe you are brewing with.  There are different pour-over stands to get. You can invest in the Chemex brewer that is specially designed for pour-over coffee. 

You’ll have to participate in the pour-over brewing process, unlike the drip coffee maker. The pour-over method requires you to pour hot water at intervals if you want to get a balanced extraction. After adding a little amount of water to the coffee grounds, the grounds will begin to bloom - where gasses and flavors are released inside the grounds.

HOW TO MAKE DRIP COFFEE

Like we mentioned, drip coffee is brewed through an electric machine so all you have to do is to add cold filtered water into the reservoir and the machine will combine heat and pressure to warm the filtered water. The next thing is for the hot water to pass the coffee grounds. 

What you just read above is how the extraction process goes. From that point, the brewed coffee will pass through the paper filter into your mug or a carafe. After brewing, you’ll have a delicious cup of black coffee to start your day.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO METHODS

These two methods are great ways to brew coffee, but there are differences between them, and you should take note of this. These are the common ones: 

CONTROL

As previously mentioned, the pour-over method gives you control over the brewing process. You get to control the water flow, how the grounds are saturated and how long the coffee will brew. You must ensure the brewing process is completed, so the coffee doesn't come out under-extracted or over-extracted.

FLAVOR

Due to the difference in the coffee brewing method, the pour-over coffee will have more flavors than coffee made with a dripper. This is because the pour-over method takes longer to brew, so the flavors will come out vibrant. The flavors are vibrant because the filtered water will have more contact time with the grounds, so it will pull out all the oils and flavors. 

Although both methods brew delicious coffee, the drip coffee will fall short when it is compared to the vivid flavors from the pour-over method. The drip-maker brews strong coffee, but it is not as strong as that of the pour-over coffee. We think you got the point. 

BREWING EQUIPMENT

Both brewing methods require different equipment. For the drip coffee, the major equipment you’ll be needing is the electric drip brewer because it does all the work for you.  For the pour-over method, there are different coffee stands to choose from.

You can pick from the Hario V60 maker, the bee ceramic coffee dripper, and the Minecraft coffee dripper. If you want something bigger, you can buy the Chemex brewer that is simple to use.

BREWING TIME

Both brewing process requires approximately the same time but the pour-over methods require more attention and preparation. Even for the manual drip brewers, all you have to do is to add the filter, the coffee grounds, and water and just wait for a few minutes. Some drip coffee makers even give you an option to pre-set what you want the previous night, then set a timer, so it just starts brewing in the morning. 

The pour-over method is a bit more complicated, you’d have to heat your water, add the coffee grounds and pour it for some minutes. Some people like this method because it gives control over the brewing process but someone else might find it stressful. So it depends on what you find stressful.

DURABILITY

Most pour-over brewers you'll find in the market are made of either steel, ceramic, or glass. So they last longer depending on how you take care of them. You might see coffee stains on them over time, but they will continue to brew delicious coffee for you as long as you keep cleaning it. 

The electric brewer on the other hand can last only for some time depending on the model you got. If it's of a lower quality, don't expect it to last longer. Something could go wrong in the machine, and you won't know what it is. If you want a brewer that can last a longer time, it is better to go for the pour-over brewers.

This is everything you need to know about the pour-over method and the drip coffee.  What if you are not in the mood for hot coffee, you want to add some ice to it and get creative, cold brew is the solution you need. The electric drip brewer won't make the best cold brew, yes it is good for hot coffee but not this.

You might be thinking of brewing the coffee hot and allowing it to cool, but it's best not to store brewed coffee. It will only alter the flavors, and you’ll get a sour taste over time.  However, you can make cold brew using the pour-over method. You won't need to heat the water and pour it through a filter. All you have to do is immerse the coffee grounds in cold water and allow it to steep for 12 to 24 hours, then pour it through a Chemex.

FINAL WORDS

Both brewing processes will give you a delicious cup of coffee. But before you choose a brewer, you have to consider the flavor, brewing time, and whether you want to brew automatically or manually. 

Before you test any of these methods, you should definitely buy freshly roasted coffee beans. How would you know the difference between the flavors the brewers produce if you are using stale coffee beans? It can just ruin the entire coffee brewing process. So, buy coffee from Coffee Hero and worry no more about stale coffee beans.