Best Coffee Beans for Pour Over: My 8 Current Favorites

Regular Coffeeness readers will know how much I love pour over coffee. Seriously, slow brewing with a gooseneck kettle and a dripper is like meditation for me. With that in mind, I’ve decided to embark on a guide to the best coffee beans for pour over.

At this point, I should tell you that this list of coffee beans is very subjective. As with my guide to the best espresso beans, these are just a few examples of coffees I’ve been enjoying recently.

So, don’t consider this list to be a definitive guide to the very best coffee beans for pour over. I mean, there are so many great coffee roasters out there that I couldn’t possibly include them all!

Best Coffee Beans for Pour Over at a Glance

Here’s a sneak peek at the coffee beans I bought to test out for you.

What Is a Pour Over?

If you’ve checked out my guide to pour over coffee, you’ll know that this brewing method is the opposite of a full immersion method like French press. In fact, I refer to pour over as an indirect brewing method. That’s because rather than letting coffee grounds sit in water, pour over involves water “passing through” the bed of ground coffee.

What’s more, there’s always some kind of filter involved, which retains undesirable flavor compounds.

These days, there are quite a few drip coffee makers that come very close to producing pour over-quality coffee. The Ratio Six immediately springs to mind as a good example. However, true pour over is very much a manual brewing method.

Whichever dripper you use, learning to make pour over requires time and dedication. Sure, you might get pretty decent results right off the bat. Still, it’s more likely you’ll have to experiment with your recipe, depending on which coffee beans you’re using.

Ultimately, that’s what I find so rewarding about this brewing method – it gives me total control over all the variables involved in making a great cup. What’s more, no other preparation method can produce such a clean, complex and satisfying cup of coffee. With that said, you’ll need to use high-quality beans and grind them fresh for each brew.

Equipment You’ll Need

It pretty much goes without saying that you’ll need a pour over dripper to make pour over coffee. Still, with so many options available, it can be hard for beginners to decide. Personally, my favorite is still the Hario V60, although I regularly use the Kalita Wave and Chemex Coffeemaker. Which dripper you choose really comes down to the experience you’re looking for. So, I recommend checking out my guide to the best pour over coffee makers if you want more detailed information.

As I mentioned earlier, using freshly ground coffee is a must. So, make sure you’ve got a decent burr coffee grinder as part of your arsenal. Oh, and remember that a manual coffee grinder is a great option for pour over – even if it’s an inexpensive model.

While you can use a regular kettle, I’d highly recommend buying a gooseneck kettle for manual brewing. Trust me, the level of precision you’ll achieve while pouring will make all the difference.

Finally, a good coffee scale will become your best friend if you get really into making pour over. Again, it’s all about the precision you’ll achieve when experimenting with new recipes.

Choosing the Best Coffee Beans for Pour Over: What to Consider

Let’s continue this guide to the best coffee beans for pour over by taking a look at a few things to consider before buying. After all, seeing as there are so many options out there, it’s good to be able to know what to look out for.

Roast Profile

In my article on coffee roast profiles I talked about how one roaster’s medium roast can easily be another roaster’s dark roast. In essence, roast profiles are very subjective. Still, when you’re choosing beans for pour over, I’d recommend looking for a medium-light roast.

In my opinion, this roast profile is the most “transparent” in that the actual inherent qualities of the coffee will shine through. On the other hand, a dark roast coffee will have an overwhelmingly smoky profile with much less depth and complexity. That’s not to say you can’t make pour over with a dark roast. It’s just that it might be substantially less interesting.

Origin and Variety

While it’s perfectly fine to use coffee blends for pour over, you’ll usually have a more rewarding experience if you go with single origin coffee beans. The best thing to do is experiment with coffees from different growing regions, maybe selecting a new coffee variety each time. This way you’ll be able to start identifying distinct characteristics that float your boat.

For example, coffee from Ethiopia is often fruity and floral, while coffee from Indonesia will be more earthy and nutty. Incidentally, make sure to take coffee processing methods into account as you’re learning which beans you prefer. Broadly speaking, natural process coffees often display prominent fruit notes, whereas fully washed coffee will be bright, clean and complex.

Sourcing

Here at Coffeeness I’m always reminding you to invest in high-quality coffee beans from independent roasters. Why? Because small-batch roasters not only take more pride in their craft but are usually more committed to sustainable business practices.

So, when you’re buying coffee beans for pour over, make sure to do a little research on the roaster. Most will offer transparent information about how they sourced their coffee and whether or not they engage in direct trade or fairtrade business models.

Freshness

I shouldn’t have to remind you that brewing coffee with freshly roasted beans is the way to go. After all, coffee starts to lose freshness immediately after roasting, even if it’s stored in an airtight bag. With that in mind, you should only buy coffee beans with a clearly labeled roast date on the packaging.

Do bear in mind that coffee can be too fresh for brewing, seeing as it needs to degas for a few days after roasting. In my opinion, coffee that’s a week out from the roast date is ideal. However, high-quality single origin coffees can stay good for up to a month if stored in an airtight coffee canister.

The 8 Best Coffee Beans for Pour Over

Let’s get down to business and look at my top picks for the best coffee beans for pour over. Oh, and in case you were wondering, I used a Hario V60 dripper during my tasting sessions. I also used the Fellow Stagg EKG kettle and Fellow scale, as well as my beloved Comandante C40 MK4 hand grinder. As far as my recipe goes, I kept it pretty simple:

Ilse Coffee Ecuador Juan Peña

Based in North Canaan, Connecticut, Ilse Coffee is a small, independent roaster that consistently offers some of the best coffees I’ve ever tasted.

These guys are truly passionate about what they do, going to great lengths to source exceptional beans from around the world. What’s more, Ilse develops enduring relationships with its producers and always provides a cost breakdown on its packaging. In other words, Ilse is dedicated to sustainability at every stage of the supply chain.

Sourced from Hacienda La Papaya in Loja, Ecuador, this washed Mejorado truly shines when prepared as pour over. Seriously, if you’re a fan of washed South American coffees, Juan Peña’s bright, fruity complexity will be right up your alley.

I tasted notes of dark stone fruit, jasmine and citrus, all of which developed as the coffee cooled. I also really enjoyed this coffee’s pronounced milk chocolate aroma, which only added to the depth of flavor in the cup.

Mother Tongue Coffee Mugshots

You’ve gotta love Mother Tongue Coffee’s awesome packaging – it doesn’t get much more in-your-face than this! Based in Oakland, California, Mother Tongue Coffee is a women/Latinx-owned business that’s dedicated to fostering enduring relationships with producers and paying “better than fair prices” for their coffees.

While Mother Tongue Coffee offers a range of single origin beans, I decided to give the Mugshots blend a whirl. After all, I figured it’d be good to feature at least one blend on this list. Comprising fully washed coffees from Ethiopia and Central America, I suspect Mugshots would be great as an espresso. However, seeing as this guide is about the best coffee beans for pour over, I’m yet to find out whether that’s the case.

Anyway, I loved this blend, and was surprised by its complexity and bright, sparkling acidity. I tasted notes of jasmine and lemon, supported by dark chocolate in the finish. All in all, I couldn’t get enough of this beautiful coffee!

Noble Coffee Roasting Peruvian Suyo

Established in 2007, Noble Coffee Roasting is based in Ashland Oregon. This is another small batch coffee roaster that’s all about developing relationships with farmers and cooperatives while paying top dollar for quality green coffee. What’s more, the company deals exclusively in organically grown coffee.

The Peruvian Suyo I bought from Noble really blew me away. Produced by Raúl Gonzáles Huisa, this 100% Typica is fully washed before undergoing drying on raised beds.

I was impressed by the balanced acidity and soft mouthfeel, as well as the coffee’s light, delicate body. I tasted notes of dried fruit, nuts and bittersweet chocolate in the cup, with a hint of jasmine on the finish. Plus, the Suyo’s pleasant brightness really came to the fore as it cooled.

Resident Coffee Roasters Rwanda Gasharu

Resident Coffee Roasters has only been in business since 2020, making it a relatively new player in the specialty coffee scene. However, the company’s passion for exceptional coffee has quickly made it a popular option for those in Florida and beyond.

I was super excited to see a Rwanda coffee on the company’s website and snapped up a bag for this list. Let’s just say I wasn’t disappointed – this natural process Red Bourbon is absolutely fabulous.

The product of a multi-year relationship with its producer, this Rwanda Gasharu is bursting with tropical fruit and citrus. I also loved its crisp acidity and full body. Plus, I was happy to learn that Resident’s importing partner for this coffee has worked for decades to help improve the living situations for coffee farmers in the country. 

Boon Boona Coffee Dur Feres

I’m a total sucker for East African coffee, so it seemed only fitting to include a roaster that specializes in coffee from that region. Based in Seattle, Washington, Boon Boona Coffee was the brainchild of Efrem Fesaha. His mission was to highlight the coffee beans and coffee culture of his family’s native Eritrea, and today the Boon Boona cafes often feature a traditional coffee ceremony.

I decided to buy Boon Boona Dur Feres, which is a single origin coffee from the Guji region of Ethiopia. This natural process heirloom varietal offers up everything folks love about natural Ethiopians. By that, I mean prominent notes of blueberry and cocoa nib.

In my experience, it’s a coffee like this that really blows pour over newbies away, seeing as it’s so approachable and the notes are easy to identify. So, if you;re starting out on your pour over journey, look no further!

Vesta Coffee Roasters Loma La Gloria

Coffee probably isn’t the first thing that springs to mind when you think of Las Vegas. However, in my opinion Vesta Coffee Roasters is the main attraction in Sin City!

Founded in 2015, Vesta now has four stylish cafes, but that hasn’t changed the way the company does business. In fact, Vesta is committed to sourcing the highest quality green coffee around, as well as developing lasting relationships with farmers around the globe.

A Pacamara varietal grown in El Salvador, this Loma La Gloria is an outstanding yellow honey process coffee, especially as pour over.

I really enjoyed its soft mouthfeel and elegant, well-balanced cup profile. Featuring a subtle brightness, I was able to pick up on notes of brown sugar and fig. Still, I was a little mystified by the roaster’s green grape tasting note. Then again, everyone’s palate is different!

Onyx Coffee Lab Decaf Colombia Inzá San Antonio

The last thing I’d ever want to do is alienate my caffeine-sensitive readers. So, I made sure to include a decaf coffee on this list.

To be honest, choosing which one to buy was a no-brainer. In fact, having already tried decaf coffee from Onyx Coffee Lab, I kinda knew what to expect. Namely, a decaf coffee that actually tastes good!

All too often, decaf coffee is roasted way too dark, but Onyx Coffee Lab knows better. Its Decaf Colombia Inzá San Antonio features a medium-dark roast profile, so you aren’t just tasting bittersweet, carbonic notes. Sure, there’s a little of that here, but it doesn’t overwhelm the intrinsic notes of the beans. In fact, Onyx sourced these beans with decaffeination in mind, seeing as they knew the sweet apple and sugar flavors of the coffee wouldn’t be lost.

All in all, I was very impressed with this coffee and can highly recommend it to decaf drinkers.

Presta Coffee Roasters Julio Peralta Natural Anaerobic

I’ve long been a huge fan of Tucson, Arizona-based Presta Coffee Roasters. These guys consistently offer some of the most unique coffee beans you’ll ever find, often highlighting cutting-edge processing methods.

I jumped at the chance to buy a bag of natural anaerobic coffee from Presta, and I’m so glad I did! Grown and processed by Julio Peralta on his farm in Nicaragua, this coffee is produced using renewable energy and minimal water.

Plus, Peralta has been experimenting with taking the fermentation in natural processing to a new level by also using controlled anaerobic fermentation. It’s pretty complicated, but check out my post on anaerobic coffee to learn more.

As for this single origin Nicaragua’s cup profile, I was definitely able to identify a strawberry sweetness and hints of banana and spice. What’s more, the finish was long and sweet, highlighting the coffee’s incredible depth and complexity.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting to get into manual brewing, I hope my curated list of the best coffee beans for pour over has given you some inspiration on which beans to buy next.

That said, bear in mind some of these offerings come and go, so they might not still be available. Then again, all the roasters I’ve featured offer excellent alternatives to any of the options on my list.

Ultimately, pour over coffee is the best way to really appreciate high-quality specialty coffee beans. So, all that’s left to say is happy brewing folks!