Pour over is one of the most popular manual methods for brewing coffee. It has recently regained popularity with the introduction of specialty coffee, and with tools like Hario V60 or Chemex widely available, many people gave it a go.
However, there’s still a number of people who are still intimidated by pour-over and all the tools it requires just to make a cup of coffee. Why does it require a lot of tools? Is it really worth the time and effort?
To do Pour-over correctly, measuring and timing are everything! You have to measure the amount of coffee ground and water, and you have to time every step. So to do your pour-over, you’ll need a grinder, a scale and a timer. That’s a whole lot of things just to make coffee. And it’s okay, many people enjoy the process of making coffee this way, and that’s exactly what matters.
Now if you’re one who have always wanted to try pour-over but don’t want to buy all those accessories, or even find it such a hassle to do all the steps required, you’ll like what Mr. Coffee has created in this coffee maker.
What Is Mr Coffee All in One Pour Over Coffee Maker?
You’ve probably seen some automatic pour over coffee makers that imitate the method of pour over (blooming, showerhead water spray and so on… Bonavita and Moccamaster are fist to come to mind), which is a great solution for anyone who wants the taste of a pour-over cup but don’t want to do any of the work. This coffee maker is not one of those…
Mr Coffee Pour Over Coffee Maker is still somewhat of a manual method of pour over, but it guides you through the process entirely to make it easier for beginners. It has everything you need for the perfect pour over built into it (including a scale and a timer!)
The coffee maker consists of:
- Electric gooseneck kettle
- Cone dripper and a glass pot.
- The base that holds it all together.
The base of the coffee maker is where all the magic happens. The interface of base unit displays step by step guide to help you make the perfect brew:
- Select the amount of coffee you’re brewing: 2, 4 or 6 cups.
- The guide will prompt you to add your coffee ground and it will automatically measure the correct amount with the built-in scale. Once you have added enough coffee, it will prompt the next step…
- Adding water is also measured using the built-in scale. Now you’ll have to slowly pour in the water in circular motion until the progress bar is full. First, you’ll add just a little to allow your coffee to bloom, then you’ll add the rest of the water required for your serving size.
- How long do you have to wait? The base unit has a timer, too. While it doesn’t show you the time in seconds or minutes, it does tell you to wait and continue when you need to.
Is The Mr. Coffee Pour Over Coffee Maker Worth It?
This coffee maker makes a great all in one solution for someone who wants to start using pour over as their brewing method. It includes everything you need except for the grinder.
If you’re a beginner, you’ll love the ease of use this coffee maker provides. In fact, even if you start getting the hang of things, in pour over, you’ll always need your coffee and water scaled and timed. So even if you advance in your brewing method, the automatic guidance will still be useful.
The question is, is it worth the effort? This is only for you to decide. Pour over is a manual method that takes a bit of time and effort on your part. It is important that you like taking time off to make your coffee manually and enjoy the process of preparing your coffee. If you’re someone who wants a quick cup of coffee or don’t have the time, this is not a machine for you. I’d highly recommend getting an automatic pour-over coffee maker that automates the whole thing and makes your coffee for you with a push of a button (while getting the same results). However, if you ever feel like you want to take a real coffee break, and take your time doing it, this would be a cool way to do it.
One thing to keep in mind is, this machine does not have a warming plate to keep coffee hot. When it comes to manual brewing, keeping your coffee on constant heat is not recommended as it makes the coffee bitter. So only make the amount you’ll be consuming at the time.
Another thing about Mr Coffee Pour Over is, if you plan on experimenting with recipes (use different measurements of coffee to water ratios…), it will be hard to do so using this machine. As it doesn’t show you exactly in grams the amount coffee or water you’re using, it’s hard to know the exact recipe you’re following. The display only shows you that you’ve used the correct amount for the coffee volume you want to brew, but not the exact measurement. So if you feel like you want to experiment or use different ratios, you’re better off buying your tools separately.
Recommended Grinders for Pour Over:
Getting your coffee grind right is as important as everything else in pour over. If you’re using the wrong grind, your coffee will not taste good. A hand grinder is always a great option to start with, here are a few high rated recommendation:
