Slow Pour Coffee - The Art of Intentional Brewing

Feb 1

3 min read

At Virtuous Cycle Coffee, we believe coffee is more than just a beverage—it’s an experience. That’s why we are passionate about slow pour coffee, a brewing method that not only elevates the flavors in your cup but also brings value to your life.

We’ve dedicated ourselves to sourcing only Specialty Grade Coffee, meaning the top 20% of quality coffee available. Our craft is centered around roasting for sweetness and brewing with intention—every step matters. The result? A cup of coffee that helps you appreciate the artistry behind each bean and each sip.

Let’s be honest—grocery store shelves and a Keurig won’t even get you close to unlocking the full potential of what coffee can do. But what if we could eliminate hurry from our lives and create space for meaningful connections and the “good stuff” in life? Slow pour coffee is one way to do just that.

We hope to inspire you to carry this same intentionality into your daily coffee rituals. By slowing down, appreciating the craft, and sharing the experience with others, you’ll find joy in something as simple—and as extraordinary—as a great cup of coffee.

Benefits of Slow Pour Coffee

Slow pour isn’t just a brewing method—it’s a mindset. Here are a few key ways it enhances your coffee experience and your daily life:

1. Sets the Tone for Your Day

Rather than rushing through your morning routine, slow pour coffee encourages you to start your day with a sense of pace and intentionality.

2. Lowers Anxiety Through Mindful Preparation

The slow, deliberate steps of brewing a pour-over can be a meditative practice, helping to create a peaceful rhythm that counteracts the stress of daily life.

3. Enhances Your Ability to Taste Nuanced Flavors

Unlike some rushed brewing methods, slow pour brings out the delicate flavors, aromas, and complexities in your coffee.

4. Provides Flexibility to Experiment

Slow pour allows you to adjust your brew to match your taste preferences. Whether it’s by changing the grind size, altering the water temperature, or trying different coffee origins.

5. Helps You Learn and Observe What Makes Each Coffee Unique

The process encourages you to engage your senses—to smell, taste, and observe how different beans and roast levels impact the final cup.

How to Brew a Slow Pour Coffee

Let’s walk through the steps of making a slow pour coffee so you can experience this intentional brewing method for yourself,

Step 1: Select Your Coffee, Equipment, & Vessel

Coffee: We recommend starting with a specialty-grade coffee, that was roasted in the last 1-8 weeks.
Equipment: You’ll need a pour-over dripper, filter, coffee server, electric kettle, and a scale.
Vessel: A ceramic or glass cup helps you to feel the coffee's warmth and connect with the experience.
Water: Heat Water between 195-205 degrees fahrenheit. Set kettle to hold temp.

Step 2: Weigh and Grind Your Coffee

Use a 1:16 coffee-to-water ratio (20g coffee to 320g water for two cups).
Grind your coffee to a medium-fine consistency. (Do this right before brewing using a Burr Grinder)
Smell the freshly ground coffee and notice the aromas before brewing.

Step 3: Prep Your Filter and Equipment

Place the filter in your pour-over dripper, and rinse it with hot water to eliminate any papery taste. (Empty rinse-water before brewing)
Set Coffee pitcher on scale, Set dripper with filter on coffee pitcher. Add the coffee grounds into the filter. Tare it to zero..
Check that your water temp about 200°F (93°C).

Step 4: Bloom and Pour in Phases

Bloom Phase: Gently pour about 40g of hot water over the grounds in a spiral motion. Just enough to wet the grounds and let it bloom for 30 seconds.
Pour in Stages: Uses a Spiral motion to gradually pour the remaining water in increments (160g, 240g, and finally 320g).
Observe the colors, textures, and aroma changes as the coffee brews.