The owner and pour-over expert of Nobrow Coffee in Salt Lake, Joe Evans, took some time to teach me the steps of making the perfect cup of coffee using the pour over method.  After much picture taking and coffee talk, I sat and savored every sip. Yes, me the one who usually adds a spoonful of honey and steamed milk to even the finest of brews.

Since we live in a state where conversion is a common topic, this morning, I’m giving my best shot to convert you to a straight-up black coffee drinker, pour-over style coffee. So what exactly is the pour-over method? It stems from the idea that traditional coffee brewing doesn’t bring the best flavor out of your beans.  By pouring hot water slowly over freshly ground beans, you’re extracting the best flavor, and thus the trendy drink gets its name, ‘The Pour-Over.’

After heating the water and grinding the beans, you place a coffee filter (disposable or metal) inside the ceramic coffee dripper, which sits on top of a small pitcher or a personal sized mug.

Then, you slowly and carefully use a special kettle to pour the hot water down the center of the coffee grounds. There are two trains of thought here- some pour in a circular movement and others pour straight through the center. Joe made the argument that pouring through the center forces the water to clog slightly and evenly distribute around the beans. The coffee grounds should puff up slightly like a well made souffle, then fall gently and evenly before forming a cone towards the hole at the bottom.  I appreciated the food analogy of course, something I could grasp on to with this new idea. After making chocolate souffles several times I know how gentle they must be made and how, when made perfectly, they rise and fall at their appropriate times.

After all of the water has seeped through the ceramic filter, you are ready to pour the hot coffee into your mug and enjoy. And believe me, you will enjoy it.  This is when coffee tasting is comparable to wine tasting. Every pour-over cup accentuates the nuances of the beans. From floral aromas to hints of nuttiness, the flavors are much more pronounced in a pour-over. I’m talking about rich smooth coffee with a perfectly oily surface and a flavor that is pleasurable and savory.  Did you ever think a cup of black coffee could be that good?!

As the coffee scene in Salt Lake City grows, so does the access to good beans.  Nobrow offers some of the most award winning coffees around the country, including Heart Coffee, Intelligentsia, Handsome, and Ritual, among others. This week Nobrow is offering a special on pour-overs, mention SLC Foodie to receive a handcrafted pour over for just $2.50 this Thursday through Saturday.

Nobrow sells the several of the items you use to make a pour-over at home, as does Williams Sonoma.

Nobrow Coffee
address: 315 E 300 S
Mon-Fri 7am to 6pm
Sat-Sun 8am to 6pm
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What do other foodies have to say about the Pour-Over Coffee
Amateur Gourmet on Pour-Over Coffee
Bon Appetite on the Merits of Pour Over
The Kitchn on How to Brew Great Coffee