I used to struggle with finding the right coffee beans for my pour-over brew. Some were too bitter, others too weak, and a few just didn’t have that rich aroma I craved. Pour-over coffee is all about balance—flavor, aroma, and freshness—and using the wrong beans can ruin the experience.
After trying different brands and flavors, I finally discovered what makes a perfect pour-over coffee bean. It all comes down to freshness, roast level, and origin. The right beans bring out the smooth, bold, and delicious taste that makes pour-over so special.
If you love pour-over coffee but aren’t sure which beans to choose, you’re in the right place. Keep reading to find the 8 best coffee beans for pour-over in 2025!
Not all coffee beans are created equal when it comes to pour-over brewing. There are several key characteristics that make some beans better suited for this manual method:
Roast Level: Light to medium roasts are generally considered the sweet spot for pour-over. These roast levels allow the beans’ natural flavors to shine without becoming overly roasty or bitter.
Flavor Profile: Pour-over brewing emphasizes a coffee’s bright acidity, fruity notes, and floral aromas. Beans with these delicate, nuanced flavors tend to perform better than heavy, dark-roasted varieties.
Bean Origin: Single-origin beans, especially those from renowned coffee-growing regions like Ethiopia, Guatemala, and Colombia, often offer the most complex and interesting flavor profiles for pour-over.
Processing Method: Naturally processed and honey-processed beans usually have a more pronounced sweetness that pairs well with the pour-over’s clean, crisp mouthfeel.
Grind Size: A medium-coarse grind is ideal for pour-over, ensuring balanced extraction without over-extraction or channeling.
To curate this list of the top 8 coffee beans for pour-over in 2025, we considered several key factors:
Freshness & Roast Date: We only included the freshest, high-quality beans roasted within the last 4 weeks. Freshness is crucial for maximizing flavor and aroma.
Flavor Complexity: We looked for beans that exhibited a balance of acidity, sweetness, and nuanced aromas – the hallmarks of an exceptional pour-over experience.
Brewing Consistency: We tested each coffee using various pour-over devices like the V60, Chemex, and Kalita Wave to ensure consistent, delicious results.
Sustainability & Ethical Sourcing: All the beans on our list are either certified organic, fair trade or sourced directly from ethical producers who prioritize sustainability.
Customer & Expert Reviews: We cross-referenced ratings and reviews from coffee enthusiasts, baristas, and industry experts to validate our selections.
Roast Level: Medium-light Tasting Notes: Jasmine, lemon candy, chocolate Origin: Blend of Ethiopian and Central American coffees
Why It’s Great: Mother Tongue’s Mugshots blend is a true masterpiece for pour-over. This expertly crafted combination of African and Central American beans delivers a perfectly balanced cup with floral jasmine and bright lemon candy notes, complemented by a rich chocolate sweetness. The medium-light roast allows the coffee’s nuanced flavors to shine, making it an excellent choice for pour-over enthusiasts.
Roast Level: Medium-light Tasting Notes: Peach cobbler, caramel, jasmine Origin: Cuzco, Peru (Certified Organic)
Why It’s Great: Noble Coffee Roasting’s Peruvian Suyo is a top-notch organic option for pour-over. Sourced from the Cuzco region of Peru, this coffee boasts a smooth, syrupy mouthfeel and a delightful flavor profile of peach cobbler, caramel, and jasmine. The medium-light roast brings out the bean’s natural sweetness and complexity, making it a fantastic choice for ethical coffee drinkers who prioritize sustainability.
Roast Level: Light Tasting Notes: Melon, grape juice, Jolly Rancher Origin: Lake Kivu, Rwanda
Why It’s Great: If you’re a fan of bold, fruity flavors, Resident Coffee Roasters’ Rwanda Gasharu is a must-try. This light-roasted single-origin coffee from the shores of Lake Kivu in Rwanda delivers a symphony of juicy, candy-like notes, including melon, grape juice, and a jolly rancher. The bright acidity and clean, delicate mouthfeel make it an exceptional pour-over experience.
Roast Level: Light Tasting Notes: Berries, cocoa nib Origin: Guji, Ethiopia
Why It’s Great: When it comes to pour-over, it’s hard to beat the iconic flavors of an exceptional Ethiopian coffee. Boon Boona’s Dur Feres, sourced from the renowned Guji region, is a shining example of the country’s coffee prowess. This light-roasted gem exhibits delightful notes of fresh berries and cocoa nib, with a vibrant acidity that is perfectly suited for pour-over brewing.
Roast Level: Light Tasting Notes: Green grape, sugarcane, fig Origin: Quetzaltepec, El Salvador
Why It’s Great: Vesta Coffee Roasters’ Loma La Gloria is a true standout in the pour-over realm, thanks to its unique honey processing method. This Salvadoran coffee showcases a remarkable flavor profile of green grape, sugarcane, and fig, with a syrupy mouthfeel and natural sweetness that pairs exceptionally well with the pour-over brewing technique.
Roast Level: Medium-dark Tasting Notes: Red apple, raw sugar, maple Origin: Cauca, Colombia
Why It’s Great: Just because you’re opting for a decaf doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice flavor. Onyx Coffee Lab’s Decaf Colombia Inzá San Antonio is a prime example of a delicious, full-bodied decaf that holds its own in a pour-over. With its inviting notes of red apple, raw sugar, and maple, this medium-dark roast delivers a rich, sweet experience that will satisfy even the most discerning coffee drinkers.
Roast Level: Medium-light Tasting Notes: Strawberry shortcake, banana bread, mango Origin: Nicaragua
Why It’s Great: For those seeking a truly unique pour-over experience, look no further than Presta Coffee Roasters’ Julio Peralta Natural Anaerobic. This Nicaraguan coffee undergoes a specialized anaerobic fermentation process, resulting in a flavor profile that’s unlike anything you’ve tasted before. Expect bold, fruity notes of strawberry shortcake, banana bread, and mango, all beautifully highlighted by the pour-over method.
Roast Level: Light Tasting Notes: Stone fruit, apple, melon, bergamot Origin: Loja, Ecuador
Why It’s Great: If you’re looking to support ethical and sustainable coffee practices, Ilse Coffee’s Ecuador Juan Peña is an excellent choice for pour-over. This light-roasted single-origin bean from the Loja region of Ecuador boasts a bright, aromatic profile with notes of stone fruit, apple, melon, and bergamot. Beyond its exceptional flavor, this coffee is sourced directly from one of Ecuador’s top farmers, ensuring fair wages and environmental stewardship.
To maintain the optimal flavor and aroma of your pour-over coffee beans, proper storage is essential. Here are some tips to keep your beans at their peak:
Use an Airtight Container: Store your coffee beans in an airtight container, such as a Mason jar or a specialized coffee canister. This prevents oxidation and protects the beans from moisture, which can quickly degrade the flavor.
Keep it Cool and Dark: The ideal storage environment for coffee beans is a cool, dark place, like a pantry or a cabinet. Exposure to heat, sunlight, and humidity can all accelerate the staling process.
Avoid Freezing or Refrigerating: Contrary to popular belief, freezing or refrigerating coffee beans is not recommended. The sudden temperature changes and condensation can damage the bean’s structure and flavor.
Consume Within 2-4 Weeks: For maximum freshness, aim to use your coffee beans within 2-4 weeks of the roast date. After this window, the beans will begin to lose their vibrant flavors and aromas.
Achieving the perfect grind size is crucial for pour-over brewing, as it directly affects the extraction process and the overall cup quality. The ideal grind size for pour-over is medium-coarse, which strikes a balance between even extraction and a clean, crisp mouthfeel.
If the grind is too fine, the coffee will be over-extracted, resulting in a bitter, unpleasant taste. Conversely, if the grind is too coarse, the coffee will be under-extracted, leading to a weak, watery brew.
To ensure consistent grind size, it’s best to use a high-quality burr grinder, as opposed to a blade grinder, which can produce an uneven particle size. Experiment with your grind setting to find the sweet spot that works best with your specific beans and brewing equipment.
The best coffee beans for pour-over are typically light to medium roast, with bright acidity and floral or fruity notes. Look for single-origin beans from renowned coffee-growing regions like Ethiopia, Guatemala, and Colombia.
No, coffee beans do not age well and will lose their freshness and flavor over time. It’s best to use coffee beans within a few months of the roast date for the optimal pour-over experience.
The ideal grind size for pour-over is medium-coarse. This ensures even extraction without over-extraction or under-extraction, resulting in a balanced, nuanced cup of coffee.
Some of the best coffee varieties for pour-over include Ethiopian, Kenyan, Guatemalan, and Colombian beans. These origins often produce coffees with bright acidity, delicate floral notes, and complex flavor profiles that excel in pour-over brewing.
Finding the right coffee beans for your pour-over brew can make all the difference. The perfect beans bring out smooth flavors, rich aromas, and a well-balanced taste that enhances your coffee experience. Whether you prefer light, medium, or dark roasts, choosing high-quality, freshly roasted beans is key to a delicious cup.
Now that you know the 8 best coffee beans for pour-over in 2025, it’s time to elevate your coffee game! If you want premium-quality beans carefully selected for pour-over brewing, check out Brew Avenue Coffee. Their expertly roasted beans deliver the perfect balance of flavor and freshness. Visit Brew Avenue Coffee today and brew the perfect cup!
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