How to Grind Coffee Beans for Pour Over Brewing

By Breville | Published: 2026-10-21

Category: How-to Guides

Learn the ideal coffee grind size for pour over and how to set your burr grinder for a balanced, flavorful cup. Step-by-step guide with common mistakes to avoid.

Quick Answer

For pour over brewing, aim for a medium-coarse grind — similar to sea salt. Use a conical burr grinder with adjustable settings to dial in the right particle size for your specific filter and brew time.

Why Grind Size Matters for Pour Over

The grind size directly controls how quickly water flows through the coffee bed. A grind that is too fine will over-extract, making the coffee bitter and causing the brew to stall. A grind that is too coarse will under-extract, producing a weak, sour cup. For pour over, the goal is a balanced extraction that highlights clarity and sweetness without harshness.

Burr Grinder vs Blade Grinder: Which to Use

A conical burr grinder like the Breville Smart Grinder Pro gives you consistent particle sizes, which is essential for even extraction in pour over. Blade grinders produce uneven chunks and fines, leading to unpredictable brew times and muddy flavors. If you want repeatable results, a burr grinder is the right tool.

Step-by-Step: How to Grind Coffee for Pour Over

Step 1: Choose the Right Grind Setting: Start with a medium-coarse setting. On the Breville Smart Grinder Pro, this is typically around setting 30-40 on the 'cups' dial. The particles should look like coarse sea salt — not powdery and not chunky. If your brew time is under 3 minutes, the grind is too coarse. If it exceeds 4 minutes, it is too fine.
Step 2: Measure Your Coffee Dose: Use a scale to weigh your beans before grinding. A standard ratio is 60 grams of coffee per liter of water (about 15g per 250ml cup). The Smart Grinder Pro's dose control lets you set the exact number of cups or shots, but weighing ensures accuracy. Volume-based scoops are inconsistent. Always weigh your beans for repeatable results.
Step 3: Grind Just Before Brewing: Grind only the amount you need for that brew. Coffee grounds start losing aroma and flavor within minutes of grinding. The Smart Grinder Pro grinds directly into a portafilter or an air-tight container, minimizing exposure. Never grind a whole bag in advance. Stale grounds will ruin even the best pour over technique.
Step 4: Check Your Brew Time: After your first pour, time the drawdown. For a standard 250ml pour over, the water should finish dripping through in 3 to 4 minutes. If it is faster or slower, adjust the grind setting one or two numbers finer or coarser and try again. Keep a brew log with the setting and time so you can replicate your best cup.

Recommended Tool

the Smart Grinder™ Pro: With 60 unique settings, this programmable conical burr grinder maximizes the potential of any brew. Choose between 'cups' for French Press or Filter and 'shots' for Espresso to get the right dose for the coffee you're brewing. The wide range of settings lets you fine-tune the grind for different pour over methods, and the dose control helps you grind the exact amount needed without waste.
the Smart Grinder™ Pro