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Fundamentals
Water temperature
Water temperature can change how your coffee tastes, but you don’t need a special kettle or thermometer to get started. For most pour-over and other filter methods, water that’s just off the boil is a useful default—roughly 195–205°F (90–96°C). If you’ve boiled water in a regular kettle, let it sit for about 30–60 seconds before pouring. That’s close enough for a first try; you can fine-tune later if you want.
Lighter roasts often taste better with hotter water, while darker roasts can turn bitter if the water is too hot, so many people brew them a little cooler. Cold brew skips heat entirely and relies on time instead.
Quick takeaways
- Just off the boil is a good default.
- Cooler water for dark roasts, hotter for light roasts.
- Use clean, good-tasting water.