Okay, so I’ve been wondering about this whole “pour-over versus regular drip coffee” thing, especially when it comes to cost. Like, is it really cheaper to make pour-over at home? I decided to put it to the test, a very non-scientific, totally-just-me test.
My Little Experiment
First, I had to actually, you know, do pour-over. I already had a cheap plastic dripper I got a while back, and some paper filters. No fancy gooseneck kettle, though – just my regular electric kettle. I figured that was a good starting point for a “budget” comparison.
Step 1: Gathering My Usual Stuff
- Regular Drip Coffee: I normally use pre-ground coffee, the kind you get in a big can. I grabbed the one I usually buy.
- Pour-Over Coffee: I bought a bag of whole bean coffee, same brand, just…not ground yet.
- Filters: Already had both kinds, so that was easy.
Step 2: The Brewing
I made my usual pot of drip coffee, noting how much coffee I used (eyeballing it, of course). Then, I ground the whole beans for the pour-over. The grinding part was a bit of a pain, to be honest. My little hand grinder got a workout!
Making the pour-over itself took longer, obviously. You gotta slowly pour the water, let it bloom, all that jazz. It felt very…involved, compared to just pressing a button on my drip machine.
Step 3: Taste Test and Cost Breakdown
Honestly, the taste difference was there. The pour-over was…smoother, maybe? Less bitter? I’m not a coffee expert, but I could tell something was different.
Now, for the cost part. I tried to figure out how many “servings” I got out of each type of coffee, based on how much I usually drink. It was rough, but I think I figured it out.
- The bag cost is almost the same.
The Verdict (Kind Of)
It’s a little bit cheaper! With the electric machine the electric fee is a big problem!
So, yeah, my super casual experiment showed that pour-over, using whole beans, can be a tiny bit cheaper in the long run. But honestly, the time and effort involved might not be worth it for everyone. If you’re all about convenience, stick with the drip. If you enjoy the ritual and want to explore that “better” taste, pour-over might be your thing. It really depends on what you’re looking for!
