How to Fix Slow Coffee Drainage: Easy Pour-Over Tips for Better Flavor
Compared with controllable variables like water temperature, grind size, dose, and ratio, brew time tends to be more random and passive. For many beginners, it’s also one of the hardest parameters to master—yet it’s the best indicator of whether your flow rate is on track. Many home brewers have told me that they often run into slow drainage during a pour-over, which forces the brew time to drag on. To prevent over-extraction, some people even lift the dripper off early as a last-minute rescue. So what causes this? And more importantly—how do you fix it? Brew Time Whether online or face-to-face, I always emphasize that your final pour should ideally finish between 1:30 and 1:40 , and the total drawdown should wrap up around 2:00 ± 10 seconds . In other words: Shorter than this → flow rate is too fast → likely under-extracted Longer than this → flow rate is too slow → likely over-extracted This isn’t the only correct standard—but it fits my usual brew framework: 15g ...