How Do I Know When My Pour-Over Is Done?
The brew is done when all water has drained through the coffee bed — but when you stop pouring and whether you let it fully drain both affect your cup quality.
⚡ Quick Answer
Your pour-over is complete when all water has drained and the coffee bed has a flat, dry-looking surface. The key indicators: the dripping slows to occasional drops, total brew time is 2:30–3:30 for a V60 (depending on dose), and the coffee bed looks flat rather than domed. If your total brew time is consistently outside this range, adjust grind size. Don't stop the brew early — let it fully drain for consistent results.
🎯 Key Takeaway: 2:30–3:30 total brew time is the target for most V60 recipes. Use total time as your primary calibration tool — adjust grind finer (slower) or coarser (faster) to hit this window.
⚙️ Visual Completion Cues
The bed looks flat and dimpled
When fully drained, the coffee bed settles flat (sometimes with a slight depression in the center). A still-domed or raised bed means water is still draining — wait for it to settle completely.
Dripping transitions to occasional drops
The flow from the V60 slows gradually. When you see individual drops rather than a thin stream, you're in the final drainage phase. The brew is complete when drops stop entirely.
You've poured your total water volume
You stop pouring when you've hit your target water weight on the scale. The brew is complete when that water fully drains. This is why weighing with a scale is the most reliable method.
✅ Target Brew Times by Recipe Size
15g / 240ml
2:15–2:45
Single cup target
20g / 320ml
2:30–3:15
Standard 2-cup target
25g / 400ml
3:00–3:45
Large batch target
When You Might Stop Early
Most of the time, let the brew complete naturally. However, if your last pour or two has significantly exceeded your target time and the drips are very slow, you can lift and remove the V60 early — the final few milliliters from a stalled drawdown can contribute bitterness from over-extraction of the very fine particles in the bottom of the bed.
If you're consistently stopping early to manage taste, the real fix is to address why your V60 drains too slowly — usually a grind that's too fine.