Pour-Over Coffee Is Not Just a Beverage; It’s a Lifestyle

I used to be a cappuccino girl. But then COVID-19 happened.

Without access to an espresso machine, I reluctantly switched to black coffee, thinking it was just a temporary adjustment. Little did I know, there would be no turning back. Black coffee has since become my go-to: it's simpler, saves money and calories, and requires only a few pour-over tools.

Yet, despite my newfound habit of brewing hand-pour coffee, I never appreciated it as an art. To me, the process felt like a chore. Waiting for the water to drip through the filter and grinding the beans seemed tedious. My constant thought was, "Ain’t nobody got time for this." As long as the coffee was drinkable, why bother being so particular about the details? Not to mention, the act of pouring water and watching it drip was unbearable. All in all, I was just restless.

But something changed after I stumbled upon a documentary titled Exploring the Unknown, featuring Chinese celebrity Wang Yibo. While I’m not a fan, I enjoyed his character in The Untamed, which is based on a novel by one of my favourite authors. In the documentary, he embarked on a wild, adventurous journey through forests, caves, and even underwater. It was rugged and raw, yet amidst it all, he had his hand-pour coffee kit.

Despite the harsh conditions and limited resources, he insisted on brewing himself a good cup of coffee every morning. He spoke about how making coffee was a ritual—a moment of calm he carved out of his hectic schedule. It was just a passing comment about his routine, but it struck me deeply.

"Look at him," I thought. "He’s an A-list celebrity with a packed schedule, yet he takes the time to make himself a proper cup of pour-over coffee. And here I am, acting like I’m too busy—as if I’m the President or something!"

That’s when it hit me: the problem wasn’t the coffee-making process. It was me. I had become so restless, so detached from the present moment, that even small tasks like brewing coffee felt like an ordeal. My constant excuse of"I don’t have the time" was just a cover for how little peace and focus I had in my life. I craved instant gratification, a habit that had spiralled to unhealthy levels.

Recognizing this, I reached out to a friend who happens to be an award-winning barista. I spent half of my Sunday in the café that he works at, learning the proper way to brew a good cup of pour-over coffee. To my surprise, I discovered that the entire process, when done correctly, takes less than five minutes. Five minutes! A tinyyyyy fraction of the time I waste mindlessly scrolling on my phone.

Over the past few days, I’ve started practising the art of making hand-pour coffee. I approach it patiently and quietly, treating it as a meditative ritual. I remind myself that not everything in life needs to be rushed. I deserve a calm, focused morning before diving into the chaos of my to-do list.

That said, I’m far from perfect at making a good pour-over coffee. But I’ve noticed that this simple ritual has brought a sense of gratitude and mindfulness to my day. It’s a small change, yet it’s shown me that “life can be good in such a simple manner.”