Comparison of the pros and cons of Americano and pour-over coffee

Although hand-poured coffee is becoming more and more popular, there are still many cafes that use fully automatic drip machines to brew coffee.

The automatic drip coffee machine is equivalent to the "hand-brew barista" in these stores. Of course, we are not talking about the cheap drip machines for home use, but modern professional high-tech drip machines that can set parameters such as temperature, water volume, and speed.

The principles of hand-brewed coffee and drip coffee machines are the same, both use the gravity of water to brew coffee slowly and evenly without high pressure.

The only difference is that one is made by hand, and the other is made by machine. Both hand brewed coffee and drip coffee have their own advantages and disadvantages, so the production methods can be adjusted and switched in different situations.

Advantages of American drip filter

Once the parameters are set and the coffee beans are added, the output will be fast and stable.
If the coffee shop has a large flow of customers, the consistency of each cup of coffee can be guaranteed.
Although a good drip coffee maker will cost significantly more than a pour-over machine, you’ll likely save time and money in the long run.

Disadvantages of American drip filter

Compared with pour-over coffee, baristas interact less with customers
At the end of the workday, the coffee beans left in the machine are thrown away and wasted.
Since each coffee shop has different practices and standards, the coffee you get may not be fresh. The longer the coffee stays in the drip coffee machine, the lower the quality.
Serving different types of coffee requires an almost equal amount of drip equipment in order to provide timely service.

Advantages of hand pouring

By pouring coffee, baristas can create an experience for their customers. Beyond the actual taste of the coffee, the human element can be a decisive factor in whether a customer will become a repeat customer.
Pour-over allows the barista to control and adjust every detail of the brewing process.
When time permits, the barista can customize the pour-over to the customer's preferences.
Some cafés offer a variety of single-origin coffee beans, sometimes as many as 10 or 12. With hand pouring, the barista can quickly adjust each coffee based on its origin.
Hand brewing equipment is cheaper than drip coffee machines. Although it takes more time to make coffee, it is more enjoyable to watch.

Disadvantages of hand pouring

Slow production speed - When a cafe is crowded and many people order hand-brewed coffee, it will increase the waiting time for customers.
Consistency is a challenge in itself — especially during busy times when the barista may not have the time to give your hand-brewed coffee the full attention it deserves.
While baristas spend more effort and time brewing coffee for their customers, many customers may not really taste the difference between hand-poured coffee and machine drip.
If too much emphasis is placed on the method of pour-over coffee, it may end up distracting customers from the actual quality of the coffee.