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First of all: What is a pour-over stand, and when should you use it? The whole philosophy of pour-over coffee is a rather large conversation to tackle in one place. If you're reading this, we'll assume you're already on board with the idea of pour-over coffee. (If you're not—or if you just want a science lesson for the day—read this article for all the details on why pour-over coffee is so delicious.)

Incorporating a stand into your setup prevents setting the ceramic filter directly over the cup so you don't overfill the cup, among other added benefits of flavor, freshness, and routine.

Step 1. Make the Cuts

For a double pour-over stand, cut your wood into two 10 in. pieces (for a single stand cut into two 5 in. pieces).

Step 2. Cut the Copper Pipes

Next, you'll need to cut your copper pipe to size. We made it tall enough to fit a standard coffee cup underneath, with a little additional space for those mornings when we need a 24 oz. mug. We used a hacksaw, and made the initial indentation by pulling the saw towards us until a little groove appeared. Then we proceeded to cut the pipe: four leg pieces, and two pieces for the handles. Here are the measurements:

• Legs - 7 1/2 in.
• Handles - 3 in.

Step 3. Sand Each Piece

After making these cuts, sand the end of the copper pipe to ensure the ends are smooth and will fit into the casings seamlessly.

Step 4. Clean With Steel Wool

Then, use steel wool to smooth the copper and clean it up. We love the muted finish we ended up with.

Step 5. Make the Measurements

Next, measure where the pipes will fit into the wood—3/4 in. from each corner.

Step 6. Drill Holes for the Copper Pipes

It's time to drill. Use a 5/8 in. spade bit that matches the diameter of the copper pipes. Stack the wood on top of each other, and clamp it down. This will provide a backing for the drill, and will prevent splitting around the hole.

Drill all the way through the top piece, and then only part way through the bottom. You can tape off your drill so that you stop as soon as the point of the spade bit breaks through on the other side. This will be the base of the stand where the copper pipe will seat.

Step 7. Create Holes

Next, use a 2 1/2 in. hole saw that matches the size of the ceramic coffee pour-over dripper. Create two holes 2 1/2 in. away from either end in the top of the stand (the piece with the pipe holes drilled all the way through). Because the hole saw can give a mean kickback, make sure to clamp down your wood for this step, and brace yourself while drilling. If you've never used a hole saw before, make sure you practice on some scrap wood. The key is to get it spinning really fast before you make contact with the wood, and then ease it in gently.

Step 8. Sand the Wood

Now it's time for sanding. The wood we're using is already pretty smooth, but you'll want to sand down all the cut and drilled edges so your morning cup of coffee doesn't include splinters.

Step 9. Secure the Handles in Place

Using a metal adhesive, attach the elbows to the handles and then to the legs. Push the pipe through the top piece of wood and apply glue just below the elbows so that when you slide it into place it adheres to the wood. Apply glue to the sides and bottom of the holes in the base piece. Now fit in the copper legs. Wipe away any excess glue, and rub down with steel wool if needed.

Step 10. Apply Mineral Oil

Wipe the boards with mineral oil as a nontoxic protectant for the wood. Apply with a rag or paper towel.

Step 11. Enjoy Your Coffee

Now enjoy your coffee! We used Pura Vida coffee. You may recognize it, as it's served at all Dunn Lumber locations. Pura Vida Coffee creates Fair Trade organic coffee, and it's pretty tasty!

Please note, we didn't have the proper pour-over kettle on hand. We know. But we'll let you in on a little secret: The coffee still tasted pretty good.

Tips For Making Great Pour-Over Coffee

We did find a few great posts about how to make the perfect cup of pour-over coffee. Here's a summary from one article that was really helpful.

You'll need:

• a grinder
• a small digital scale
• a swan neck kettle (you can use any kettle, but the swan neck kettle controls the water flow)
• a dripper
• a pour over filter

1. Boil 500 ml. of water
2. Pour 150 ml. of water through a dry filter. This removes any paper taste and warms the cup for your coffee
3. For 1 cup of coffee, use 20 g. of coffee to 320 g. of water (1:16 ratio), and use beans that are ground to about the consistency of granulated sugar.
4. Dump the coffee grounds into the filter, and slowly pour 40 g. of hot water over it, then pause. This allows the coffee to bloom and swell as it absorbs water and releases gas.
5. Let it rise for about 45 seconds before steadily pouring the remaining water over the grounds in a circular, evenhanded motion. This should take a little more than two minutes, for a total brew time of three to three and a half minutes.