The pour-over coffee method is simple in principle but highly effective and remarkably rewarding.
All you need to do is pour some hot water – aim for temperatures between 195F and 205F – over freshly ground coffee beans. The slow extraction through a filter gives you lip-smacking coffee with relatively little effort.
The most complicated part of the process is mastering the slow pour required. Investing in a great gooseneck kettle will streamline pouring. Beyond this, some of the more forgiving brewers we review today take care of the flow automatically, allowing you to simply pour the water in and let the dripper do the rest.
To make perfect pour-over, you’ll need some equipment to make your life easier, including:
For best results, you should always grind your beans right before brewing. Coffee beans degrade rapidly when exposed to air and light, so do yourself the service of blitzing them just before brewing. A burr grinder will deliver the best results, and they are not especially expensive.
Assuming you have everything you need in place, what should you consider when you’re comparing pour-over coffee makers?
Now, if you keep these simple pointers in mind, you should have no problem choosing the best pour-over coffee maker the easy way.
Dive in!
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The 13 Best Pour Over Coffee Makers
1. Our #1 Pick: Chemex Pour-Over Glass Coffee Maker
Features
First up and our overall favorite in today’s collection of the best pour-over coffee makers comes from industry legend Chemex. What can you expect from this simple but effective drip set-up, then?
From a design standpoint, this carafe makes a strong visual statement. The curved borosilicate glass is complemented by a wooden accent with leather trim.
The glass is more than just great to look at, though. The hardwearing borosilicate construction means the carafe is much less flimsy than those made from regular glass. This material also discourages any aromas and residue from tainting the coffee in your cup.
You’ll need to use Chemex bonded filters in this pour-over brewer. You can choose from 4 different filters all compatible with this model.
To keep this brewer clean, all you need to do is remove the wooden handle and then wash it with some warm soapy water. Alternatively, pop it in the dishwasher with confidence for hands-free cleanup.
As with all the best pour-over coffee makers, though, this Chemex is just the start of the supplies you will need. See our buying guide above for some more pointers on how to get the best out of this rewarding if challenging brewing method.
Aside from a handful of complaints about the poor quality of the packaging, there is not much else to knock about this enduringly popular pour-over coffee maker.
2. Hario V60 Ceramic Dripper
Features
Hario is another heavy hitter in the pour-over coffee space. This Japanese firm produces a deep bench of simple but remarkably effective coffee drippers, so what do you get for your money with this iteration?
Firstly, this version of the iconic V60 dripper is made of ceramic. You have several other options if this doesn’t make the right fit. As outlined above, ceramic drippers are thicker and sturdier than glass drippers, and they won’t taint the coffee in your cup either.
Choose from the classic white dripper or one finished in vibrant red if you want an injection of color in your kitchen.
The conical shaped dripper comes equipped with just one large hole. This means that you can only regulate flow through the speed of pouring. Spiral ribs inside promote a first-class extraction every time.
As with many of the best pour-over coffee makers, you’ll be locked into using proprietary filters, but these are both inexpensive and extremely efficient, as well as reducing the hassle of cleaning up after you brew.
Like all ceramic drippers, the Hario is impressively insulated, completing a winning package from a brand you can trust.
3. Kalita Wave 185 Drippers
Features
Kalita is another Japanese brand with a reputation for producing some of the best pour-over coffee equipment out there.
You’ll first need to decide whether you want a single dripper, or a multipack containing 2, 3, or 4 drippers. Go all-in and let everyone in the family enjoy pour-over coffee without any special barista skills.
This 185 dripper is an oversized model, allowing you to make up to 4 cups of coffee in a single sitting.
Boasting 3 holes as well as a patented Wave filter – the dripper is named for this – you’ll benefit from a robust and even extraction, even if you’re a beginner to the art of pour-over.
While most users sing the praises of this effective and affordable coffee dripper, we found a number of complaints concerning the small base and the tendency of this coffee maker to tip over if you don’t use it with care.
If the stainless steel build of this dripper doesn’t appeal, you can also find the 185 Wave in both glass and ceramic.
You do not get any filters included with the coffee maker, so you need to make provision for these if you want to start brewing right out the box. While you will be obliged to use proprietary filters, these are not only readily available but also quite cost-effective.
If you want a great pour-over coffee maker to get started mastering this demanding but satisfying brewing method, you can’t go wrong with Hario.
4. OXO Brew Pour-Over Coffee Maker
Features
Next up in our showcase of the best pour-over coffee makers is a pocket-friendly offering from OXO in the form of the Brew.
For newcomers to the art of pour-over coffee, this brewer makes a superb entry point. You can get all the advantages of the brewing method, but without needing deep experience brewing coffee.
The automatic nature of the dripping means you won’t need to stand around with a gooseneck kettle carefully regulating the pour. Instead, add your water and let this ingenious device do all the hard work for you.
The pattern inside this dripper is designed to promote an even extraction with your coffee grounds being perfectly saturated.
A couple of hole sizes helps the water to flow at a controlled rate and ensures you get gourmet coffee with almost no effort required on your part.
Made from BPA-free plastic – the material is known as Tritan – you won’t get any toxins or contaminants leaching into your drink. Use #2 unbleached filters for best results. You get a pack of 10 thrown in with this brewer.
As long as you don’t mind sacrificing a little control, the OXO Brew is perhaps the most user-friendly pour-over coffee maker up for grabs. Does it make the right fit for your home kitchen, though?
5. Melitta Pour-Over Coffee Brewer
Features
Melitta is one of the most reputable brands in the pour-over coffee space, specializing in this brewing method since the early 1900s. Indeed, they invented the pour-over approach to making coffee in 1908, and they have been winning fans the world over ever since.
This glass and plastic coffee brewer allows you to make up to 6 small cups of delicious pour-over with relatively minimal effort.
The coffee dripper is made from plastic, but this contains no BPA or other toxins liable to leach into your drink. All you need to do is pop a filter inside – use Melitta #4 filters – and some ground coffee.
The drip opening is medium-sized, helping you to achieve a controlled pour without any concerns about spillage.
With a couple of viewing holes built in, you can keep your eye on proceedings and stave off any potential overflowing.
This setup undeniably makes great pour-over coffee, but the only real gripes we found among much positive user testimony concerns the overall flimsiness of this brewer. If you need something more substantial, we would recommend some of the stainless steel pour-over coffee makers we review.
Once you’re done brewing and ready to enjoy your pour-over coffee, you can slide this brewer into the dishwasher on the top rack. What more could you ask for?
6. Bodum Pour-Over Coffee Maker
Features
Bodum is a brand famous for their world-class French presses, so how do they fare with this pour-over coffee maker?
Off the bat, you get a rugged borosilicate glass carafe. This is arguably the best material for carafes. It’s much more rugged than traditional glass, so you won’t be on tenterhooks worrying about breakage. Beyond this, the non-porous nature of the material stops coffee residue building up, and it also prevents any aromas from tainting the end result in your cup.
If you have been put off embracing the pour-over method due to the perceived difficulty, the Bodum might make you rethink this. Pop some freshly ground coffee into the brewer. Grind this right before brewing for best results. Next, pour in your off-boiling water (aim for 195F to 205F) and wait for the rich and full-bodied result.
Cleaning the brewer is just as easy, with this unit completely dishwasher friendly.
While the filter is stainless steel, the surrounding cage is made of plastic, not to everyone’s liking.
Overall, this is an attractive and efficient pour-over coffee maker, enabling you to make up to 8 cups for the whole family and guests.
7. Coffee Gator Pour-Over Coffee Maker
Features
Coffee Gator is a powerful brand with a great range of innovative coffee brewers. How does this pour-over coffee maker stand and fall, then?
You’ll first need to choose which size of carafe makes the best fit from the following options:
- 5oz
- 14oz
- 27oz
This iteration is the midsized 14oz carafe, allowing you to make up to 3 cups of pour-over in each small batch. Singles may find the smaller carafe preferable, while larger families should opt for the range-topping 27oz model.
The glass carafe feels solid enough, and the stainless steel filter saves you from the ongoing expense of replacement filters. This is easy to wash and keep clean, too.
All components are free of BPA and other harmful contaminants, so you can kick back and enjoy your pour-over with a clean conscience.
The only complaints we found in predominantly positive user feedback concern the difficulty of disposing of the spent coffee grounds. This is one of the primary drawbacks of reusable filters, so consider whether you would find this a mild inconvenience or a complete deal-breaker.
Treat yourself to a great ceramic burr grinder and a pour-over kettle and this brewer will give you everything you need to start enjoying barista-grade coffee at home.
8. Hario Woodneck Drip Pot
Features
We have another entry from Hario up next in the form of this woodneck coffee dripper. How does it differentiate itself in a crowded pack?
You can’t fail to be impressed by the design of this dripper. Looking like something you would find in a science lab, this pour-over coffee maker comes with a glass carafe and a top finished in rich acacia wood.
The filter is extremely effective. Made from a thick and soft flannel, you’ll ensure that all the coffee grounds stay behind rather than making their way into your cup. The extraction encouraged is slow, so you’ll get a flavor-filled and richly aromatic drink with very little effort required on your part.
Available in two sizes, choose between this 240ml carafe ideal for up to 2 cups of coffee, or opt for the beefier 480ml model allowing you to make 4 cups of pour-over per batch.
Meaning king of glass in Japanese, Hario remains the most dominant force in a crowded market segment. If you’re serious about making great pour-over and you don’t mind digging deeper for quality, we can’t recommend this dripper highly enough.
9. Melitta Pour-Over Coffee Maker
Features
Melitta enters the fray once more with this ceramic dripper that’s well worth a place on your shortlist.
This simple dripper is finished in ceramic, potentially the best option when you’re comparing pour-over coffee makers. You won’t get any taint to the coffee in your cup like you do with plastic, and ceramic is much more hardwearing than glass.
To get you started, Melitta throws in a whole box of filters, a small but welcome touch. Use brown #2 filters when you need to replace them.
You also benefit from a detailed guide to making great pour-over thrown in. If you take the time to master this brewing method, you’ll find it hard to make coffee any other way. The Melitta lets you impress your guests without needing to become a barista to achieve it.
Most user reviews for this model are pretty positive, but we found several reports of the rapid steeping time impacting extraction. If you feel this might detract from your enjoyment, explore some of the other pour-over coffee makers above and below.
The Melitta is beloved by coffee aficionados the world over, so why not consider getting this brewer as a gift this year for a coffee lover in your life?
If you’re looking for one of the best pour-over coffee makers for beginners with everything you need thrown in, it’s got to be Melitta.
10. Kalita Wave Glass Pour-Over Coffee Maker
Features
Kalita serves up this glass pour-over coffee maker and it makes a commanding statement on the kitchen counter. Is it a case of form over function, though?
Absolutely not! Make sure the single-cup capacity meshes with your needs. If you need to brew larger batches, Kalita offers plenty of bigger brewers.
If the single-serve size suits, you’ll be amazed at the richness and depth of flavor in the coffee this dripper generates.
Designed to work wonderfully with the proprietary filters, water is encouraged to pool on the top, keeping the extraction even and minimizing agitation.
The flat bottom of this dripper will fit on almost any coffee mug, as well as most carafes, so brew in the way that best fits and enjoy top-notch coffee in minutes flat.
The key selling point of this dripper is its versatility. Whether you are a complete beginner to making pour-over or a much more experienced hand, you get the right extraction every time with this ingenious device.
This is one of the best pour-over coffee makers out there as you would fully expect from Kalita. Make sure you can access the filters readily, whether online or in-store, and get ready to upgrade your coffee game for 202.
11. Melitta Gourmet Coffee Maker
Features
We have another entry from the inimitable Melitta next in the form of the Gourmet Coffee Maker. Does it deliver as promised, though?
Well, everything about the design and build shows the deep expertise of this company. Melitta kickstarted the whole pour-over brewing method back at the start of the twentieth century, and they have been refining the art ever since.
The porcelain carafe needs handling with care but yields a clean and crisp extraction. The generous capacity allows you to make up to 6 small cups of coffee in each batch, ideal for all the family.
You’ll need to use #4 Melitta filters. These are disposable so you won’t be faced with any messy cleanup once you’ve brewed your pour-over coffee. You get a pack of these filters chucked in so you can brew right out the box. All you’ll need is some great fresh coffee beans.
Not only is this brewer super-simple to use, but it’s also safe to slip in the dishwasher. Make sure to place it on the top rack and you’ll be good to go.
As long as you don’t mind mastering an initial learning curve, you’ll find this is one of the best pour-over coffee makers, perfect for beginners and baristas alike.
12. Chemex Glass Pour-Over Coffee Maker
Features
Chemex is one of the biggest brands in the pour-over coffee vertical, so how does this coffee maker shape up?
Well, like all Chemex brewers, you get a borosilicate glass build. This non-porous material is much more robust than regular glass, and it’s also completely non-porous. What this means is this no chemical residue or nasty smells absorb to spoil the coffee in your cup.
The cork and leather insert adds a nice touch of contrast and completes a striking appearance.
If you decide to use the brewer to make some cold brew coffee, you can cover the carafe and place it directly into the refrigerator. That way, you can enjoy a steady supply of intense coffee concentrate that should stay fresh for up to 2 weeks when refrigerated and covered.
You can make up to 3 cups of coffee per batch with this brewer, making it a great option for singles, couples, and small families.
13. Mr Clever Coffee Dripper
Features
Last but by no means least in today’s quest for the best pour-over coffee makers comes from Mr Clever. Is it any good, though?
In a word, yes. The plastic build will polarize opinion, but the Tritan material is free of BPA and other contaminants. That said, if you are not happy with plastic parts in your coffee maker, check out some of the many alternatives above.
Although you will need to use proprietary paper filters, you’ll get a bumper box of 100 included.
A nifty shut-off valve baked in traps your coffee until brewing is complete, saving you from becoming an expert at pouring coffee.
With a coaster and lid to complete a winning bundle, why not give this pour-over maker from Mr Clever a try?
FAQs
1) What is the best coffee to use for pour-over?
Opt for a single-origin coffee bean. The delicacy of this brewing method means all the intricate flavors are drawn out, while the extraction process sucks out the aromas and oils from the beans and traps them in the filter.
2) How much coffee should I use when making pour-over?
This will depend on the brewer and the amount of coffee you want to brew. What counts is the ratio of coffee to water, and when you’re making pour-over, use 1 part coffee to 15, 16, or 17 parts of water. Experiment until you dial in your perfect extraction.
3) How can I make pour-over coffee?
First, heat some water to between 195F and 205F. If you don’t have access to a thermometer, boil the kettle and then let it stand for 30 seconds to achieve water in this temperature band. Alternatively, invest in a smart kettle with digital temperature control. Kettles with a long goose neck work well for pour-over. As a rough guideline, use 9g to 11g of freshly ground coffee for every 6oz cup of coffee you want to make. More important is the ratio of coffee to water, as outlined just above. If you want to easily dial in your preferences, use a digital scale to weigh your coffee and note down the amounts used. Before you start brewing pour-over coffee, you’ll need to rinse the filter. This will remove any lingering taste of paper, and you will also warm your brewer, priming it for brewing. To do this, just pop the brewer into the dripper. Pour some water in a circle, ensuring that you fully soak the sides. Rinse for about 5 seconds then ditch the water you used. You now need to grind your coffee beans. Using a fine grind will give you a more flavorful pour-over coffee, but you might find it slightly bitter for your liking. A coarser grind, by contrast, makes a much sweeter cup of pour-over. The drawback to using a coarse grind is that the coffee can end up under-extracted and weak, as well as potentially more acidic. Split the difference, then, and roll with a medium grind. You should aim for a consistency that’s something like sand or sea salt. Add your ground coffee to the rinsed filter. Now it’s time for the pouring part of pour-over. This is divided into two parts: blooming and the brew time. For the purposes of blooming, add a little water to your coffee grounds. Allow the coffee to soak up the water. You will notice the grinds start to swell and rise. They will also bubble. Blooming only takes around 30 seconds, so do not skip this vital step. Now start slowly pouring the rest of your water over the coffee grounds. You should do this very slowly. Begin pouring at the center then move outward in an increasingly widening spiral. This will ensure that you saturate all of the coffee grounds evenly. Continue pouring until you have added the right amount of water relative to coffee for your chosen ratio.
4) How often should I clean my pour-over coffee maker?
Clean your pour-over brewer if you can smell any nasty aromas, and after every few uses. You want to avoid any buildup of coffee residue as this will end up impairing the end result in your cup.
5) Why is it necessary to grind my beans right before brewing?
As soon as you grind coffee beans, they are exposed to the elements and the process of oxidation begins. This will cause both the flavor and aroma of the beans to be rapidly impaired. This is why instant coffee seldom tastes good, and the same applies to single-serve capsules. By the time this coffee hits the shelves, it’s already well past its best. By buying fresh whole beans, you’ll save money over buying pre-ground, and you’ll also end up with a better coffee in your cup.
6) What water should I use when making pour-over?
Use either bottled water or filtered water for the crispest and cleanest pour-over coffee. When over 90% of the coffee in your cup is actually water, why sell yourself short?
Conclusion
We very much hope today’s comprehensive guide to comparing the best pour-over coffee makers has helped clear up any confusion.
You may have seen baristas laboring with gooseneck kettles and asked yourself whether pour-over is worth the effort. If you invest in any of the drippers we review today, though, you will soon be enjoying the best extractions at home without needing any special skills.
