Pour over coffee is positively brilliant. It doesn’t necessarily require complex machines, but rather relies on technique and skill. Using the best pour over coffee maker to complement your technique paves way for amazing coffee.
A lovely aroma and taste are pretty much standard with pour over coffee! Given the relatively simple design and high popularity, there’s quite literally a mile-long list of coffee makers available. We’ve sifted through available options to shortlist the best and most remarkable coffee brewing options for pour-over goodness.
Top Pour Over Coffee Makers For Your Shopping Wishlist
- Bodum Pour Over Coffee Maker
- OXO BREW Single Serve Dripper Auto-Drip Pour-Over Coffee Maker
- CHEMEX Pour-Over Glass Coffeemaker
- Kalita Wave Pour Over Coffee Dripper
- Hario V60 Size 02 Pour Over
- Clever Coffee Dripper
- Coffee Gator Paperless Pour Over Coffee Maker
- Hario Woodneck Drip Pot
- LHS Slow Drip Coffee Filter Metal Cone
- ZERO JAPAN Ceramic Coffee Dripper
- Melitta #2 Porcelain Single-Cup Pour Over Coffee Brewer
- Maranello Caffé Pour Over Coffee Dripper Stainless Steel
- Bean Envy Pour Over Coffee Maker
- Gvode Pour Over Coffee Maker
- Sanyo Sangyo Pour Over Coffee Dripper
- Yama Glass Pour Over Coffee Maker
Editor’s Choice: CHEMEX Pour-Over Glass Coffeemaker
CHEMEX Pour-Over Glass Coffeemaker is pretty much an obvious choice! The remarkably well-made coffee maker is famous for its lovely brew. Its borosilicate carafe and quality build are remarkable aspects of this pour over coffee maker.
Editor’s Choice: Hario V60 Size 02 Pour Over
No surprise here either. Hario V60 has been the darling of pour over coffee brewers ever since it burst on the scene. The company has maintained its quality and the variety of available options makes it a great pick. Hario V60 dripper is easy to use and paves the way to flavorful and delicious coffee.
Reviewed: Top Pour Over Coffee Makers
1. Bodum Pour Over Coffee Maker
Bodum Pour Over Coffee Maker is a popular pick – and for good reason! This is a top-quality coffee maker from a trusted brand and it’s priced quite attractively. Though it comes at a low price, corners have not been cut.
Its carafe is made from durable and heat-resistant borosilicate glass. The neck of the carafe gets a nice insulating ring in a few colors and materials. You can choose between silicone or cork covering for the ring.
Moving towards the inside, Bodum Pour Over Coffee Maker uses a reusable metal filter. The stainless steel mesh filter is quick and easy to work with. It’s fine enough to prevent larger grounds, but as with all metal filters, it will let some grounds through.
Bodum’s coffee maker is one of the quicker ones in brewing pour over coffee. You’ll have your coffee ready in just about four minutes.
Pros
- Attractive pricing
- Excellent build quality
- Simple to use
- Removable insulating cuffs available in several colors
- Quick to brew
Cons
- The coffee can be muddy
2. OXO BREW Single Serve Dripper Auto-Drip Pour-Over Coffee Maker
If you’re new to brewing pour over coffee, this is just the coffee maker you wanted. It’s like preparing coffee with training wheels. Yet, this is a carefully crafted coffee maker, not some newfangled contraption to get coffee moving.
OXO BREW Single Serve Dripper Auto-Drip Pour-Over Coffee Maker includes a lid, drip tank, and a cup-style dripper. For several new users, getting a steady stream of water from a gooseneck kettle is challenging. That problem is taken care of with the inclusion of the drip tank.
Basically, you just add water to the tank and cover it with a lid. Water flows through the numerous holes on the tank, soaking coffee grounds evenly. In a way, this could be considered to the showerhead design used in automatic pour over coffee makers. Only this time, it’s applied to a manual drip coffee maker.
The dripper has ribbed walls to encourage coffee flow and to maintain a steady brewing rate. And it fits snugly over standard-sized mugs. You’ll need conventional cone coffee filters with this machine.
The holes in this coffee maker are different-sized and have different flow rates. Don’t be alarmed if you use this coffee maker – that’s a feature by design.
I like how it makes things simple and yet manages to brew an excellent cup of joe. It’s certainly excellent for beginners, but experienced users too will admire the simplicity and straightforward use of this coffee maker.
Pros
- Attractive pricing and great value for money
- Simple and straightforward approach to brewing pour over coffee
- Clear measurements (up to 12 oz) show brew size clearly
Cons
- The water reservoir looks like flimsy plastic and doesn’t inspire confidence in its construction
3. CHEMEX Pour-Over Glass Coffeemaker
There it is… the market leader and the apple of the eye of pour over lovers. I probably shouldn’t be gushing over a coffee maker, but it’s hard to be a coffee lover and not love the CHEMEX Pour-Over Glass Coffeemaker.
The coffee maker’s carafe is made from high-quality borosilicate glass. And yes, it does feel like a quality item when you hold it in your hands and compare to similar cheaper carafes. The high-quality glass doesn’t stain and won’t absorb or impart flavors to or from the coffee.
From a wide base, the carafe contours gracefully to the neck and then flares up again to accommodate the filter. At the neck of the carafe, you’ll find a stylish wooden collar that keeps it insulated (and also makes it easier to lift the carafe). If you’re more comfortable with handles, Chemex Glass Handle Series will fit your requirements just fine.
The carafe has a rather pronounced spout that guides the coffee for pouring and studiously avoids any spills. Chemex is dishwasher safe, though hand washing is recommended. Remember to remove the wooden collar before you wash the coffee maker.
Chemex uses paper filters for brewing coffee. The company recommends using Chemex bonded filters.
Pros
- High-quality construction
- Classic design
- Brews great-tasting coffee
- Available in several sizes and designs
Cons
- Notably expensive compared to its competition
Buy this coffee maker or,
Browse the Chemex storefront to explore the full offerings
4. Kalita Wave Pour Over Coffee Dripper
Kalita Wave is another famous coffee dripper for pour over goodness. The coffee maker gets its “Wave” name for a wave pattern in the dripper. This pattern reduces the contact of the filter with the walls of the dripper. That way, coffee can stay hotter, and the extraction process is encouraged to move on briskly.
Working in tandem, the dripper and the pattern ensure better extraction, without falling prey to turbulation. It’s a simple and elegant solution. For the user, there isn’t much of a change, but for the coffee maker, things undergo a marked change.
Kalita Wave is available in several colors and sizes (like stainless steel drippers). Our selection here is made from heat-resistant glass. It’s clear, looks, great, and doesn’t affect the taste or flavor of coffee. The dripper’s base is carefully crafted to fit most cups or carafes with relative ease. You’ll need Kalita Wave Paper Filters to work with this coffee maker.
This is essentially a plastic free coffee maker. While there is plastic at the base, it never comes in contact with the coffee. Its purpose is simply to form a grip over the cup or carafe where the dripper is placed.
Pros
- Excellent design
- Steady, delicious coffee brewing
Cons
- The class can be fragile
5. Hario V60 Size 02 Pour Over
Another famous pour over coffee maker, Hario V60 Size 02 Pour Over has practically been at the center of the pour over coffee revolution. The dripper cup is available in several materials, sizes, and colors.
While plastic is the cheapest, I’ll suggest you skip that and pick glass, ceramic, or metal options. They’re just better and healthier choices.
Hario says that the spiral ribs and the cone shape of the dripper work to bring out the inherent fruity flavors and taste notes in the coffee. The result is a splendid brew that brings out the lovely flavors of your favorite coffee beans.
You can buy this straight off dripper or a starter set that includes a ceramic dripper and borosilicate glass server with a BPA-free plastic handle. The server is heat-resistant and can be placed over a stove flame (but not electric stoves). If you do put it over a flame, watch out for the handle – even if it’s a mild flame!
You’ll have to use Hario paper filters with this coffee maker.
Pros
- Excellent build quality
- Brings out the flavors and taste notes of coffee
- Great brew quality
Cons
- Somewhat expensive compared to its peers
See the Hario V60 dripper on Amazon
Get the Hario Simply Coffee Pour Over Set
6. Clever Coffee Dripper
Clever Coffee Dripper is no more clever than other drippers, but it is an interesting pick nonetheless. It takes on a rather taller look, rather than the conventional coffee cup look that most drippers take.
The large dripper is made from BPA-free plastic and can brew up to 18 oz. It includes an automatic shut-off valve at the base (mechanical) that lets coffee through only when the dripper is placed on a mug or carafe. It’s a nice touch, I just wish it worked better! The dripper requires paper filters for brewing coffee.
Pros
- Reliable, sturdy construction
- Maintains a good flavor profile for the brew
Cons
- Made of plastic
- The auto shut-off valve is unreliable
7. Coffee Gator Paperless Pour Over Coffee Maker
Coffee Gator Paperless Pour Over Coffee Maker uses a stainless steel coffee filter. It doesn’t need any paper filters and instead keeps its faith in the precise laser-cut metal coffee filter. A cool-touch grip is available on the filter to make removing it easier.
The carafe is made from a heat-resistant glass and has a reliably well-made collar for insulation. If collars on carafe aren’t your style, Coffee Gator Paperless Pour Over Coffee Maker also offers a conventional carafe with a handle.
Pros
- Good value for money
- Reliable, well-made coffee filter
- Available in several sizes
Cons
- The carafe is prone to breaking
8. Hario Woodneck Drip Pot
Another take on the pour over coffee maker dripper from the well-known company, Hario Woodneck Drip Pot takes the path of a reusable cloth coffee filter. I think the best part here is that the setup looks positively beautiful.
The pour over coffee pot is carefully crafted. Its bottom is curvy and circular, and tapers to the center where a wooden collar provides both insulation and grip. After this, the coffee pot flares towards the top and creates enough room to hold the filter with handle.
Hario uses reusable cotton flannel filters for the handle. Just add coffee to the filters and let it rest over the coffee pot as you add water. The cloth allows good extraction and eventual dripping of the coffee, but it slows down the process enough for quality brewing.
The cloth filter doesn’t absorb any oils so the flavor of the coffee is fully maintained. The reusable filters are easy to use and replacements are easily available.
Pros
- Excellent looks and design
- Brews flavorful and delicious coffee
- Reusable cloth filters are easy to use, wash, and replace
- Multiple size and appearance options
Cons
- The glass is thin and the unusual shape of the coffee pot puts it at risk of chipping
9. LHS Slow Drip Coffee Filter Metal Cone
As its name says, LHS Slow Drip Coffee Filter Metal Cone is pretty much just a coffee funnel. I’d like to say this is a dripper, but hey, look at it – it’s a metal funnel. To its credit, it does behave like a dripper. Coffee drips slowly from the base and can be collected in a carafe.
For its use as a dripper, LHS Slow Drip Coffee Filter Metal Cone includes a wide metal base with a silicone ring. The purpose of the ring is to keep the dripper stable when it’s placed over a cup or carafe. However, given its shape and design, the best use of this drip coffee filter is when it’s placed inside a carafe as a permanent filter.
It’s not really the best dripper, but it is a remarkable filter. Plus, the extended top makes it easy to add/remove this filter from a pour over coffee carafe at your convenience.
Pros
- High-quality construction – made from 18/8 food-grade stainless steel
- Robust design
- Can be used as a dripper or coffee filter
- Easy to clean and maintain
Cons
- Water flows fast, leading to reduced extraction time and weaker coffee
10. ZERO JAPAN Ceramic Coffee Dripper
Ceramic pour over dripper from Zero Japan takes a rather interesting, almost artistic approach to its looks. The free-flowing curves on the coffee maker add a touch of aesthetics while maintaining usability.
Several straight, almost vertical lines are placed inside the concave walls of the dripper. These help with flavor extraction and encourage robust movement of water from the dripper to the carafe.
Coffee eventually moves from two spout holes at the bottom and moves to the carafe. Clear windows are placed at the bottom of the dripper to enable you to see the flow of coffee. ZERO JAPAN Ceramic Coffee Dripper requires conical paper coffee filters.
Pros
- Excellent design and aesthetics
- Easy to use
- Good extraction and flavors
- Microwave and dishwasher safe
Cons
- Base shape can be too narrow for some mugs and carafes
11. Melitta #2 Porcelain Single-Cup Pour Over Coffee Brewer
Melitta’s offering is a high-quality dripper and coffee mug combo. The ceramic dripper is made to fit nicely over the included mug, so you’ve got the full set ready. Of course, it’s easy to use with other mugs and carafes as well.
There are vertical lines inside the dripper to better manage the filter and extraction process. You can use any cone filter with it, though Melitta obviously recommends their cone filters. This is available as a single cup pour over coffee maker.
Pros
- Good, reliable design
- Attractive pricing
- Convenient to use
Cons
- The hole is too big and coffee can end up weak
12. Maranello Caffé Pour Over Coffee Dripper Stainless Steel
Maranello Caffé Pour Over Coffee Dripper Stainless Steel is built as a classic steel filter, though it can be used as a dripper as well. When used as a dripper, this cone filter coffee maker uses a wide steel base to stay stable over a cup or carafe. However, truth be spoken, its true talent lies in being a filter for a carafe.
The filter is made from stainless steel. It has two layers; a mesh inner layer and a laser-cut outer filter. It’s a sturdy and well-built filter. Maranello Caffé Pour Over Coffee Dripper is dishwasher safe. However, given the dual layers, it can take some effort to clean.
Pros
- Made from 18/8 food grade stainless steel
- Can be used as a dripper or filter
- Robust, reliable construction
Cons
- Can be difficult to clean
13. Bean Envy Pour Over Coffee Maker
Bean Envy Pour Over Coffee Maker takes the route of a simple and sturdy build. It includes a glass carafe and a dependable metal filter that fits snug into the neck of the carafe. The glass carafe has a handle for this coffee maker, rather than the increasingly popular sleeve/collar.
The carafe is made from high-quality borosilicate glass that’s resistant to thermal shock. Moreover, the glass doesn’t stain or absorb (and impart) any odors to the coffee. To highlight its credentials, Bean Envy says the carafe uses a thick glass.
Most glass carafes, even those made from borosilicate glass, risk easy breaking my random accidents. A thicker glass would be helpful. However, claims aside, this doesn’t seem to be an especially thicker glass as compared to other offerings. Nevertheless, it’s a robust construction with good credentials.
Pros
- Carafe made from high-quality borosilicate glass
- Includes reusable metal filter made from 18/8 stainless steel
Cons
- Requires regular thorough cleaning or the filter can get clogged
14. Gvode Pour Over Coffee Maker
The classic carafe look finds another useful coffee maker in the form of Gvode Pour Over Coffee Maker. It’s pretty much the same classic look with carafe made from borosilicate glass. You get a permanent metal filter that does its job pretty well and won’t need any paper filters.
Gvode use a handle for their coffee maker rather than a collar. They should’ve used a collar. The handle doesn’t seem to be stable and keeps the coffee maker on edge. It’s also liable to breaking. Speaking of breaking, the carafe feels rather flimsy. I would not bet on this lasting a long time.
Surprisingly, it is priced quite higher than its seeming value. At this point, I’d probably just buy the Bodum Pour Over. Or, if I wanted something expensive, add a few more bucks and get a Chemex.
Pros
- Makes good, flavorful coffee
- The metallic filter is useful and dependable
Cons
- Questionable construction quality: The glass and carafe feel flimsy
15. Sanyo Sangyo Pour Over Coffee Dripper
It’s common for drip pour over cups to have patterns on their interior to aid the flow and extraction of coffee. Sanyo Sangyo Pour Over Coffee Dripper seems to take it a notch further. It has very prominent pattern lines – and they go very nicely with the porcelain and ceramic body of the dripper.
The dripper is available in several colors and a few material options. Again, avoid plastic and the other materials are just fine.
Pros
- Good looks and design
- Keeps coffee flavor and aroma intact
Cons
- Aggressive patterning makes it slightly tougher to clean
16. Yama Glass Pour Over Coffee Maker
Yama Glass products have a penchant for being delicately beautiful. I’m still floored by the lovely Yama Glass Cold Brew Coffee Maker. While the pour over coffee maker doesn’t have the same complexity (or levity) as the cold brew coffee maker, the design language makes itself very apparent.
The carafe is made from top-quality CD-6 borosilicate glass and takes on a sturdy construction. Well, it’s a glass carafe, so the sturdiness is subjective, but yeah, it does have a good feel. An almost symmetrically placed glass handle is provided for maneuvering the coffee maker. If you’re not a fan of glass handles, a variant with heat-resistant sleeve is also available.
Yama Glass Pour Over Coffee Maker employs a reusable metallic filter. The filter is made from stainless steel, and much like the glass, doesn’t affect the taste of the coffee. Overall, a pretty functional and great looking combination.
Pros
- Excellent looks and design
- Brews great coffee
- Carafe and filter made from high-quality materials
Cons
- The metal filter needs a more reliable construction
Buying Guide And Things To Know About Choosing The Best Pour Over Coffee Maker
Does It Have To Be Manual Or Can I Get Best Automatic Pour Over Coffee Maker
Generally, when we say pour over coffee, we think and expect the manual process. However, that’s not always the case. Many drip coffee makers these days employ the principles of pour over brewing to make great coffee. There’s a wide range of automatic pour over coffee makers. In fact, several of them are SCAA-certified coffee makers.
While taking the manual route is still popular. Your drip coffee maker might be running on the principles of pour over coffee as well!
Pour Over vs Drip Coffee Makers
There is a very fine, perhaps blurry line of understanding the terminology between pour over and drip coffee makers. It wouldn’t be overstating that both these setups have come over together and often overlap. As we’ve just seen, several automatic pour over coffee makers are available as conventional drip coffee makers.
Similarly, the cup-style pour over coffee maker is often called the dripper. So there isn’t an empirical answer to pour over vs drip coffee makers. For the sake of conciseness and clarity, often the difference is simply seen as the manual vs automatic operation.
Alternatively, you could say that pour over coffee makers make a greater effort to uniformly work with all coffee grounds.
Again, that wouldn’t be true, strictly speaking. It’s not that quality drip coffee makers ignore proper extraction and brewing.
So, though it isn’t entirely true, it would be acceptable to say drip coffee makers run on electricity. Pour overs require manual effort.
We could discuss the origins and journey of pour over coffee and drip coffee. However, for their modern use and distinction, the history lesson won’t matter!
Glass Pour Over Coffee Maker
One of the most popular materials for making pour over coffee makers is glass. As we see, many of these are carafe-style glass pour over coffee makers. It is the favored material for brewing pour over coffee, but of course, glass isn’t the only material available.
You could as easily brew a coffee into ceramic carafe or steel carafe. There are popular pour over coffee makers made from steel, or using thermal carafes. Though they didn’t make the cut to our list, they’re worth mentioning here. Melitta Pour Over Coffee Brewer with Stainless Steel Thermal Carafe is a good pick. Another notable option is the Asobu Insulated Pour Over Coffee Maker.
Tips To Making The Most Out Of Your Pour Over Coffee Maker
Coffee Beans And Grind Are The Key Elements
Getting the best pour over coffee maker is only a job half done on the path to brewing lovely coffee. The key elements still remain the coffee you use. For best results, start with freshly roasted coffee beans. Though coffee beans can last a long time, they are generally best used within a month of roasting.
Next comes the grind. Freshly ground coffee beans are the best pick for flavor and taste notes. Grind the beans fresh before brewing and use them as soon as you can. General recommendations say fresh ground coffee shouldn’t stay on for more than 20 minutes.
Getting a quality burr grinder is the best option because consistent grind quality is especially important for pour over coffee. Set your grind to medium or medium-coarse and let it do its job.
It’s a good idea to experiment with grind size until you hit that sweet spot. Pour over coffee usually needs medium to medium-coarse grind. A fine grind will clog the filter (especially metallic filters) and lead to a lot of grounds/sludge in your brewed coffee. Might even cause a hint of bitterness.
On the other hand, going overly coarse will result in a weak and watery drink. Play around with the grind size a bit – burr grinders make it remarkably easy to finetune grind size requirements.
Understand Filters For Brewing Coffee
What is a pour over coffee maker? In all its forms, it’s usually coffee grounds placed inside a filter on which hot water is poured. The most commonly used filters are paper filters and metallic filters, though cloth/fabric filters may also be used.
Paper filters absorb some oils from the coffee. They’ll also give you a clearer brew by preventing some fine grounds from passing through. Poor quality filters can have a problem where they transfer the filter’s paper (or cardboard-like) taste to coffee. So always use good quality filters. Some people even run their filters under water before use to remove any unwanted taste.
Essentially, a paper filter will absorb some oils from the coffee at the very least and thus will interact with the taste of the brew. This is both a positive and a negative. Some people prefer the taste of a coffee where the oils have been removed.
Some of these coffee oils are implicated with increasing bad cholesterol, and that’s even considering that coffee can be healthy when consumed in moderation. So, the removal of these oils can be seen as a net positive.
On the other hand, some coffee lovers claim that these coffee oils play a big role in enhancing the flavor and taste of the brew. Metal filters don’t absorb or interfere with these oils and thus provide a better brew (according to these claims). Additionally, metal filters will allow a greater number of grinds to pass through, so your brew won’t be as clear.
Another aspect is that the metal filter is reusable – unlike paper that is a single-use item. Some may consider it to be more environmentally friendly.
Keep these factors in mind when you pick a filter and make an informed decision.
Gooseneck Kettles Are Helpful
Knowing how to brew pour over coffee and how to use pour over coffee maker is simple enough. A steady, but thin stream of water is required that covers all the coffee grounds and is easily maneuvered.
When manually brewing coffee, a gooseneck kettle is the key to getting these things done right. These kettles enable users to create a steady stream of hot water to be poured on the coffee grounds.
Speaking of water, make sure you’re not using boiling hot water. Ideal water temperature for brewing coffee is 195-205 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s just below the boiling point of water. A simple way to do this is to let water boil. Once it does, remove it from the heat and let it stay for 30-60 seconds before you pour it over the coffee grounds.
Check Dimensions And Brewing Capacity Before You Buy
Checking product dimensions to see if it fits right in your home or counter space makes perfect sense. Additionally, make sure that the pour over coffee maker of your choice can brew the quantity you desire.
Dripper pour over brewers often are rated for 1-2 cups, though a few larger ones are also available. If you intend to brew a larger pot, consider carafe-style pour over brewers. These are available in various size (and brew volume) options and can make a significantly large brew volume.
FAQs For Pour Over Coffee Makers
What’s So Special About Pour Over Coffee?
A big advantage of pour over coffee is that the hot water seeps in slowly through the coffee grounds. This allows it a greater chance for coffee extraction without adding turbulence of force. As the water slowly progresses through the grounds, it gathers more of flavor and aroma.
Besides, with manual movement and the controlled stream through a kettle, users can more keenly control this extraction and brewing. That’s why experienced users can make a cup of pour over coffee that’s practically divine.
How Much Coffee Do I Use In A Pour Over?
Coffee extraction and brew strength depend on how much coffee you’re using, grind size, coffee roast, and coffee type. So providing an exact quantity is neither possible nor useful. That’s why it’s usually considered good to follow a ratio. Generally speaking, you’ll need a coffee to water ratio of 1:15 to 1:17. Using this as a volumetric ratio can be a good start.
However, you’ll have to experiment around a bit to find the right ratio and amount that pleases your taste buds the best. The aforementioned ratio can work for most people, but there’s always room for improvement.
Can You Use Pre Ground Coffee For Pour Over?
You certainly can. Pour over works best with medium to medium-coarse grind, so make sure your pre-ground coffee is at the right grind size.
There is no problem in brewing pour over with pre ground coffee. However, if you place a premium on taste and flavor, skip the pre ground coffee and grind the coffee yourself. Use freshly roasted coffee and a burr grinder to get the right grind size.
Being A Pro At Pour Over Coffee
This comprehensive guide discusses all aspects of brewing the coffee and getting the best pour over coffee maker for your home. It’s a simple and elegant way to brewing flavorful and delicious coffee at your home without depending on fancy appliances.
Our top choices for this category are the CHEMEX Pour-Over Glass Coffeemaker and the Hario V60 Size 02 Pour Over. However, there are plenty of other formidable coffee makers available that could possibly suit your requirements better. We hope that our reviews and selection are useful for you in making the right pick.