7 Best Pour Over Coffee Makers 2024 (Plus 1 To Avoid)!
There’s a reason why pour over coffee makers are becoming more popular.
The bloom, the draw the brew. It’s magical to watch and magical to taste.
Having worked in the coffee industry for over 10 years and brewed many pour over coffees I am certainly a filter coffee advocate.
Whether it’s the clean and bright profile that pour over coffee makers create, the simplicity or the ritual of brewing coffee with a dripper it is probably my brew method of choice and most of my mornings start with pour over coffee.
However the coffee dripper has evolved and now there are many shapes, sizes, materials and functionalities to choose from.
Sit tight while we guide you through the best pour over coffee makers out there today and one to steer away from.
| Best Pour Over Coffee Maker | Brand/Model |
|---|---|
| Best Overall Pour Over Coffee Maker | Hario V60 |
| Best Budget Pour Over Coffee Maker | Kalita Wave |
| Best Professional Pour Over Coffee Maker | Chemex |
| Best Pour Over Coffee Maker For Travelling | Clever Dripper |
| Most Stylish Pour Over Coffee Maker | Fellow Stagg Pour Over Dripper |
Why trust me?
I’m Tom and I have been working in the coffee industry for over 10 years, starting my journey as a barista in Australia, working on coffee farms in South America and roasting coffee in The UK. Today I review and write about speciality coffee. I am the founder of Batch Coffee Club, which showcases the very best coffee from around the world.
Checkout our award-winning coffee bean subscription uk.
Find below our 7 best pour over coffee makers (and 1 to avoid).
How To Choose A Pour Over Coffee Maker?
Ok. So not all coffee drippers are the same but there will certainly be one that is a great fit for you.
Here are some factors that may be worth thinking about:
Size
You should have a think about how large of a coffee pour over maker would best fit your lifestyle.
For example there are many pour over coffee drippers that are designed to brew for one.
This is obviously great if you don’t ever intend to share your delicious coffee, however this may mean you end up making 2 brews every morning if your partner suddenly acquires a taste for pour over coffee.
Tip: Try to find out the volume of the brew rather than the amount of cups that the coffee filter dripper advertises it makes. The number can occasionally be quite misleading with cup volumes differing between brands.
Material
The material of your coffee dripper is an important factor when selecting which one fits your needs.
It can affect the taste of your coffee but certain materials can be impractical for people.
Ceramic:
Many coffee drippers are made from ceramics.
One of the best materials in my eyes as it retains a lot of the heat which creates a more consistent brew.
It can be impractical to transport though so not great with on-the-go-pour-overers.
Pros: ✅ Quality coffee | Cons: ❌ Impractical for some.
Glass:
A couple of the all in one pour overs (Chemex) are made from glass.
It doesn’t lose too much heat and does make for a pretty darn good looking piece of equipment.
It is fairly fragile though so not great for the clumsy home barista.
Pros: ✅ Style | Cons: ❌ Fragile.
Plastic:
You will find many plastic coffee filter drippers in various forms.
They are pretty good value for money and as you would expect, quite robust (great for camping).
The end brew however isn’t always as good as other materials. As the coffee is brewing in the filter the plastic doesn’t retain as much heat so the overall brew water temperature drops and may result in under extracted sour-tasting coffee.
Pros: ✅ Robust | Cons: ❌ Can impact the quality of coffee.
Whole Unit or Topper?
Although the brewing mechanism is kind of the same for the majority of coffee drippers what happens to the brewed coffee after it passed through the filter can differ between brewers.
A ‘Topper’ as I’m calling it here. Is basically a coffee dripper that hold a filter which you then have to place above either a cup or a server to catch the brewed coffee (the Hario V60 is a good example of this).
Pros: ✅ Smaller, Customisable, Value | Cons: ❌ May need a jug, can lose heat.
A ‘Whole Unit’ is a brewer that is permanently attached to the server or jug below (a Chemex is a good example of this).
Pros: ✅ All in one, Style | Cons: ❌ Can lose heat, Fragile.
Coffee Preference
Although one would associate a pour over coffee to be bright, clean and delicate there are a few variations of coffee drippers that can also produce a slightly more full bodied cup of coffee.
This can also be said for the type of coffee filter (paper, mesh, cloth) that is used and is available for your chosen pour over method
Top 7 Pour Over Coffee Makers 2024
Check out below our favourite pour over coffee makers. If your go-to dripper isn’t on the list please leave a comment below and we’ll take a look.
1. Hario V60
Sizes (Approx ml): 01 (300ml), 02 (600ml), 03 (900ml)
Material: Ceramic, Glass, Copper, Plastic, Stainless Steel.
Value: ★★★★★★★★★☆
Pros: ✅ Top quality coffee.
Cons: ❌ Takes time to perfect.
The Hario V60 has become synonymous with specialty coffee.
You’ll see this guy gracing the back bar of many third wave coffee shops.
For good reason.
Hario know a thing or two about brewing top quality coffee. The design is fairly simple.
A cone that sits on top of a cup or a server.
The inside of the cone has ridges (or ribs) which spiral upwards throughout the cone, these let the coffee expand inside the filter paper while still leaving enough space between the dripper and the paper for a smooth extraction. Checkout our V60 recipe here.
The Hario V60 ceramic coffee dripper is my favourite pour over brewer on the market and although I have broken a few so far (I think I’m on my third now) It consistently delivers top draw coffee, it’s easy to use and clean and when paired with a thermos Hario server becomes a formidable.
2. Kalita Wave
Sizes (Approx ml): 155 (300ml), 185 (500ml)
Material: Stainless Steel, Copper, Glass, Porcelain
Value: ★★★★★★★★☆☆
Pros: ✅ Easy to use
Cons: ❌ Technique can be too easy for home baristas
A Kalita wave is pretty popular amongst coffee aficionados.
Although the wave looks very similar to the V60 and does require a similar brew method (brew water poured over coffee grounds).
There is one big difference which can alter the brewed coffee.
The Kalita wave has a flat bottom and requires a flat bottomed paper filter.
The filter paper has large ridges running through the walls of the cone so that once sitting inside the wave create a large surface area between the paper and the wall of the filter.
This, alongside the ridges on the bottom of the Wave enables the brew water to quickly extract the coffee and drip through without accumulating and over-extracting the coffee.
The wave comes in a few different materials including glass, porcelain and stainless steel so does give you a few options to pick one that suits you best.
The Kalita Wave does make a cracking brew (checkout this Kalita Wave recipe from Stumptown), however you do hit a bit of a ceiling when it comes to perfecting your pour over technique and may not be a great choice for those that want to tweek and tinker with their recipe and become a master at pour over coffee.
3. Chemex
Sizes (Approx ml/l): 3 (450ml), 6 (850ml), 8 (1.1L), 10 (1.4L), 13 (1.9L)
Material: Glass
Value: ★★★★★★★★☆☆
Pros: ✅ Quality coffee, classic design
Cons: ❌ Fragile
One of the OG pour over coffee makers.
The magnificent looking Chemex coffee maker is certainly a head turner.
Invented in 1941 this guy has been brewing coffee for longer than most of the drippers on here combined.
Chemex makes a great choice coffee dripper for the purists and really does produce top draw pour over coffee. Check out this Chemex recipe from Blue Bottle.
The original paper filters that are designed for the Chemex are a square sheet that is opened up into cone shape, they are typically slightly thicker than other filter papers so produce a really clean and bright coffee.
They also come in a wide range of sizes starting at a 3 cup through to a 13, so you can host quite a few people with one Chemex providing your gooseneck is large enough.
A couple of things to bear in mind if you are looking to purchase a Chemex:
They are glass, which is undoubtedly beautiful, however does require a little bit of care especially when cleaning.
The coffee does cool quicker in the glass beaker compared to some other materials.
4. Clever Dripper
Sizes (Approx ml): Small (300ml), Large (450ml)
Material: Plastic.
Value: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆
Pros: ✅ Robust, Different to other pour overs
Cons: ❌ Only really for 1 serving
A clever coffee dripper has a real point of difference.
When compared to the rest the Clever Dripper could be a perfect fit for somebody who already has a pour over but wants to experiment.
The Clever dripper works by placing the filter paper into the cone as you would normally and soaking the paper while also preheating the device.
Now, unlike a regular pour over a valve is closed underneath the dripper and brew water is poured into the filter.
Ground coffee is emptied on top and stirred before the lid is placed over the top and the coffee is brewed for around 1 minute.
The valve is then opened and the brewed coffee filters into a carafe or cup.
You can expect a slightly more depth of flavours in this drip method as a clever dripper combines pour over and immersion brew methods. Checkout this Clever Dripper recipe from Square Mile.
Although the plastic body may appeal to some it can also be a negative to others, so that is something to look out for.
The size of the Clever dripper may also be a purchasing factor as the larger model brews approximately 450ml of coffee which is typically just over a single serve filter coffee.
If you’re into stylish coffee equipment:
5. Fellow Stagg Pour Over Dripper
Sizes (Approx ml): X (300ml), XF (600ml)
Material: Stainless Steel Body.
Value: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆
Pros: ✅ Stylish and Efficient
Cons: ❌ Unusual filters
The Fellow Stagg X pour over set is slick and well designed.
The pour over dripper and glass server make a brilliant pair for your coffee station at home.
The cylindrical design is not only eye catching but also functional and efficient which is exactly what you expect from Fellow.
The brew cylinder fits a flat bottom cone filter that is very similar to the Kalita Wave. The rippled folds along the inside of the brewing device make the surface area of the paper that isn’t in contact with the wall larger leading to a more consistent brew.
The brewed coffee then drips into the double walled glass server/cup that keeps your brew hotter for longer.
The pour over set comes in 2 sizes that require different filters, they can be quite expensive so keep that in mind.
6. Coffee Sock
Sizes: Various sizes
Material: Cloth.
Value: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆
Pros: ✅ Great for travelling
Cons: ❌ Inconsistent, Messy
The coffee sock can tick many boxes.
I came across a coffee sock (they have many different names including flannel or cloth) during an origin trip to Colombia.
They are basically a cloth-like material attached to a solid ring with a handle.
They sit over a carafe or your mug while coffee is poured over the grinds sitting inside the ‘sock’.
Very popular in Japan also they provide an alternative to paper or mesh filters.
A coffee sock is great for camping as it is fairly robust and you just need to discard the used grounds. Checkout this Coffee Sock recipe.
Brewing using this method can sometimes be a little challenging though and I find them to be a little inconsistent especially the more that you use them.
7. Melitta Pour Over Coffee Maker
Sizes (Approx ml): 1 cup (350ml)
Material: Plastic, Ceramic.
Value: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆
Pros: ✅ Generic Filters
Cons: ❌ No perfecting technique
The Melitta pour over coffee maker is an easy to use classic.
Brew methods are very similar for the Melitta and other pour over methods such as the Hario V60 dripper or the Chemex.
Brew water is passed over coffee grounds sitting in the pre soaked coffee filter.
The Melita uses a straight bottom cone which is different to a Hario V60 filter but very similar to many coffee filter coffee makers.
As the cones are fairly generic you can actually pick up these in most supermarkets so from that standpoint it is quite convenient.
The quality of the coffee is great, the technique isn’t quite as demanding as the V60 but still does perform better with a little practice.
One To Avoid - Mesh Filters
Mesh only filters
Although a selling point of mesh coffee filters is the fact that you can re-use them and you don’t have to buy paper filters there is a few downfalls.
Firstly, with many mesh filters on the market at the moment the holes that let the brewed coffee through often become blocked and can stop the flow of coffee causing the grounds to become immersed in the brew water and eventually an over-extracted brew.
On the subject of flow, a mesh filter can have a fairly quick flow compared to a paper filter and brew recipes will need to be tweaked.
Another thing to bear in mind is that the mesh filter will still let certain oils pass through the walls that paper will filter.
Instead of a clean and bright cup that one would associate with pour over coffee you may end up with a more full bodied cup of coffee similar to a french press.
For me if you want a reusable filter take a look at the range of cloth filters.
Otherwise you may enjoy a slightly more full bodied filter coffee so crack on with the mesh.
FAQs
What is a pour over coffee maker for?
A pour over coffee maker or coffee dripper is a piece of coffee equipment that enables you to brew filter coffee.
Manual Drip Coffee Maker come in various shapes and sizes but always, whether cone shaped or more cylindrically shaped hold a coffee filter for the coffee grounds to sit.
Water is then poured over the top of the coffee grounds and the coffee extraction begins, eventually dripping the brewed coffee into the vessel below.
What is the difference between a pour over and drip coffee?
Pour over and drip coffee brew (to the untrained eye) very similar black coffee or filter coffee.
However pour over coffee refers to manual brew methods like V60 coffee drippers and Chemex where the brew water is poured over the coffee grounds in a steady and measured fashion.
Whereas a coffee dripper is a filter coffee machine where coffee is automatically poured (or dripped) onto a bed of coffee grounds and the brewed coffee collected in the jug below.
Coffee filter drippers are not often seen too frequently in the UK but certainly are over the other side of the pond in the US where they are a cornerstone of any diner.
The quality in general is the big difference here and drip coffee can sometimes taste bitter and over-extracted because of the quality of the machine.
However the temperature and flow rate of pour over coffee is more often than not measured to precision for the perfect brew.
Is drip coffee the same as filter coffee?
It depends where you come from and what you class as ‘drip’. In my opinion filter coffee is the umbrella term for black coffee that has been brewed via a (you guessed it) filter, whether it’s paper, mesh, cloth or an old pair of underpants.
Drip coffee as well as pour over coffee are two methods that are encompassed by the term filter coffee.
Are all pour over coffee makers the same?
No, there are many different shapes, sizes and styles of pour over coffee makers.
In terms of the coffee filter dripper there are generally two styles, either cone (Hario v60 or Chemex) or flat bottom (Kalita Wave).
This alters the brewed coffee in various ways but either one can make a banging filter coffee.
Each pour over coffee maker whether it is a cone or flat bottom also has various differences in the cone or shape, for instance an origami dripper has folds running down the sides of the wall while a Hario V60 coffee dripper has a spiral pattern that filters the brewed coffee down.
Pour over coffee makers can also come as a whole unit (Chemex) or as a filter that sits on top of a server or cup (v60 dripper).
This is down to your preference and style.
Coffee filter drippers can also come in various materials, usually either ceramic, glass, plastic or stainless steel.
Again, this is all down to preference and although in my opinion certain materials perform better than others in the cup there is no ‘best pour over material’.
Lastly there are differences in the method in which some of the pour over coffee makers extract the coffee, the majority of them require you to pour water over the top of the coffee grounds and collect the brewed coffee below (think V60coffee), however a Clever Dripper requires you to pour water over the grounds with the bottom of the dripper closed and wait until the coffee has extracted before filtering through the paper.
Does drip coffee taste better?
For me, generally speaking. Yes. However…
The wonderful thing about specialty coffee is that there is no one ‘best’ coffee or brew method.
It is down to the consumers taste preference and preferred method of brewing.
Drip coffee isn’t going to taste better than a large pumpkin spiced latte for somebody that is a Halloween fanatic and regularly frequents Starbucks.
Drip coffee or filter coffee for that matter does taste better than most other brew methods if you are a black coffee drinker and you want to fully experience the highest quality coffee that is available.
The filter that sits inside a pour over coffee maker helps to reduce the amount of bitterness in the end cup by filtering oils and other solubles.
The brewed coffee is then at the most optimal point to experience the subtle complex flavour notes that speciality coffee can hold.
Circling back, I would say that drip coffee is best for a black coffee drinker that wants to taste more than roasty bitter notes.
How many times can you use drip coffee?
This question may refer to a few things so I will answer all of them below:
You can use drip coffee (as in the brewed coffee) for as long as you wish although it will start to taste more and more bitter the longer you leave it.
This is because there are still tiny particles of coffee in the brew that are slowly extracting their bitter vegetal flavours as the coffee ages.
If you are brewing drip coffee into a thermos my advice would be to consume in 4 hours, otherwise consume straight away.
Drip coffee machines or manual drip coffee makers can be used as long as they last really.
Theoretically forever, in reality (for me and my heavy hands) even the best pour over coffee makers last around 1 year before I drop it while cleaning it and it smashes all over my kitchen floor.
Reusable pour over coffee filters can be used as many times as you like, you just need to make sure you empty and clean all of the used coffee grounds after each brew.
These include mesh coffee filters and cloth (sock) filters.
Paper filters can only be used 1 time and are to be disposed of after each brew.
Why is pour over coffee less bitter?
Pour over coffee is generally less bitter than other brew methods because of a few reasons.
Firstly the coffee is ground medium to medium/coarse and the water doesn’t have time to penetrate the ground particles to extract the bitter tasting plant-like centre.
The filter (paper or mesh) reduces the amount of bitter tasting oils that pass through into the brew.
Also as the coffee is usually (apart from a clever dripper) not immersed in the water there is less time for the grounds to release bitter tasting soluble compounds into the brew.
