In a world where coffee making has been automated and reduced to buttons and dials, pour over brewing may sound like a complicated way to make coffee. Trust me; it’s not, provided you have the best pour over coffee maker to help you do it properly.

There are plenty of them in the market today, some stylish and simple and others more hands-on and practical. If you’re not careful, you could land an option that’s unsuitable for you or delivers on none of its promises. I’m sure that’s the last thing you want to deal with.

Don’t panic about how to find the best. I already did the legwork for you by sorting through the crowded market and narrowing the list down to options that guarantee great performance and have features designed to satisfy your unique brewing needs.

Top Pick

The Hario V60 Ceramic Coffee Dripper Pour Over Cone Coffee Maker is every barista’s and coffee lover’s favorite pour over coffee maker for good reason. You get complete control over the brewing, and if you understand how to make the best pour over coffee, the resulting brew will be no different from the one from your favorite coffee shop. It also comes in many sizes and materials to suit your individual preferences. What more could you ask for?

Best Pour Over Coffee Makers – Comparison Table

Product Key Features
Our Choice Hario V60 Ceramic Coffee Dripper Pour Over Cone Coffee Maker Size 02, White
Hario V60 Ceramic Coffee Dripper Pour Over Cone Coffee Maker
  • Cup capacity: 1-2 cups (size 2) and 1-4 cups (size 1)
  • Available in ceramic, glass, stainless steel, plastic, and copper
  • Reusable paper filter
  • Dishwasher safe
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COSORI Pour Over Coffee Maker with Double Layer Stainless Steel Filter, 8-Cup, 34oz, Drip Coffee Maker, Coffee Dripper Brewer, High Heat Resistant Carafe, also for Camping, Hiking
COSORI Pour Over Coffee Maker with Double Layer Stainless Steel Filter
  • 34-ounce carafe (fits eight 4-oz coffee cups)
  • Double-layer stainless steel filter
  • Heat-resistant borosilicate glass
  • Wooden handle
  • Dishwasher-safe
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Kalita Wave 185 Drippers
Kalita Wave 185 Drippers
  • Cup capacity: 2- 4
  • Available in stainless steel, glass, and ceramic
  • Reusable patented wave filter
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Bodum Pour Over Coffee Maker, 17 Ounce, .5 Liter, Cork Band
Bodum Pour Over Coffee Maker
  • Cup capacity: 4, 8, or 12 cups depending on size
  • Permanent stainless steel mesh filter
  • Borosilicate glass carafe
  • Dishwasher safe
  • Cork or silicone band
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Fellow Stagg [XF] Pour-Over Coffee Maker Set - Kit Includes Stagg [XF] Pour-Over Dripper, Stagg Double Wall Glass Carafe, and 30 Paper Filters
Fellow Stagg [XF] Pour-Over Coffee Maker Set
  • Capacity: 1-2 cups
  • Custom paper filters
  • Stainless steel dripper
  • Glass carafe
  • Gooseneck kettle (optional)
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Osaka, Pour Over Coffee Dripper Starter Set, Color Series – Full Brewing Kit For Pourover Coffee Maker Lovers; Carafe, Filter, Measuring Spoon And Drip Tray - 4 Cup (20oz./600ml) Capacity (Blue)
Osaka, Pour Over Coffee Dripper Starter Set
  • Borosilicate glass carafe
  • Comes with lid
  • Dual metal filter design
  • Ergonomic handle
  • Comes with a scoop and a base to put your filter in after brewing
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Chemex Pour-Over Glass Coffeemaker - Classic Series - 6-Cup - Exclusive Packaging
Chemex Pour-Over Glass Coffeemaker
  • Hourglass flask designed perfectly for heat retention, brewing quality and speed
  • Filters fit right inside the open end of the glass flask
  • Made entirely in the USA
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Best Pour Over Coffee Maker – Reviews

1. Hario V60 Ceramic Coffee Dripper Pour Over Cone Coffee Maker

Our Choice
Hario V60 Ceramic Coffee Dripper Pour Over Cone Coffee Maker Size 02, White

Hario V60 Ceramic Coffee Dripper Pour Over Cone Coffee Maker

Key Features

  • Cup capacity: 1-2 cups (size 2) and 1-4 cups (size 1)
  • Available in ceramic, glass, stainless steel, plastic, and copper
  • Reusable paper filter
  • Dishwasher safe

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Hario V60 is an iconic pour over loved by everyone in the coffee world for its exceptional performance. It has been around for a long time, so rest assured that you will have lots of resources available online to help you make the best of it.

From the looks, you can tell that this pour over uses cone-shaped filters. What makes this design special is that water gets to flow into the center for optimum extraction. You will also notice spiral ribs on the inside, which Hario says help to enrich your brew’s taste by allowing for deeper layering of grounds.

It’s great that this model gives you absolute control over brewing time, water flow, and water temperature. Before you put it to work, go through the manual to understand how to pour heated water over coffee to achieve different flavors.

Pros

  • Cone-shaped design allows even extraction, leading to a well-balanced brew
  • Made of ceramic, which is great at retaining brewing temperature.
  • Easier to clean because it’s dishwasher safe
  • Small enough to fit tight kitchen spaces
  • Available in different colors to match your individual preferences
  • Spiral ribs also prevent the filter from sticking to the sides of the cone

Cons

  • Uses special filters that can be expensive in the long run, but you have the option to use alternatives such as Melitta filters.

Hario V60 has stood the test of time, retaining its greatness in the wake of more competitive options. If you are eager to experiment with your brewing or make barista-quality coffee, this model will serve you well.

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2. COSORI Pour Over Coffee Maker

COSORI Pour Over Coffee Maker with Double Layer Stainless Steel Filter, 8-Cup, 34oz, Drip Coffee Maker, Coffee Dripper Brewer, High Heat Resistant Carafe, also for Camping, Hiking

COSORI Pour Over Coffee Maker

Key Features

  • 34-ounce carafe (fits eight 4-oz coffee cups)
  • Double-layer stainless steel filter
  • Heat-resistant borosilicate glass
  • Wooden handle
  • Dishwasher-safe

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Cosori and Bodum (fourth on the list) are close rivals, but a few things set them apart, including style, filter, and materials. Its performance, however, is similar to that of Hario V60, where the user has complete control over the brewing process. Cosori combines the best of both worlds to provide a spectacular experience.

Cosori’s filter is permanent and made of stainless steel. It’s more porous than a paper filter, allowing oils to drip into your brew, making it healthier and more flavorful. Your brew will be collected in its heat-resistant borosilicate glass carafe that can safely be used on a stove, in case you want to warm up your drink.

For times when you have guests or lots of people around, this pour over will be able to brew enough coffee for all of you at a go because of its large capacity. It’s also beautiful to look at, which is a plus because your guests will admire it.

Pros

  • Lets you personalize your brew
  • Cheaper to operate because it uses a permanent filter
  • Bigger carafe makes it great for family
  • Easy to clean and maintain
  • Wooden handle insulates you from heat and adds to the unit’s durability
  • BPA-free carafe and filter makes it a healthier alternative

Cons

  • Can be difficult to use for a beginner but it’s doable with time

The COSORI Pour Over Coffee Maker may be relatively new in the market but it has risen to compete with the best. It’s a stylish model that’s designed to last and save you money in the long run. Any experienced coffee lover would be happy to own one.

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3. Kalita Wave 185 Drippers

Kalita Wave 185 Drippers

Kalita Wave 185 Drippers

Key Features

  • Cup capacity: 2- 4
  • Available in stainless steel, glass, and ceramic
  • Reusable patented wave filter

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When the market was in need of a pour over coffee maker that’s unproblematic yet just as efficient as the best ones on the market, the Kalita Wave 185 emerged to fill in the gap. It’s not built like the rest; instead of a cone-shaped bottom, Kalita’s is flat–and for a good reason that I’ll tell you about shortly.

The Kalita Wave lets your brew steep longer than usual and fixes the extraction issues present in cone-shaped pour overs. Specifically, it lets your coffee grounds saturate evenly rather than spreading to the sides, and maintains brewing temperature, leading to a great tasting brew.

You can use it straight from the box, but I would recommend that you rinse it first. Also, get as many filters as possible while buying because they are sometimes difficult to find.

Another great thing about the Kalita is that it comes in various materials to suit your different preferences. Glass and ceramic would be great if you are buying it for home use, while the plastic model suits your traveling needs.

Pros

  • Easy to use; no set-ups or adjustments needed
  • Flat bottom guarantees sustained extraction leading to a robust brew
  • Available in different materials to match your unique needs
  • Wider base makes it easier to rest the pour over on a mug, saving you the need to buy a special serving vessel.

Cons

  • Uses proprietary filters that are sometimes hard to find. Always stock up to avoid disappointments.

The Kalita Wave 185 Dripper sets itself apart from the other pour overs. You get a different brewing experience that doesn’t compromise on drink quality. If you love to keep things simple and perfect, this is your ultimate choice.

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4. Bodum Pour Over Coffee Maker

Bodum Pour Over Coffee Maker, 17 Ounce, .5 Liter, Cork Band

Bodum Pour Over Coffee Maker

Key Features

  • Cup capacity: 4, 8, or 12 cups depending on size
  • Permanent stainless steel mesh filter
  • Borosilicate glass carafe
  • Dishwasher safe
  • Cork or silicone band

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The Bodum pour over coffee maker impresses on all fronts, from design and performance to cost and versatility. It’s a capable model designed to make the most flavorful rich coffee without emptying your wallet.

Bodum’s stainless steel filter is its greatest selling point. You get to save a lot in the long run instead of buying paper filters. Natural oils will find their way into your brew as well, making the brew more beneficial to your health.

The borosilicate glass carafe adds to the unit’s elegance while ensuring you have enough coffee for your entire family or guests. It’s also resistant to heat and shatterproof, making it durable.

To amplify Bodum’s beauty, there’s a leather tie that circles around its neck, available in cork or silicone. You can also choose a color of your choice from the available varieties.

Pros

  • Large capacity carafe to accommodate groups of people
  • Permanent stainless steel filter saves money
  • Dishwasher-safe carafe makes the unit easier to clean
  • Available in different colors to match your preferences
  • Stylish design makes it an attraction-worthy appliance for your kitchen

Cons

  • Glass carafe makes it great for home use but unsuitable for traveling

The Bodum pour over coffee maker is an environmentally-friendly option that does the job just as well as its rivals. It’s also more stylish, making it perfect for the user who wants a beautiful pour over that doesn’t compromise on performance.

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5. Fellow Stagg [XF] Pour-Over Coffee Maker Set

Fellow Stagg [XF] Pour-Over Coffee Maker Set - Kit Includes Stagg [XF] Pour-Over Dripper, Stagg Double Wall Glass Carafe, and 30 Paper Filters

Fellow Stagg [XF] Pour-Over Coffee Maker Set

Key Features

  • Capacity: 1-2 cups
  • Custom paper filters
  • Stainless steel dripper
  • Glass carafe
  • Gooseneck kettle (optional)

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The Fellow Stagg dripper is attractive and designed to offer the best pour over brewing experience. It may look delicate, but when you load it with lighter roasts, the resulting brew matches that of your favorite coffee shop.

Fellow’s Stagg’s dripper works its magic without getting you heavily involved in the brewing. Just make sure you have loaded it up with the right roast and amount and it will get everything else right.

Speaking of brewing, the pour over’s steep side walls and tiny holes are designed to slow down the brewing time, allowing for optimum extraction of flavors and eventually a robustly flavored drink.

You also get to enjoy a double-wall carafe that will maintain your brew’s temperature making sure it’s served while still hot. You can get the dripper alone or a complete set that includes a carafe and 30 paper filters.

Pros

  • Less control over the brewing makes it a great option for newbies
  • Matte black finish on the dripper makes it a beautiful addition to your kitchen
  • Available as a kit for users who want a smoother start in their brewing journey
  • Enough paper filters to last a regular user longer

Cons

  • Uses proprietary filters that are often hard to find. The trick is to shop in bulk.

Fellow Stagg is the best pour over coffee maker set. You have the chance to only get what you want, which is great if you are starting out. It’s also easier to use, making it suitable for beginners.

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6. Osaka Pour-Over Coffee Dripper Starter Set

Osaka, Pour Over Coffee Dripper Starter Set, Color Series – Full Brewing Kit For Pourover Coffee Maker Lovers; Carafe, Filter, Measuring Spoon And Drip Tray - 4 Cup (20oz./600ml) Capacity (Blue)

Osaka Pour-Over Coffee Dripper Starter Set

Key Features

  • Borosilicate glass carafe
  • Comes with lid
  • Dual metal filter design
  • Ergonomic handle
  • Can serve 2 to 3 people
  • Comes with a scoop and a base to put your filter in after brewing

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This Osaka set isn’t vastly better than the Bodum or Hario in terms of build quality, but it’s a worthy alternative option for two or three coffee drinkers. We like it because it makes pour-over coffee-making a bit more intuitive for the average person who doesn’t have experience with manual brewing. It’s ergonomic, user-friendly, and quite well-made.

Pros

  • More familiar and accessible to the average American coffee drinker
  • User friendly and ergonomic
  • Carafe design is super stable
  • Retains heat well
  • Filter captures more stray grounds
  • Makes more flavorful coffee than the average paper filter brewer
  • It comes with lots of helpful tips in the manual, and great customer service.

Cons

  • Perfect grind size can be tricky for the Osaka — filter clogs if too fine
  • Not a big capacity
  • Takes a while to drip.
  • Plastic material feels very lightweight

Osaka’s customer service is super helpful with brewing and troubleshooting advice, though. If you run into issues, they’ll steer you right.

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7. Chemex 6-Cup Glass Handle Series Coffeemaker

Chemex Pour-Over Glass Coffeemaker - Classic Series - 6-Cup - Exclusive Packaging

Chemex 6-Cup Glass Handle Series Coffeemaker

Key Features

  • Hourglass flask designed perfectly for heat retention, brewing quality and speed
  • Filters fit right inside the open end of the glass flask
  • Made entirely in the USA

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When it comes to pour-over coffee, nothing beats a Chemex. It’s that simple! Much as we love our other recommendations, they just can’t compete with one of these. The Chemex coffee maker has been named one of the top 100 products of modern times by the IIT, and it remains the go-to for serious coffee lovers who don’t like coffee from French presses.

Chemex coffee makers are available in two configurations: a glass flask with a wood and leather collar, or a glass beaker with a handle. You can get either model in one of 4 different sizes: 3-cup, 6-cup, 8-cup, and 10-cup. They’re all extremely well-made, and they brew excellent pour-over coffee.

Pros

  • Easy cleanup!
  • No plastic
  • Very attractive
  • Dishwasher safe

Cons

  • Costs twice as much as our other picks, if not more
  • Breakable
  • No warranty or satisfaction guarantee
  • Chemex filters are pricier than other filters.

If you want your coffee to stay hot, you’ll want to get the optional glass cover. If you don’t have a grinder yet, get one that can do a consistent medium-coarse for your Chemex.

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How to Choose the Best Pour Over Maker

Now that you’ve taken a close look at our recommendations, let’s get you thinking about which one makes the most sense for you! There are a few key things to consider as you compare models:

Material

Pour over funnels can be made from all sorts of materials — glass, ceramic, stainless steel, or even plastic.

Glass and ceramic models are usually so very good looking, and are heat conductors too, but they are fragile.

But if you do intend to travel with your pour over maker, skip the breakable models and go for ones made of light materials such as plastic or stainless steel that require no additional tools to operate.

Safety

There are more hazards associated with using a pour-over coffee maker than you might think. Unlike french presses, which usually have a reinforced frame of some sort, most pour-over coffee makers consist of a glass vessel with no reinforcements.

To prevent shattering and injury, make sure you’re buying heat-resistant borosilicate glass from a reputable manufacturer. This is one purchase where you want to be absolutely sure you’re not buying a knock-off or generic version! Shoddy glasswork can lead to scalding or worse. Don’t take any chances.

Look for protection against the hot glass, as well. Any good pour-over coffee maker will have a handle that keeps your hand away from the side of the vessel or a heat-blocking collar around the middle.

Cleaning

Of course, you want any coffee maker you own to be easy to clean. Thankfully, pour-over brewers make it easier to clean up after a cuppa than any other type of coffee maker! Most have only two components: a brewing cone and a vessel.

You could also consider paper filters a component, but since you’ll just be slinging the brewed grounds in the compost, it’s not something you need to worry about. Some models don’t even have a brewing cone to clean, since the filters sit right inside the vessel opening. If you get a Chemex, you only have to wash the glass vessel!

So, when you think about how easy yours will be to clean, look at the vessel and the brewing cone (if there is one). Make sure you know how you’ll clean each. Vessels can usually just be rinsed out well. If you really want to scrub one, using a bottle brush is the best approach. If you have a dishwasher, you may as well look for a model that can go in it!

Pour-over models with permanent stainless steel filters are the trickiest to clean. You have to scrub out the mesh, to prevent permanent clogs. If you’re getting one, be prepared!

Cost

Thankfully, manual coffee brewers tend to be quite affordable. That’s true of French presses, and it certainly applies to pour-overs as well.

Before you shop, figure out how much you want to spend. You could put down as little as $15 on a brewing cone that fits over a favorite mug, or as much as $75 on a premium flask. You’ll pay more for a larger brewing vessel, and for all-glass construction.

Remember to think about whether you’ll need to buy paper filters or not!

Capacity

You will come across two pour over varieties: single-serve and multi-serve. The explanation is in the name.

Single-serve models can only make one or two cups of coffee at a time, making them perfect for people living alone or not looking to make coffee for many people. Multi-serve pour overs can brew enough coffee for several people which makes them perfect if you have a family, guests, or lots of people to be served.

Filters

Paper

As you compare models, you’ll see that there are lots of pour-over brewers that use paper filters, and some that have permanent stainless steel filters instead. Besides being cheap, paper filters are easy to find; however, units such as Chemex, Kalita Wave, and Hario V60 use proprietary filters, which can be expensive and hard to find.

Also, pour-over coffee fans use paper filters. Pour-over coffee makers are generally supposed to produce smoother, subtler brews than you’d get in a french press. One big reason for the milder taste and texture is the fact that paper filters remove even the smallest grounds from the coffee. French presses tend to let the finer grounds slip through, and end up in your cup. They continue to exude flavor, which makes the brew more robust, and they thicken the texture of the coffee.

If you’re buying filters, make sure you get something made with recycled and natural fibers. Bleached virgin content can give a nasty chemical taste to your beverage.

Permanent Stainless Steel

However, going for a model with a permanent filter can save you lots of money and are eco-friendly. Filter papers may be the most convenient but they are too expensive in the long run and bad for the environment.

The downside of mesh metal filters is that most don’t do a perfect job keeping fine grounds out of your coffee. They’re also a pain to clean.

Which Filter Should You Choose?

One issue that’s debated hotly in the coffee aficionado community is whether paper or stainless steel filters affect taste adversely or not. To some, paper filters are malignant, since they absorb some of the natural oils produced by the grounds when water is added. Others think that stainless steel gives a metallic tang to the brew.

Our verdict? Go with whatever’s most convenient for you, and don’t worry about flavor. The brewing process in a pour-over setup is too short for a stainless steel filter to impact the flavor in any noticeable way. Besides, practically every French press on the market has stainless steel components that sit inside the vessel for the whole brew, and nobody takes issue with the material there.

Likewise, we’re sure paper filters do absorb some of the richness, etc. of the coffee beans. But you’re not using a pour-over setup for a robust brew anyway! If that’s what you’re after, you should be going the french press route.

So, choose the filtration system that makes practical sense to you!

Accompanying Tools and Utensils

As you get into pour over brewing you may find yourself wanting to get a gooseneck kettle, just so you have more control of the bloom and saturation of your grounds, and a carafe to use when you’re making 2 or more servings.

Other things that you would use in conjunction with your pour over funnel, which you probably already use with other brew methods would include a kitchen scale and a grinder,

Frequently Asked Questions

Are pour over coffee makers worth it?

Compared to your typical drip coffee maker, pour over brewing gets you fully involved in the coffee-making process, which can be a rewarding experience for the passionate coffee user. With time, you will be able to hone your brewing skills to barista levels and develop a more intimate relationship with coffee.

What makes a pour over coffee taste better?

In pour over brewing, water has enough time to extract all the flavor from the grounds, resulting in a brew that’s incredibly flavorful. You also get to heat up the water to the right temperature for optimum flavor extraction.

Because you have control over brewing time, you can time the brewing to avoid instances of over-extraction and under-extraction. Take time to learn how to make good pour over coffee so as to make a great-tasting brew.

Is pour over coffee weaker?

How weak or strong your pour over coffee is depends on what you are comparing it with. Espresso made in a machine or Moka pot will obviously be stronger than pour over coffee because of the extraction method used.

French Press and Aeropress too are a bit bolder than pour over coffee, but when you pair it with drip coffee, it gets a clean win.

It would be safe to therefore conclude that pour over coffee isn’t the weakest brew of all available options. It’s just somewhere in the middle, neither too strong nor too weak.

Welcome to the Pour Over World

The Hario V60’s versatility and trusted performance make it the go-to pour over coffee maker for coffee connoisseurs and baristas alike. One of its greatest qualities is the control it gives you over the brewing process. It’s also available in a host of materials and sizes to suit different purposes.

Each of the other pour over coffee makers is special in its own right as well. For example, Cosori and Bodum have permanent filters, a feature that makes them cheaper to operate and friendly to the environment.

If you’re having second thoughts about whether a pour-over coffee maker is the right choice for you, don’t worry! We have plenty of French press and electric single-serve coffeemaker recommendations too.