Best Pour Over Coffee Makers in 2023 [UPDATED]
Whether you are an experienced coffee connoisseur or hoping to develop your taste for single origin roasts, brewing with a pour over will bring your coffee experience to the next level.
Pour overs give you ultimate control over brewing and when used correctly, highlight all of those wonderful notes and flavors from your coffee beans. Here are some of the best pour over coffee makers on the market and why we like them so much.
What is a Pour Over?
A pour over uses the same basic process as a drip coffee maker: hot water is poured over coffee grounds to extract coffee into the container below.
The difference is that a drip machine automates that process for the user; a pour over requires the user to do everything by hand.
The slower, more detailed process of hand pouring brings out the rich undertones of coffee beans so you can actually taste the flavor nuances between different roasts (see video). That is one of the reasons pour overs have become so popular in coffee shops and with home baristas in the last several years and why pour overs are known for producing great tasting coffee.
The Benefits of a Pour Over
The main benefit of a pour over is the control that you have over the entire brewing process. Coffee is, in many ways, an art form. There is a lot of science behind grinding coffee beans and extracting drinkable liquid from them.
A pour over gives you precise control over how water extracts coffee from the grounds with the pressure, speed, and consistency you want. The result is a finely tuned brewing method that does justice to the coffee beans.
However, to experience these benefits, it’s absolutely paramount that you use premium coffee beans that are freshly ground right before brewing.
Pour overs have the ability to bring out the flavor notes of well-sourced, well-roasted coffee beans, but to use one for pre-ground coffee from the store really won’t be worth the effort.
You’ll want to grind your own coffee beans if you’re ready to get serious about pour-over, so finding a great coffee grinder is a must.
Variations in Pour Over Coffee Makers
Most pour overs are single-serving coffee brewers that take about three to five minutes to brew one cup of coffee. However, a few pour overs are capable of brewing more than one serving at a time, so consider your needs.
Pour overs do take time, so they aren’t always the most efficient option for families of coffee drinkers. Most pour overs are simple pieces of equipment, so the biggest variations come from brewing capacity, materials, and skill.
Pour overs will also require more skill to operate than a drip machine, so if you’re brand new to the coffee world, understand that when using a pour over, there’s typically a bit of a learning curve, even for experienced coffee lovers.
Some of the coffee makers below require more skill than others and are less forgiving to mistakes, so it’s important to consider your current confidence in coffee brewing and find something that offers enough of a challenge without being too difficult to master.
What to Consider Before Buying a Pour Over
One of the best things about pour over is that they’re generally cheaper than other brewing methods. However, while the actual unit itself might be relatively inexpensive, you will still need separate pieces of equipment like grinders, scales, and gooseneck kettles to make a great cup.
Time is an important factor for many people, so remember that most pour over methods require about three to five minutes of brewing time.
Finally, consider the material used to make your pour over. Many are made of glass or ceramic, so if you are looking to travel with your pour over, opt for something made from plastic or metal.
Best Pour Over Coffee Makers in 2023 - Reviewed
Here are some of our favorite pour over coffee makers on the market right now. Most of these coffee makers offer online video tutorials so you can get an idea of how easy or difficult they will be to master before committing to a purchase.
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The Kalita Wave is the most user-friendly of the pour over coffee makers. This is an excellent option for anyone who is purchasing their first pour over and is slightly intimidated by the technical hand-brewing process. Read more.
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The Bodum is similar to the Chemex in that you can brew enough coffee to serve multiple drinkers at one time. You’ll need slightly coarser grounds for this pour over and less technical expertise.
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This is a simple pour over maker to use and a good starting point for those new to the pour over method since it is a mid-range price and does not require special filters. While this is not particularly durable, it will produce an excellent cup of coffee.
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Pleasing to the eye, the Osaka is a unique, comprehensive pour over system that will brew a rich, full-bodied cup of coffee. There is more equipment involved with this brewing system, but it is all designed to be user-friendly.
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Possibly the most well-known pour over coffee maker, the Hario is simple but lives up to its reputation. While you will get a truly excellent cup of coffee out of the Hario, it will require some skill and practice to get it just right. Read more here.
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Another classic, well-known device, the Chemex has been a favorite for many years. Its classic, sturdy design consistently delivers high-quality coffee. Like the Kalita Wave, the Chemex is forgiving so is still accessible for less experienced brewers. Make sure to check out our Chemex brewing guide for more tips.
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Coffee Gator’s design is aimed at being high quality and environmentally friendly. Like the Osaka or Bodum, this pour over combines a glass carafe with a detachable stainless steel permanent filter; however, the Coffee Gator is significantly smaller and good for one to two coffee drinkers.
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The Clever Dripper is a unique system; technically, it is a full-immersion brewer. The coffee and grounds sit together during the brew time before you set the Clever Dripper over your mug of choice, at which point a valve is triggered that releases the coffee. It’s a simple method and the design of the Clever Dripper is clean and durable.
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Winner of the Roundup
The growing popularity of pour over coffee makers means that there is now a large number of excellent products on the market. However, we still believe that the Hario V60 is the best pour over coffee maker out there.
Though the Hario won’t be as immediately easy to use like the Kalita Wave, Bee House, or Chemex, it really takes just a bit of practice to get things right, and it has tremendous value for the price.
It’s sturdier than the Bartelli or any of the batch brewers like the Osaka or Bodum, but not as bulky or heavy as the Bee House or Clever Drip.