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.

Kalita Wave 185 Drippers

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.

PROS

  • Flat-bottomed coffee bed is more forgiving to mistakes in brewing
  • Available in stainless steel in addition to glass and ceramic, making it good for traveling
  • Will consistently brew a good cup of coffee

CONS

  • Modified design sometimes results in sub-par flavor when compared to other pour over makers
  • Have to buy filters online
Bodum Pour Over Coffee Maker with Permanent Filter, Black Band, 34 Ounce

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.

PROS

  • Includes a permanent stainless steel filter
  • Capacity to brew up to eight 4oz cups of coffee at once
  • Shatter-proof, heat resistant glass is durable
  • Silicon hand grip increases ease of use
  • Cool design comes in multiple colors

CONS

  • Not a great option for traveling due to size and glass material
Bartelli Paperless Pour Over Coffee Dripper - Stainless Steel Reusable Coffee Filter and Single Cup Coffee Maker

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.

PROS

  • Built-in stainless steel permanent filter reduces paper waste and increases flavor
  • Double filter prevents coffee grounds from entering coffee
  • Small and compact enough to travel
  • Versatile—designed to fit over most mugs, cups, thermoses, etc.

CONS

  • Clogs easily when not cleaned properly
  • Not particularly durable and prone to breaking where the cone attaches to the base
Osaka Pour-Over Drip Brewer, 6 Cup (27 oz) Glass Carafe

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.

PROS

  • Permanent mesh filter is reusable and reduces paper waste
  • Beautifully designed with wooden features
  • Capable of brewing 27 oz of coffee at one time
  • Comes with a glass carafe and metal and waterproof wood stand

CONS

  • Requires a little extra maintenance for the additional parts
  • Not well-suited for travel
  • Glass carafe is quite thin
Hario V60 Ceramic Coffee Dripper (Size 02, White)

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.

PROS

  • Ridges and conical design allow coffee to flow down the sides of the pour over for a balanced cup and faster brew time
  • Small and compact design
  • Durable and long-lasting design
  • Ceramic material is designed to provide consistent heat for improved functionality

CONS

  • Unforgiving to user mistakes
  • Special paper filters typically must be ordered online
Chemex 8-Cup Classic Series Glass Coffeemaker

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.

PROS

  • Specialty designed filters produce clean-tasting coffee
  • Capable of brewing 40oz of coffee at once
  • Design is ergonomic and easy to use
  • Aesthetically pleasing

CONS

  • Fragile and not suited for travel
  • Special filters can be expensive and difficult to find
Coffee Gator Pour Over Coffee Maker

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.

PROS

  • Permanent mesh stainless steel filter reduces waste and increases flavor
  • Carafe can be used for serving as well as brewing
  • High-quality materials will last multiple uses

CONS

  • Not suited for batch brewing
  • Glass is not suitable for traveling
Clever Coffee Dripper by CoastLine - Large – 18 Ounces

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.

PROS

  • Easy to use
  • Required paper filters are readily available
  • Immersion brewing produces juicy, full-bodied coffee
  • Material and design is durable and long lasting

CONS

  • Must use paper filters
  • Slightly bulky
Bee House Ceramic Coffee Dripper - Large - Drip Cone Brewer

PROS

  • Ceramic keeps coffee hot while brewing
  • Open base lets you see how much coffee was brewed
  • Double holes in the bottom speed up brewing process
  • Forgiving brewing process suited for all skill levels
  • Durable and built to be long lasting

CONS

  • Heavy and fragile; not suited for transport

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.


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