Pour over drip coffee makers have been in use over a hundred years ago, and are still being used in making or brewing coffee.

Loved by the long-time coffee fanatics and those who are just getting addicted to the stud, a pour over coffee maker offers you robust and rich taste that is noticeably better than the cup of joe you’d get from drip machines.

With its slow process— making one cup of brewed coffee at a time— it is definitely a lot trickier than just pressing the brew button. Plus, you need to get the temperature tight to make the coffee “bloom”. Then the art of pouring the water in a circular motion.

But, let me tell you this:

The rich, deep, and flavorful result you get in the cup is totally worth it. You will need the best pour over coffee maker to make it, of course. So, we looked at the top best pour over coffee maker the market has to offer!

 

Top 10 Best Pour Over Coffee Makers

  • Size: Height 5.3 x Width 5.3 x Depth 5.3 inches (135 x 135 x
  • Weight: 5.0 oz (148 g)
  • Material: AS (Acrylonitrile Styrene) Resin
  • Made in Japan
  • Note: For Kalita Ice & Hot ST-1N #351571 Server K-750 (with Siphon Pipe)
  • Note: 1)Too coarse a grind, too little coffee, or insufficiently tamping the grounds before brewing can all lead to inadequate pressure for a proper brew. 2)It is important to note that the amount of espresso extracted will vary depending on the grind size and amount and refinement may be needed when the size and amount are adjusted
  • BEST BREW EVERY TIME: Refresh your coffee experience with Stanley products coffee maker! The Stanley Pour Over coffee maker is a traditional way to brew using a Stainless Steel filter. Brew pour over coffee like a pro at home. It is easy to use, and environmentally friendly
  • STAINLESS STEEL FILTERS: The stainless steel design is stylish and non-breakable. The stainless steel filter helps extract your coffee's aromatic oils and subtle flavors instead of being absorbed by a paper filter. It’s a smarter option for your coffee. The perfect solution for brewing your fresh brewed coffee at home, in your office, or outdoors
  • EASY TO USE: Pour the desired amount of coffee into the filter, place on top of a cup, coffee mug, slowly pour in the hot water, let the coffee maker drip out the water through the fine pour over filter, and remove the coffee dripper when done. Now you are ready to enjoy your drink
  • EASY TO CLEAN: Once done using the coffee brewer, rinse it quickly by hand and immediately use it again within 2-3 minutes for another flavor. Since it is a reusable coffee strainer made from stainless steel, it is better quality than plastic, ceramic, or glass coffee filters, it saves you money not buying paper coffee filters
  • LIFETIME WARRANTY: ‘BUILT FOR LIFE’. Since 1913 we’ve promised to provide rugged, capable gear for food and drink, built to last a lifetime. It’s a promise we still keep. Stanley products purchased from Stanley Resellers come with a lifetime warranty
  • BREW PERFECT POUR OVER COFFEE AT HOME: Equip your inner barista with this copper pour over coffee kettle. Use this copper gooseneck kettle to make delicious pour over coffee in your home like a pro. *Please note that this kettle holds 1.2 liters but we recommend to boil 1 liter at a time, to avoid overflow when boiling.
  • BUILT-IN THERMOMETER: It provides a perfect temperature. Water that is too hot will burn your coffee. If it is too cold, you won’t extract the full consistency of the beans. Our copper kettle comes with an auto temperature gauge which allows you to brew your pour over coffee at the optimal temperature (195-205°F). Make a perfect cup of coffee every time with our easy to read coffee thermometer!
  • GREAT GOOSENECK SPOUT: Make a perfect glass of coffee or tea! Smooth water flow is essential in making drip coffee and pour over tea. Our coffee and tea pot has an easy-to-pour gooseneck spout for precise water flow. Pour the right amount of water and pour at the right speed for consistent coffee extraction.
  • PREMIUM FOOD GRADE STAINLESS STEEL: While inferior stove top kettles are prone to rust over time, this pour over kettle is made with a triple layer metal base to keep your kettle leak-free and rust-free.
  • HAPPY CUSTOMERS - We take pride in the quality of our products and the service we provide to our fellow home-baristas, that’s why we back up all our products with our superb customer service. We believe happy barista’s make better coffee! Kettles are suitable for most kinds of boiler or heater such as gas burners, electric, induction, halogen, and radiant stovetops.
  • Durable, Stainless Steel Coffee Maker: Crafted with enduring stainless steel for durability; sturdy design to last for years to come
  • Portable & Collapsible Coffee Maker: Lightweight pour-over coffee gear for travel; conveniently folds for easy storage and transport
  • Perfect Pour-Over Camp Gear: Enjoy the rich, aromatic flavors of pour-over coffee while exploring the outdoors on a camping or backpacking trip
  • Versatile Coffee Filter Compatibility: Accommodates Chemex and Hario V60 coffee filters for coffee brewing options
  • Experience Nature with Snow Peak: For more than 60 years, we’ve been making heirloom-quality gear and apparel to help people slow down, connect with others, and feel close to nature
  • brew ratio calculator by grams weight and volume
  • save custom settings for pour over, French press, Aeropress, instant coffee, cold brew coffee and tea, hot tea, and matcha
  • scale your brew recipes up and down
  • fit your custom dosage to pour over recipes from Tetsu Kasuya, James Hoffmann, or George Howell
  • pour over timer prompts when to pour to what cumulative total grams of water
  • brewing cheatsheets (quick reference charts)
  • caffeine calculator
  • tea bag calculator for large batches of hot or cold brew iced tea
  • coffee yield calculator by mug refills
  • choice of volume measurement systems: US customary, imperial, or metric
  • Cone Coffee Filters: Premium cone coffee filters will fit all 8 to 12 cup drip coffee makers with a conical shaped filter; Also fits most pour-over coffeemakers that need #4 coffee filters; Traps more bitter oils for a better cup of coffee
  • Advanced Design: Our coffee filters feature Microfine Flavor Enhancing perforations that allow the full coffee flavor to filter through and a double crimped filter design to help protect against bursting
  • Number One Coffee Filter Brand in the World: Our cone, basket and single serve filters are all designed to brew rich, flavorful coffee; They are all compostable and made of high quality paper that won't tear for mess-free brewing
  • Optimal Brewing: Our products are designed to provide optimal extraction resulting in a rich and flavoful cup of coffee which is never bitter
  • Join the Pursuit for Better Coffee: Melitta is dedicated to providing the ultimate coffee experience with our premium coffee filters, coffee pods, pour-over brewers, coffee makers and premium coffees
  • Set of 200 natural filter sheets
  • Capacity is 1-4 cups
  • Easy to use
  • Made in Japan
  • Designed to fit the cone shaped 02 dripper
  • These coffee filters are designed to give lovers of freshly ground coffee maximum pleasure while having the least possible environmental impact
  • First FSC Certified Coffee Filters
  • Unbleached filters
  • Made from Totally Chlorine free Paper
  • Great for Food Service or home use
  • CHEMEX - simple, easy to use with timeless, elegant design
  • All CHEMEX Coffeemakers are made of the highest quality, non-porous Borosilicate glass which will not absorb odors or chemical residues
  • The patented CHEMEX pour-over design allows coffee to be covered and refrigerated for reheating without losing flavor
  • All CHEMEX Coffeemakers are measured using 5 oz. as 1 cup
  • Use CHEMEX Bonded Filters FP-1, FC-100, FS-100, FSU-100, Filters not included.
  • [High Quality]: Our coffee filter is made from 100% biodegradable natural paper. It has four advantages: no log bleaching, no smell, no adhesive, no residue(important). Can reduce the damage to the original taste of coffee, health, and hygiene, when you use it will be more safe and secure
  • [Excellent Taste]: Fine paper, uniform thickness,It removes most of the oil and coffee particles. These oils will cause the coffee to be too bitter and maintain the original flavor of the coffee
  • [V-shaped Design] The conical design prolongs the time for water to flow through the coffee powder to the center, making the coffee taste more mellow after the water slowly penetrates. It is easy to carry, very suitable for travel, home, office, restaurant, etc
  • [Large Capacity]: Based on a cup of coffee a day, 200 count are enough for more than half a year. Each coffee filter paper is designed with a small ear suitable for hand-held.Fits any 2-4 cup coffee maker
  • [Safety & Environmental Friendly]: Clinuse disposable coffee filter paper is made of natural wood pulp, does not contain fluorescence and bleach, keeps healthy and environmentally friendly, and keeps coffee pure and mellow
  • [Note]:Our size is 4.6*4.4 inch, please confirm the size is what you want. V02 is a model name and does not mean it is the same as others. It may be 0.2 inches smaller than the normal height. Make sure the product is the right size before you buy. Our products are packaged in food-grade vacuum packaging

What is a Pour Over Coffee?

Pour over, or once known as filtered, is by far the easiest way to make a cup of coffee since all you ever need is a cone-shaped paper filter, a plastic funnel, coarsely ground coffee, and a mug.

Once set up, it is simply a case of pouring nearly-boiled water slowly in a circular motion over the coffee grounds. The water will drain through the coffee and filter and into the mug or carafe.

For this, pour over is also known as the drip coffee or filter coffee, although the terms also include the batch brewers.

However, what sets pour over coffee apart from the batch brewers is that it’s made by hand pouring the water over your coffee. Thus, you may hear it called manual brewing or hand brewing.

The pour over technique has been commonly used in Europe since the 90s and elsewhere for much longer, however, was rediscovered by the specialty coffee movement in recent years.

Perks of a Pour Over Coffee

If you have ever met someone who drinks pour over coffee regularly, then you will notice that they are probably a bit obsessed with the brewing method.

This is because the brew is rather unique and requires a bit more finesse and practice than other brewing methods. Thus, a quality finished pour over coffee is nothing to scoff at.

Pour over accentuates the intricate flavors and aromas of the coffee when compared to the other brewing methods. This makes it an excellent choice for the single-origin coffees because it allows the aromas and flavors to shine.

It also offers a consistent, clear, and clean coffee. This is because the water is allowed to extract the coffee fragrances and oils in its own consistent time and pressure.

The filter then catches a lot of oils, which results in a clean cup of coffee. And since this is an infusion method, it’s a bit more efficient at extracting the coffee soluble than the immersion techniques such as the French press.

The immersion methods cause the water to become saturated, whereas the pour overs use a constant supply of fresh water.

Read More:

How To Make A Pour Over Coffee?

best pour over coffee maker

The Works

First of all, you will need to gather all the needed supplies and equipment. The key to a tasty and successful pour over is precision, so you do not want to skimp on your kit.

For a pour over coffee, you will need:

  • The best pour over coffee maker
  • Gooseneck Kettle (electric or stovetop)
  • Coffee grinders (freshness matters)
  • Whole coffee beans
  • A tumbler, cup or carafe
  • Kitchen scale

Once you’ve gathered everything you need, the process goes something like this:

  1. Grinding: First, you need to get your whole coffee beans ground to medium-coarse or medium-fine.
  2. Filter Prepping: This one is optional. You only need to pre-wet the paper filters.
  3. Water Heating: Go for anywhere the range of 195 – 210 degrees Fahrenheit.
  4. Setting Up: Place a pour over on top of your carafe or cup. Then put it on the kitchen scale. Put in the coffee grounds and scale.
  5. Bloom The Coffee Grounds: Evenly wet the grounds, prepping them for extraction. Wait for at least 30 seconds.
  6. Water Pouring: Slowly and gently, pour the hot water in a circular motion from the outer edge to the center. Check the scale to measure how much water you’re using.
  7. Enjoy!

The perks of a pour over are that you get to decide to change up just about every step in the brewing process. Every little tweak can have an impact on your final coffee brew.

This way, you have complete control over the entire process. Once perfected, it will feel like you have created something specially crafted for your palette.

The Brewing Technique

When you first start to brew coffee with the pour over method, you might want to avoid watching too many videos of the pouring techniques.

It can quickly get overwhelming. So, start simple and be consistent in how you pour and learning the more advanced techniques of blooming, agitation, and pulse pouring in order to achieve an even extraction. Read Here: Best Espresso Machines Under $1000

Most people pour in concentric circles, helping you maintain a consistent flow of water. From there, you can work your way up to the more detailed methods or break the rules when you are familiar with the basics to find your unique pouring technique that works for your taste.

1) The Bloom

This is the quick bubbling up of the water which happens with the first pour. Blooming is caused by the degassing of carbon dioxide which is built up in the roasting process. Fresh coffee and light roasts are likely to produce a bigger bloom since they contain more gases.

The carbon dioxide can prevent an even extraction since it repels water with disturbed grounds and can sit at various heights. Thus, you need to first let the gas escapes to attain a consistent extraction.

Pour twice the measure of coffee in water over the grounds. Then wait for 30 – 45 seconds until the bloom finished and the grounds settled.

2) Continuous Pouring VS. Pulse Pouring

Pulse pouring simple means using multiple pours of specific amounts of water. Experiment with the volume of water as well as the number of pours. Pulse pouring helps prevents channeling or the grounds rising up on the side of the filter.

It gently disrupts the grounds, causing them to move and creating an even contact with water. Meanwhile, continuous pouring is when you pour water at a constant flow rate without stopping.

Continuous pouring keeps the saturation and flow as even as possible while pulse pouring is varied intentionally.

3) Agitation

This is just the mild disturbance of the coffee grounds during brewing. There are various ways to agitate the coffee including swirling and stirring the brew.

Agitation helps disperse coffee grounds which can be left high and dry on the filter via channeling. Also, it helps break up any dry clumps inside the coffee bed. Agitation aids even extraction by ensuring that all grounds are saturated.

The Taste

The common description for pour over coffee is “crisp” and “clean”. The delicate brewing process on paper filters makes for an intricate light cup, bringing out the complexities of your favorite coffee bean varieties.

In general, pour over coffees tend to have lighter taste since the lack the oils gathered from other brewing methods. Plus, there’s no added pressurization for a more intense extraction.

So, if you’re looking to get the full-bodied brews with a heavy mouthfeel, then you’re in the wrong place. However, if you’re looking for the lighter coffees without grittiness, then you’re going to want to get your hands on the best pour over coffee maker available.

Pour Over Compared To Other Brewing Methods

Oftentimes, questions of how pour over coffee fare against other at-home brewing tools are asked. So, here’s a quick summary so you can determine if making the switch to pour over is the right move for you!

Pour Over Vs. Drip

Drip machines are the traditional American way of brewing a cup of coffee. In fact, if you walk into any home across the American states, chances are you will spot a drip coffee maker loyally stationed on the kitchen counter.

The perks of drip brewers are that they’re easy, fast, and super convenient. Also, you get to brew enough coffee for your whole household— or for a whole party, if needed— without breaking a sweat.

However, the ease-of-use meant you lose some quality control. Pour overs, on the other hand, allow you to have complete reign over your brewing.

You get to control the saturation of the coffee ground, the water temperature, the brewing speed and so much more. With the standard drip brewer, you can only change the brew volume at the most.

Pour Over vs. French Press

French Press, like the best pour over coffee makers, are manual tools. Thus, they both need a bit of practice and time to perfect. Although most, people think that the French Press is much easier to master.

Because of these similarities, most coffee enthusiast dispute over which is the better brewer in terms of taste preference. As you notice from our list of the best pour over coffee makers, most machines need paper filters.

These filters are known to absorb heavier oils of the brew, creating a lighter mouthfeel. In addition, it helps prevent grit from getting in your coffee.

Meanwhile, most French presses feature built-in metal filters, so their brew usually has heavier bodies. In addition, with pour overs, you use finer grounds than with French Press.

Thus, the difference in the grind size affects what and how the flavors are extracted.

Pour Over Vs. AeroPress

Both coffee makers use paper filters. AeroPress, however, uses pressure instead of gravity to brew. These brews will offer a similar mouthfeel; however, their strength and flavor will differ. Pour overs provide more complex profiles but AeroPress offers intense flavors.

If you want a coffee with a nice, concentrated flavor and is straightforward to use, then AeroPress is your best choice. However, if you want to master and perfect your brew, then the Pour over is your best bet.

Selecting The Best Pour Over Coffee Maker?

best pour over coffee maker

1) Flat Bottom VS. Cone-Shaped Drippers

Some individuals claim that it is easier to brew with the flat-bottomed drippers compared to the cone-shaped ones, mainly because there is some flow restriction going on.

However, in our opinion, beginners are best suited with the cone-shaped brewers since they’re more likely to brew darker roasted coffee. Both shapes have their own pros and cons.

The cone-shaped drippers can provide plenty of deep flavor and profile. Meanwhile, the flat-bottom drippers offer a neutral, clear, and balanced flavor, providing high-end light roasted coffee.

Which dripper to choose will prefer on your coffee taste cravings and the beans that you currently have.

In general, coffee beans that need extra oomph will need the cone-shaped drippers since it can increase acidity and provide a complex aftertaste.

If you have premium, freshly ground coffee beans, then you enjoy light-taste with the flat-bottomed drippers.

2) Material

Pour over coffee makers are usually made out of the following 4 material. Each has its own pros and cons, so you need to keep these in mind before making a decision.

  • Ceramic

This is the most popular material in terms of pour over coffee brewing. It will not add any additional unwanted taste to the coffee since ceramic is chemically inert.

In addition, ceramic also acts as a great insulator, keeping your coffee warmer. Not only that, but it is also heavier and generally thicker than glass, so they are quite sturdier and more durable.

  • Glass

Speaking of glass, these types of pour over coffee maker is another favorite. Like ceramic, glass is also chemically inert and will not add any unwanted taste or flavor.

However, for best results in using glass pour overs, you need to preheat it in order to keep the blooming coffee grounds at a suitable temperature. Plus, glass looks really great in any countertop, but it is not for the clumsy home barista.

  • Plastic

This can be a great alternative to ceramic coffee drippers as it weighs less, but highly durable. Now, if you plan on bringing a pour over coffee to your travels and road trips, plastic pour over coffee makers should be your choice.

Although plastic has been seen as inferior compared to other materials, in recent years, coffee experts started recommending plastic drippers since they do not steal any heat from its brew bed.

  • Metal

Metal pour overs, especially copper, is a great option if you are looking for lightweight and durable coffee dripper. Take note, however, that metals such as stainless steel do not hold heat well.

Since it does not insulate well, it also affects how well the extraction goes because your coffee grounds will lose their temperature quickly.

3) Filter

Some models come with a built-in mesh type filter. IF you ask any pour over enthusiast, you’ll know that they don’t make the best pour over coffee since they allow a lot of oils to enter your cup.

Thus, they tend to produce coffee with less clarity and acidity— which is the most distinguishing trades of a premium cup of pour over coffee.

Paper filters are still the best in creating the excellent qualities and taste of a pour over coffee. They are easy to use and disposed of after use, so you don’t have to worry about cleaning.

Thus, they can be wasteful and the cost of constantly purchasing new paper filters is not a great idea for budget-conscious and eco-friendly coffee lovers.

In addition, paper filters come in white or brown color. The unbleached, brown paper filters can make coffee taste more like paper. However, if you’re one who doesn’t mind the difference, then unbleached paper filters are cheaper and generally eco-friendly since they need less processing.

Now, if you don’t like the lightness of the coffee brewed with paper filters and want a full-bodied coffee, then you can go with the permanent filters usually made of metal. They produce less waste and most filters are generally easy to clean with some dishwasher-safe.

4) Skill Level

You must understand that not all the best pour over coffee makers are made equally in terms of your skill level. Most models are quite easy enough for the beginners to use, while others need a bit more effort.

Before buying, take the time to honestly assess your skill level. It’s also important to work out how much effort you’re willing to make in order to get the right pour over brew.

  1. Size Matters

There is some pour over coffee makers only provide a single serving while others can make multiple cups. It is crucial to consider your coffee needs, before buying a pour over coffee maker. This way, you can make sure that you get a model that meets your requirements and needs.

Individuals who live alone might be satisfied with just the single serving pour over coffee maker. However, if you’re one to entertain visitors and guests, then you will need something considerably larger. However, keep in mind, that larger pour over coffee makers can take a while to finish brewing.

  • Portability

If portability is an important factor for you, then you need something that can easily fit in your bag and does not need any special tools in order to brew a good cup of coffee.

You can go with the stainless steel or plastic pour over coffee makers. Glass and ceramic pour over coffee makers or the other hand are way too fragile for the constant traveling and only suitable for home use.

best pour over coffee maker

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why is a pour over slow?

A: The finer the grind size, then the faster the extraction since there is a high amount of surface area. However, since brewing coffee in a pour over is a gravity fed process, it is recommended to use the coarse grind size that takes longer because of the less surface area, extracting the flavors and fragrances slowly.

Q: How much coffee should I use in a pour over?

A: This will depend on the amount of coffee you are wanting to brew or the device you have. Most coffee experts will recommend a ratio instead of giving a volumetric measurement.

The most recommended water to coffee ratio lies between 17:1 – 15:1, to allow lots of room for experimentation.

Q: How do you make a pour over coffee stronger?

A: You can make a pour over coffee stronger in 2 ways: try a single origin coffee from a different region with a more powerful and stronger flavor or you can increase the brew ratio with more coffee grounds but using the same amount of water.

Q: What are the challenges of brewing pour over coffee?

Manual methods are prone to bad pouring techniques and human error. For instance, all infusion methods run the risk of channeling. This is where the stream of water finds an easy route around the coffee ground.

This usually happens when the grounds are unevenly distributed or when there are clumps of coffee, which means that some of the coffee does not get extracted.

Final Thoughts

There is a reason why pour over is the preferred brewing method at the high-end cafes. It is a simple way to make coffee with intricate taste and flavors that you won’t get from a machine.

And for the best results, you need to start with the best pour over coffee makers. WE hope that you find the best pour over coffee maker from our above list to start your journey into the relaxing and flavorful world of pour over brewing.

You will soon discover your deep and inner Zen barista with this old-fashioned coffee brewing method, along with a new way of slowing down to enjoy your cup of great-tasting coffee!