The Best Pour-Over Coffee Maker to Buy in 2019 Coffee Resource Coffee lovers are always trying different ways to brew in hopes of finding a new favorite method. Any coffee enthusiast is likely to have a number of exciting brewing methods in their rotation, from Turkish brew to French press — all in search of the perfect cup of joe. Pour-over coffee has been around for over a century but has recently regained popularity. The smooth, mellow taste of pour-over coffee and the handmade style of brewing make it a highly favored brewing method. If you’re searching for the perfect pour-over coffee maker, here’s a detailed guide. What Is the Pour-Over Method? A pour-over coffee maker is known as a manual brewer. It operates similarly to a drip coffee maker but allows the user to be a hands-on home barista. Simply put, pour-over coffee brewing allow you to control the coffee-making process from start to finish, resulting in a great cup of coffee. Much like a drip coffee maker, hot water travels through the coffee grounds, and coffee is extracted into the container below. Drip coffee pots are automated, but pour-over coffee pots require the water to be poured by hand. This might sound like extra work, but the results of pour-over coffee are well worth this small amount of effort. Pour-over coffee has become popular over the last few years because of the flavor profile that is brought out by the slow, methodical hand-pouring. This at-home coffee brewing method produces barista-like results, which is why the pour-over is so popular with coffee lovers. The Benefits of a Pour-Over The main benefit of pour-over coffee brewing is it allows you to perfect the art of making coffee. Finicky coffee drinkers who prefer top-notch quality and taste will be able to control the entire brewing process, step by step. The pour-over method allows you to exercise precision and control over the speed, pressure, and consistency of coffee brewing. As always, using high-quality coffee beans is absolutely necessary for achieving the best results. Considerations Before Buying a Pour-Over Buying a pour-over coffee brewer seems like a total no-brainer from a cost perspective. Yes, pour-over makers are very inexpensive to purchase, but one must consider the other gadgets that are necessary to buy along with a pour-over brewer in order to brew great coffee (more on that later). Another consideration is time. Time is important to everyone, especially the precious few extra minutes of time during the mornings. Pour-over brewing takes about three to five minutes of active brewing time. Lastly, consider the kind of material you choose. Pour-overs are mostly glass or ceramic, but if you will be traveling with yours, be sure to choose one that is made of durable plastic or metal instead. Must-Have Coffee Accessories to Use With a Pour-Over As we briefly mentioned, there are a few accessories that will make pour-over brewing a breeze and will make your coffee taste great. Here are some of the accessories needed for pour-over brewing: A gooseneck kettle A serving container (if brewing large batches of coffee) Coffee filters if your pour-over uses a paper filter instead of a reusable mesh filter A pour-over stand (optional) Top Pick for Pour-Over Connoisseurs Hario V60 Ceramic Coffee Dripper The Hario V60 Ceramic Coffee Dripper is a simple, easy-to-clean ceramic pour-over brewer that is simple to use but never compromises on taste. The ridges on the coffee maker allow coffee to flow down the sides of the cone at the ideal rate. The Hario V60’s conical design and ridges create a balanced tasting cup quickly. The Hario V60 is the epitome of a quick-brew coffee maker with a conical design that creates a smooth, tasty coffee again and again. This coffee maker model requires paper or cloth filters and is less forgiving than other pour-overs, meaning it would be best-suited for a more experienced pour-over coffee user. Price: $22.23 Buy It Here Top Pick for Beginners Ceramic Coffee Dripper by Bee House Using a pour-over brewer requires a bit of practice since the user is in full control of the brewing process — which leaves plenty of room for beginner’s mistakes! For pour-over beginners, this coffee dripper made by Bee House is a solid choice. Bee House is a Japanese-made tiny little ceramic pour-over that makes one or two cups of coffee at a time. The lead-free ceramic brewer is heavy and durable and keeps coffee warm. Double holes at the base of the brewer make the brewing process quick and easy, as they extract the coffee’s oils evenly and with little effort for the pour-over novice. This model pour-over maker doesn’t require special filters, which is also convenient. Price: $14.19 Buy It Here Best Pour-Over for a Crowd Chemex Classic Series, Pour-over Glass Coffee Maker The Chemex Classic Series is an aesthetically pleasing borosilicate glass pour-over. The glass carafe is large enough to make up to 8 cups of coffee. Chemex is a well-recognized name in the pour-over game, and the double-bonded filtration system creates a crisp-tasting coffee. This Chemex has a very thick filter, meaning it keeps out bitter oils and it also prevents water from flowing too quickly, so subtle coffee flavors will come through. This pour-over features a sturdy design that produces consistent, high-quality coffee. Price: $34.99 Buy It Here Best Budget Pour-Over Coffee Maker Melitta 6-Cup Pour-Over Coffee Brewer Melitta is a long-standing name in the coffee world. Over a century ago, Melitta was the first brand to make a pour-over coffee maker. The Melitta 6-Cup Pour-Over Coffee Brewer is a trusty brand that makes an inexpensive brewer that works like a charm. The glass carafe’s capacity is enough to make six cups at a time, and this pour-over is simple to use. The Melitta coffee maker conveniently comes with a scoop and five filters. For more brewing volume, there is a 10-cup model as well. Price: $17.09 Buy It Here Best Pour-Over With a Permanent Filter Bodum Pour Over Coffee Maker Similar to the Chemex, the Bodum Pour Over Coffee Maker brews for a crowd. This brand is also more lenient and requires less pour-over skill. Pour-over coffee brewers typically require paper or cloth filters, and sometimes these can only be purchased online. One major perk of this model brewer is that there is no need to hunt down special paper filters, because it doesn’t use filters at all. The permanent stainless steel mesh filter is convenient and looks sharp, too. The durable, heat-resistant, and shatter-proof glass is another great characteristic of a quality pour-over. This model also comes with a silicone grip that adds to its ease of use. Price: $19.99 Buy It Here Best User-Friendly Pour-Over Kalita Wave 185 Coffee Dripper Intimidated by the pour-over process? There’s no need to be with the Kalita Wave 185 Coffee Dripper. This is the most user-friendly and forgiving of all the pour-over brewers on the list. The Kalita Wave is easy to use for both beginners or pour-over experts. It’s travel-friendly and provides optimal extraction without a lot of time or effort. The coffee bed is flat-bottomed, which means that mistakes when brewing won’t be brutally obvious in the taste of the coffee. The Kalita Wave is known for consistent quality, and the model brewer comes in stainless steel, glass, and ceramic. If you want to travel with a pour-over, stainless steel is durable enough to handle a trip. The only possible gripe with this pour-over is that its filters must be purchased online. Price: $23.98 Buy It Here Make the Effort of Pour-Over Brewing Worth It For coffee drinkers who wish to fine-tune their morning coffee, the pour-over method is a fine choice. Pour-over brewing brings out the subtle qualities of the coffee beans that a regular drip coffee brewer just can’t. Since you’ll be able to taste the nuances in your pour-over coffee brewing, it’s imperative to use high-quality coffee beans instead of generic coffee beans. To get the best out of your pour-over coffee, use coffee beans that have been freshly roasted within 24 hours of shipping to your door. An Atlas Coffee Club subscription delivers single-origin, specialty-grade coffee to you on a schedule that fits your coffee drinking habits. Think of us as your coffee tour guides, sending you amazing and exotic coffees you can’t find anywhere online or on the shelf. Choosing a pour-over brewer depends on your skill-level and willingness to put a little extra effort into coffee brewing, but the results are consistently worth it. With so many options, it is easy to find a brewer that works well for your coffee-making routine.
