The image of a barista carefully pouring water into a pour-over coffee maker is one synonymous with specialty coffee. This process of coffee extraction screams, “Boutique coffee experience!” It has a mysterious kind of aura for those who are not “coffee pros.” However, this method of coffee making isn’t just for baristas. With the right tools, a little practice, and a little advice, you can be making coffee manually too!

Hi, I’m Eric and I love coffee! For over a decade I’ve been learning on espresso machines and brewing devices. I’ve spent years behind café counters, serving up hot cups of joe, cappuccinos, and lattes. I’m excited to be your guide to all things java. If you are looking for advice on picking out an espresso machine, pour-over device, or other coffee gear you can connect with me or another Curated Coffee Expert here.

What is a Pour-Over?

A pour-over is a style of coffee prepared using a pour-over coffee dripper. These pour-over devices are simple and 100% manual. It’s a process of adding coffee grinds and then hot water into a pour-over brewer, and letting gravity and the filter do the rest. This is a popular style of brewing among coffee lovers, both because of its simplicity and potential for great and complex coffee flavors.

Why a Pour-Over Coffee Maker?

Pour-over coffee makers offer a lot of benefits for coffee enthusiasts. They allow the user to have more control over the brewing process in ways that automatic coffee makers cannot match. The final result is more flavorful than an automatic coffee machine, and cleaner tasting than a French press. You are in control of the amount of water, the temperature, and even the speed and timing of when the water meets the coffee grinds. For the coffee-obsessed individual, these can all add up to a better and more flavorful cup of coffee. Another advantage of using a pour-over coffee maker is the size of the brew. If you only want to brew one or two cups of coffee, this method works a lot better than an automatic coffee machine.

Does the Shape of the Brewer Matter?

Pour-over brewers come in a number of shapes and sizes. Be it a cone-shape, a flat bottom, or something in between, each has its place on your coffee shelf.

A cone-shaped brewer usually has a larger hole for the coffee to flow through, and will allow you to use a finer grind. This can facilitate better extraction (more coffee flavors!), but requires more attention and some skill.

A flat bottom brewer has smaller holes in the bottom, and gives the coffee grinds more contact time with the water. These can be used with a coarser grind and often are more forgiving.

Now, let’s get into some of my most recommended pour-over coffee makers!

The Best Pour-Over Coffee Makers

Hario V60

The Hario V60 has long been a favorite among baristas. It comes in a variety of materials, from ceramic to copper. The brand even offers a great selection of colors. The classic ceramic cone is affordable and can produce great results with practice. The paper filters fit perfectly into the dripper and are easy to find for purchase.

This brewer has ridges along the inside to allow air to escape during the brewing process and to avoid a vacuum from being created. The Hario V60 has a large hole at the bottom, and is perfect for a single serving of coffee. The size of your grind is really influential to the brewing process, so if you enjoy playing around with coffee and trying different recipes, this is a good option. The Hario V60 takes a bit more practice to master than some other drippers, but once your technique is dialed in, the resulting cup tastes clean and expressive.

Kalita Wave

When first released, the Kalita Wave was one of the most sought-after brewing devices. The retro look of its stainless steel body and the wavy paper filters seemed exciting and mysterious. Now that this brewer is readily available, it is good to report that it lived up to its hype.

With a flat bottom and three small holes, this coffee maker works well with a slightly coarser grind. The water exits the brewing chamber a lot slower than the Hario V60, but this gives the water a longer contact time with the coffee grounds. This means that it is easier to work with, and more forgiving for those who are new to hand brewing. The flavor of the coffee won’t be as clear as the Hario, but the process is simpler. Keep in mind that the paper filters for the Kalita Wave are often not stocked at grocery stores, and usually must be purchased online.

Chemex Classic Series

The Chemex is an iconic coffee maker that looks beautiful on a kitchen countertop. With its glass body, wrap-around wood handguard, and retro look, it is a feast for the eyes. Chemex brewers are a carafe and pour-over device in one. After brewing, you simply remove the paper filter, toss it, and then serve directly from the vessel.

The Chemex Classic comes in three, six, eight, and ten cup sizes. If you often make coffee for two or more people, the six or eight cup sizes work beautifully. Chemex uses a thicker paper filter than other pour-over devices, which produces an exceptionally clean cup of coffee. However, some connoisseurs feel that the filter mutes the flavor a bit. With glass, durability can also be a concern. That being said, this is my favorite option for manually making multiple cups of coffee.

Coffee made in a Chemex benefits from a coarser grind than the Hario V60, since the thick paper slows down the water flow. These are great to have in your kitchen for Sunday brunch. The beautiful Chemex looks great on a table next to a spread of breakfast delights!

Fellow Stagg Pour-Over Dripper

Fellow is a young coffee company that has made waves by introducing new takes on classic coffee equipment. They are known for their innovative and stylish additions to coffee. The Stagg Pour-Over Dripper is no exception.

This flat-bottom dripper, similar to the Kalita Wave, gives the coffee more contact time with the water. It is a narrower and taller device which allows a brewing style similar to immersion, and gives even more time to extract coffee flavors while brewing. Made from an insulated material, The Stagg keeps your brew water hot throughout the whole process. They are simple to use, and easily produce a full bodied and great-tasting cup of coffee. However, the filters are specially designed by Fellow and usually only found online. Being made of premium insulated material, this brewer is the most expensive on this list.

How To Make A Pour-Over

Here are the basics for hand brewing coffee:

1. For a single serving of coffee, use freshly ground beans at a medium-fine coarseness (like table salt).
2. The Specialty Coffee Association recommends a 1:16 ratio of coffee to water. So, for 15 grams of coffee, use 240 grams of freshly boiled water.
3. Pour about 20% of the water over the grinds then let the coffee bloom, or de-gas, for 30 seconds. For a 15 gram recipe, that would be about 50 grams of water.
4. Slowly add more water until the coffee grinds are all submerged. Then continue to gently add water, keeping the level of water brewing in the dripper consistent.
5. When you have added all 240 grams of water, let it drip through and then enjoy!
6. The brew time will take about 2.5-3 minutes. If it is too fast or slow, adjust your grind size.

For a more in depth guide on hand brewing coffee, check out this Expert Journal article, or have a look at this video I made:

Everything You Need To Make A Pour-Over

You can make a delicious cup of coffee with nothing more than a pour-over brewer, coffee beans and some hot water. However, there are some tools that will make the process easier and help you get an even better coffee.

• Coffee Grinder: Grind size is important, and fresh ground coffee beans always taste better. A burr grinder like the Fellow Ode Brew Grinder is a great addition to your coffee team. Dive deeper into grinders in this article.
• Gooseneck Kettle: These Fellow Stagg kettles allow you to carefully and slowly pour water with ease and accuracy. Some even boil the water to a temperature that you set!
• Scale: A scale like this Acacia Pearl Scale will help you accurately measure your beans and water. This is perhaps the most important coffee tool to have at home. With weighted accuracy, even beginners can nail their pour-over recipe. It doesn’t have to be fancy as long as it is accurate. Any kitchen scale, like this cheaper option from Zwilling, will do!
• Freshly Roasted Coffee: Freshly roasted coffee just tastes better! Buying coffee beans from a local roaster also can give you access to a coffee community while supporting a local business.

Find the Best Pour-Over Coffee Maker for You

Are you looking for classic style from a Chemex? Or perhaps the temperature stability of the Fellow Stagg Dripper? No matter which way you lean, flavorful café-quality coffee is possible in your own home. With a little practice, and some good resources, you can feel like a barista in your own kitchen.

If you need help deciding on the right pour-over coffee maker for you, the Coffee Experts here at Curated can help you pick the perfect set-up. Chat with me or another Curated Coffee Expert for free, personalized advice. We specialize in matching coffee lovers with the right tools to make their coffee dreams come true!