Over the years, I have tried a bunch of different pour over drippers.
Some of them actually have something unqiue to offer, while many are just “different for the sake of being different.”
Around 2011 when hand drip started to really started to become popular, the selection was quite limited; everybody was more or less using the Hario V60.
Today you have a lot more options when you’re looking for a manual drip coffee maker.
Here’s my guide to the best models on the market.
Top pick: Best value
My choice for the best coffee dripper is the Hario V60 Coffee Dripper.It’s a modern coffee classic and the ideal place to start your coffee journey.
The Hario coffee dripper is the undisputed king of manual drip coffee. And for a good reason. The flavor is rich and nuanced at the same time with just the right amount of acidity.
I recommend it to all beginners since it’s easy to find recipes and instructions specifically for this model online.
The V60 gives you full control over how your coffee ends up by letting you manipulate brew time, water flow, and water temperature. This control means you can end up with the perfect cup of coffee. But remember that you need a gooseneck kettle to get the full benefits!
It has a ridged vortex shape designed to stop the paper filter from sticking to the side of the cone while you’re brewing. This feature ensures that the grounds get extracted the right way every time. Because of the shape, it is sometimes called a pour over coffee cone.
You can get the V60 in ceramic, glass, steel, or plastic, and it comes in several colors.
The material doesn’t matter that much, and many elite baristas actually prefer the affordable plastic model. However, my personal favorite is the steel model. It’s the most sturdy of the V60’s and the weight is less than half of the ceramic and glass versions, making it better for thermal stability.
The V60 comes in three different sizes, but the medium-sized one is by far the most practical and popular one. (It’s the size called ’02’).
If you want to brew world-class filter coffee, consider the Hario V60. This pour over coffee dripper has been favored by most recent world champions (aka Brewers Cup winners) for a good reason.
See more reviewsThe Kalita Wave was the first model to challenge the dominance of the Hario V60.
The Wave is named after the unique shape of the filter. The idea is that the filter shelters the brew bed from the cone, thus creating a more stable brew temperature and an evenly extracted brew bed.
Compared to its rival, the Wave is often praised for being more beginner friendly. The three small holes in the bottom make it more forgiving when it comes to technique – or at least that’s the idea.
Personally, I think it’s more challenging to use than the Hario V60. If you ask me, the Wave is better suited for advanced home baristas.
The stainless steel version is the most common one, but I don’t recommend it since the filter has a tendency to get clogged and therefore slow down the drip rate. Read more about that issue here. Especially, the bigger stainless steel version named ‘185’ suffers from this issue.
Instead, I’d opt for the ceramic version which has a much more consistent flow rate. The glass model also brews great coffee but it’s very fragile. If you’re just a little bit clumsy – like most of us are in a caffeine-deprived early morning state – then go for the ceramic one.
(However, if money is no object, then the premium Steel Tsubame-version is worth going for. It’s arguably the world’s prettiest coffee brewer and has a consistent flow)
Conclusion:
The Kalita Wave is an excellent hand coffee dripper – just make sure to avoid the big stainless steel version, which suffers from a design flaw. My favorites is either the ceramic version or the pretty Tsubame-model.
Also, in spite of its reputation, I think the Kalita Wave is less beginner-friendly than the Hario V60.
That said, it’s still a great device that I often use myself.
Make sure to check out my Kalita Wave recipe here.
See more reviews3: HARIO SWITCH, POUR-OVER AND IMMERSION
Hario Switch is a unique hybrid brewer that combines pour-over and immersion brewing techniques.
On the surface, it might look like a cone-shaped version of the Clever Dripper, but I think it’s better in some key ways.
The Clever Dripper is a steep-and-release device. On the other hand, with the Hario Switch you can toggle back and forth between “steep” and “open” mode.
The regular Switch can hold up to 250ml of water at the top, but you can open the switch for the water to flow down, allowing you to brew up to 500ml – like a regular V60. This makes it a versatile brewer that can produce different amounts of coffee depending on your recipe.
The Switch is compatible with 02 size V60 filters, which are widely available and easy to find. The glass V60 cone is made of Hario’s signature heatproof glass, which ensures durability and thermal stability.
The plastic switch (which has given this brewer its name) activates a stainless steel ball valve that controls the flow of coffee, providing a precise flow rate that allows for consistent and even extraction. The immersion feature gives you a fuller-bodied brew, while the pour-over feature produces a cleaner and lighter cup. For optimal results combine the two!
Overall, the Hario Switch is a well-designed and versatile brewer that offers a unique combination of pour-over and immersion brewing. Its convenience and ease of use make it a great option for coffee lovers who want to experiment with different brewing methods and brew different volumes of coffee.
Conclusion
While the original V60 is still great, the Hario Switch offers all the same things plus more. You can use this for elaborate techniques that combine percolation and immersion. Or, if you prefer a more simple workflow, you can just follow the simple steep-and-release technique. The Hario Switch is a solid device that works well as a daily driver.
See more reviewsI adore this dripper by the Japanese brand Munieq. It’s created specifically for the travelling or outdoorsy coffee lover.
When you disassemble the three parts, it takes up almost no space and the weight is around the same as a regular toothbrush.
Even though this pour over cone is meant for travel it still produces an excellent cup. It extracts more flavor than the Hario V60 so the flavor profile tends to be full-bodied yet fruity.
It uses the cone-shaped filters like the Hario V60 and Cafec Flower, so the two models do have a bit in common flavor-wise.
The Tetra Drip is also available in a cheaper and even lighter plastic version.
Conclusion:
If you travel a lot and want to have great coffee on the road, get this dripper. If you solely want something for home use I’d probably go with one of the more traditional models.
See more reviewsThe Clever Coffee Dripper technically isn’t a pour over coffee maker. Instead, it’s a mix of immersion brewing and filter coffee. However, for all intents and purposes, it is the same, so that’s why we have included it on the list. Plus, it’s a pretty great device.
The dripper is made of safe BPA-free plastic, and it comes in large and small sizes.
The way it works is that you pour all the water in at once. There is an easy shut-off valve that holds your coffee until the brewing process is finished. Once you place the dripper on top of your range server, the valve releases the beverage.
This model seamlessly pairs the functionality of a French Press with the convenience that comes with a coffee dripper for a full-bodied, smooth taste.
While I still love the Clever Dripper, I can’t help but feel that it’s been overtaken by the more flexible Hario Switch.
One key difference between the Clever Dripper and the Hario Switch is the type of filters they use:
This coffee dripper can appeal to all levels of coffee drinkers. It has a sophisticated look, and it is easy to operate and use again and again. This smaller coffee dripper might be an excellent choice for someone who only drinks one or two cups of coffee at a time. Read my Clever Coffee Dripper review here.
The Chemex Coffee Maker is a classic and probably the most iconic drip coffee maker of all time. Nowadays, it comes in various designs but the glass and wood-collar version is the OG.
The wooden collar acts as a heat blocker, and it can prevent you from getting burned when you handle it. It attaches to your Chemex brewer with a nonchalant leather cord, giving it that sophisticated look.
You can also opt to get the Chemex classic with a handle instead of a collar, but honestly, I much prefer the unique look of wood and glass.
It is relatively easy to clean and use. You insert the special filter into the Chemex, boil your water and pour it over your coffee grounds in the filter and watch it brew. Just make sure that the thick side of the filter is on the same side as the spout. You don’t want the filter to cling to that ridge, because it will also block the flow of the liquid while you’re brewing.
Tastewise it’s close to the Hario V60, but a bit more on the thin side. The proprietary Chemex filters are thicker, and therefore take out more of the coffee oils. If you like this or not is up to personal preference, however, I prefer V60’s flavor a bit more.
The Chemex Coffeemaker is a great choice if you want to brew larger batches of delicious pour over coffee and have a penchant for stunning design.
See more reviewsThe Timemore B75 is a relatively new gadget, but it has already impressed me and many other pour over geeks. Known for its incredibly fast and consistent flow rate, this dripper guarantees a quick, one-cup brewing experience.
Its ideal size makes it perfect for brewing between 12-20 grams of coffee, with 15 grams being the sweet spot for most enthusiasts. The Timemore B75 is not only more affordable than competing brands such as Orea, April, and Simplify, but it also offers equal or even better quality in terms of materials and design.
The design of the Timemore B75 is noteworthy, featuring a hollowed-out base with ribs that provide excellent filter support. These ribs help keep the filter in place, ensuring that it remains secure even after wetting.
Constructed from a premium, sturdy plastic, the Timemore B75 is more solid than other plastic drippers. Despite this, it remains lightweight compared to ceramic or steel alternatives.
This device can work with both Kalita 155 and 185 filters.
In my recent side-to-side comparison, I was really amazed at how quick this little guy is, as it managed to brew 15 grams of coffee with 250 grams of water in a mere 2:05 seconds!
To sum it up, if you’re on the hunt for a speedy, consistent brewing experience that doesn’t skimp on quality, the Timemore B75 Flat Bottom Dripper is the way to go. It’s budget-friendly and versatile, making it an excellent addition for anyone looking to grow their coffee gear collection.
In conclusion, the Timemore B75 Flat Bottom Dripper is a fantastic choice for coffee lovers who want a fast, consistent, and high-quality brewing experience without breaking the bank. Its versatility and user-friendly design make it an excellent addition to any coffee enthusiast’s collection.
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Investing in your first pour over brewer is a relatively simple task. Compared to something like an espresso machine, it’s a tiny post on the budget.
And since the technology isn’t that complicated, it’s less confusing.
Pouring water on ground coffee and letting gravity do the work is called ‘percolation’. This is one of the oldest coffee brewing techniques along with ‘immersion’ (aka steeping), which is what the French press relies on.
With percolation, the shape and type of the filter will affect the flavor of the final cup.
However, it’s definitely possible to overthink these things. Most of the models out there (except the Clever Coffee Dripper) have a lot in common.
Even though certain drippers may have ‘signature’ flavors it’s definitely possible to steer whatever brewing contraption in a direction you like by using certain techniques and recipes.
For instance: The Clever Coffee Dripper is known for producing less acidic cups compared to the V60 but a different recipe could make up for that.
Pro-tip: Remember that you need a gooseneck kettle to get the best results with a coffee dripper. Check out my: Remember that you need a gooseneck kettle to get the best results with a coffee dripper. Check out my background article that covers everything regarding kettles for coffee.
If you ask me, your primary concern should be the paper filters.
With something like the Hario V60, Kalita Wave or Chemex, you’ll end up using proprietary filters. These can be slightly expensive and difficult to find in your local supermarket. Are you ready for this kind of task or not?
Other models, such as the Clever Dripper, work perfectly fine with a standard coffee filter (‘Melitta’ style).
💡No matter which model you go for, however, make sure that you get some proper oxygen bleached filters.
White filters aren’t unhealthy or bad for the environment. Just make sure that they are oxygen and not chlorine bleached.
All brown filters give off a bit of cardboard flavor to the coffee – avoid them at all costs.
When you become more comfortable with the pour over method, you can also experiment with different filter types. For instance, there are several premium brands that produce cone-shaped filters; all with a slightly different flow rate and mouthfeel/body balance.
Some people say that it’s easier to brew with a flat bottomed dripper (Kalita style) compared to the cone-shaped one, because there’s some flow restriction going on. Personally, I don’t think that’s the case at all.
In my opinion, beginners are better suited with cone-shaped brewers such as the Hario V60 since they are more likely to brew darker roasted coffee or coffee of lower quality.
Both shapes have their own pros and cons, and I use them for different purposes. Let’s use an audio analogy to better understand what’s going on:
Which dripper I prefer depends on the mood and the beans that I have at hand.
A good rule of thumb, though, is that coffees under 82 points often need the extra oomph you get from the cone shape — attributes like increased acidity and complexity in the aftertaste.
Some models have a permanent mesh type filter. These manual drip coffee makers aren’t the best if you ask me, because they allow a lot of coffee oils to enter the cup. They tend to produce coffee with less acidity and clarity – two of the most distinguishing trades of a good cup of pour over.
Pour over coffee makers are typically made out of the following four materials. They all have their pros and cons, so you should also keep that in your mind before making any decisions.
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