11 Best Pour-Over Coffee Makers on Amazon, According to Reviews

If you're diving into the world of pour-over coffee, there's a lot to consider. Do you buy pre-ground beans, or do you grind the beans yourself? Do you use paper filters, or do you opt for more sustainable options? The whole thing can be a little intimidating.

Before you invest in a pour-over coffee maker, listen to what the people (AKA Amazon reviewers) have to say about the top-rated models on the market. Keep reading to learn how to get started brewing pour over, and see our picks for the 11 best pour-over coffee makers on Amazon, according to thousands of reviews.

Top Pour-Over Coffee Makers at a Glance

• Best Overall: Kalita Wave Pour Over Coffee Dripper
• Best Budget Buy: Melitta Pour Over Coffee Cone Brewer
• Best for Beginners: Bee House Ceramic Coffee Dripper
• Best for Advanced Brewers: Hario Ceramic Coffee Dripper
• Best Complete Set: Hario Pour Over Starter Set with Dripper
• Best Auto Drip: OXO BREW Single Serve Dripper Auto-Drip Pour Over Coffee Maker
• Best Portable: Bodum Pour Over Coffee Dripper Set
• Most Attractive: CHEMEX Pour-Over Glass Coffeemaker
• Most Environmentally Friendly: Yitelle Stainless Steel Pour Over Coffee Cone Dripper
• Best Glass Pour Over Coffee Maker: Coffee Gator Paperless Pour Over Coffee Dripper Brewer
• Best Ceramic Pour-Over Coffee Maker: Kajava Mama Pour Over-Coffee Dripper

How to Make Pour-Over Coffee

Understanding the mechanics of pour-over coffee maker will help you make an informed decision as to which brewer is right for you. Here's how to brew a cup of coffee using a pour-over coffee maker:

1. Begin by measuring out your whole coffee beans. You'll want to measure roughly 1 gram of coffee per 16 grams of water, using a digital food scale.
2. Now you're going to need to grind the beans. Why not buy them pre-ground? Because pre-ground coffee, when exposed to oxygen, will lose some flavor and aroma. For the most full-bodied and robust flavor, you'll want to grind the beans yourself. Use a burr grinder to achieve a consistent grind, about the size of fine sea salt. Bring your water to a boil.
3. Unfold your paper filter (or use a reusable filter) and insert it in the top of your dripper (the funnel-shaped part at the top).
4. Using just enough hot water to saturate it, wet the filter. This step ensures you won't get any of that paper taste in your coffee. Discard the excess water.
5. Add the coffee grounds to the filter and gently shake to disperse them evenly.
6. Add just enough hot water to cover the grounds. This step, otherwise known as "blooming," allows gas to escape from the coffee, giving your cup a cleaner taste. Wait 45 seconds.
7. Pour the remaining hot water over the coffee in small circles, going from the outer rim to the center, until you reach the desired amount of coffee, or for about 3 to 4 minutes. Be sure to keep your coffee grounds saturated the entire time.
8. Remove the filter and enjoy!

What to Consider When Buying a Pour-Over Coffee Maker

Once you understand how the process works, you'll also want to keep these factors in mind when choosing the right pour-over coffee maker for your needs.

Accessories

While pour-over coffee makers are relatively inexpensive, you'll also need to factor in the cost of the accessories, which are essential to the brew process. Here are a number of things you'll need in addition to a dripper to make pour-over coffee:

• Kettle: You'll need a water kettle with a gooseneck spout — this Amazon best-seller has a thermometer that alerts you when your water is in the "brewing gold-zone."
• Filters: Of course you'll also need filters, whether paper ($14, Amazon) or reusable ($25, Amazon).
• Coffee Grinder: Coffee aficionados will argue that your grinder is actually even more important than your brewer. A burr grinder is best for getting the most uniform grind.
• Scale: While you can use measuring cups to measure your whole-bean coffee, to get the most accurate measurement (and in turn the best brew) you'll want to use a digital food scale, which you can find for less than $15.

Portability

While ceramic and glass pour-over coffee makers look stunning on a countertop, they're not exactly ideal for travel. If you're looking to make pour-over coffee on the go, consider a plastic or stainless steel brewer.

Your Skill Level

The major advantage of manual brewing systems, like pour over or French press, is that you have complete control over your brew. But this also means it's on you to consider all the brewing factors like brew time, weight of coffee, water temperature, etc. If you're new to the world of pour-over coffee, you may want to consider a brewing system that's a little more forgiving. Don't worry — we'll call out which brewers are best for beginners in this review.

Sustainability

If you're looking to make your coffee consumption as sustainable as possible, take a look at your filter use. While convenient, paper filters create a lot of waste, especially if you're drinking multiple cups a day. Consider reusable filter options like cloth ($12, Amazon) or metal ($25, Amazon) filters to help reduce your environmental footprint. Plus, you'll save money in the long run.

Best Overall: Best Kalita Wave Pour Over Coffee Dripper

Reviewers can't say enough about this glass dripper. The dimensions are designed to fit almost all cups and carafes, so you won't have to worry about your coffee dripping over the edge of your favorite mug. Keep in mind that this design is made specifically for Kalita filters, helping to create a pool of water on top of the coffee bed which will give a uniform extraction.

This brewer also comes with three holes at the bottom, preventing the water flow from going too fast, and ensuring an even saturation. Whether you're a beginner or an expert, Kalita is consistently praised for its high quality brews.

One 5-star reviewer puts it this way: "I have found this dripper to be easy to get high quality brew from if you follow the basic techniques you can find on how to use it (search YouTube, Vimeo, etc). Once you dial in the right grind size (something a little coarser than drip but finer than French press), you will be able to brew consistently excellent cups with this."

To buy: $25; amazon.com

Best Budget Buy: Melitta Pour Over Coffee Cone Brewer

This plastic brew cone is designed to sit atop a variety of mug sizes so you can easily brew on the go. Plus, the cone design allows you to see inside the brew so you don't have to worry about overfilling.

"Easy to use, easy to clean (dishwasher top rack, or just rinse in hot water), and it makes great coffee," says one satisfied customer. "I have several manual and automatic coffee makers, I grind my own beans, and I make a lot of coffee; but sometimes all I want is a cup at a time." This brewer is great for those wanting to dip their toes into pour over without investing in a more expensive brewer.

To buy: $12; amazon.com

Best for Beginners: Bee House Ceramic Coffee Dripper

Function and style meet in this simplified coffee dripper that's perfect for beginners. But don't be fooled by its good looks — this porcelain coffee maker is dishwasher safe. A major plus of this dripper is it can use any standard cone coffee filter, so you don't have to go searching for any specialized ones.

The simplicity of this brewer makes it ideal for those just starting out with pour over: "This Bee House Coffee Dripper goes straight from the filter into the coffee cup. What a difference in taste," says a reviewer. Its wedge shape allows for better heat retention, although some reviewers warn that it doesn't fit all mug sizes.

To buy: $44; amazon.com

Best for Advanced Brewers: Hario Ceramic Coffee Dripper

Hario is one of the most trusted names in pour over, and this dripper has been an industry favorite for years. What makes it the right choice for advanced brewers? Unlike the Bee House and other models that have multiple holes to slow down flow speed, the Hario has one large whole, requiring you to grind more finely and pour more slowly. This design gives you complete control over your coffee, but it also makes it a little less forgiving.

The Japanese-made dripper come in glass, plastic, and ceramic versions. It does require you to purchase Hario's specially-made filters, but fortunately they're not too expensive. Once you get the hang of this pour-over brewer, you won't be able to go back to anything else.

One enthusiastic reviewer says, "All I know is, I thought the only coffee for me was French press. Until I tried this! It is equally full-bodied, but smoother...Also, I like a 'stout' (relatively strong) cup of coffee...And I can control the strength of the coffee by how fast I pour."

To buy: $25; amazon.com

Best Complete Set: Hario Pour Over Starter Set with Dripper

For the most bang for your buck, you can get Hario's famous coffee dripper along with a set of filters, a glass carafe, and a coffee scoop. Of course you'll still need to invest in a good grinder, a scale, and some sort of kettle, but this set is a good first step towards making pour-over coffee at home.

"This inexpensive little device will make better coffee for you, even including the cost of a gooseneck kettle, than a drip coffee maker costing three to five times as much," says one 5-star reviewer.

To buy: $28; amazon.com

Best Auto Drip: OXO BREW Single Serve Dripper Auto-Drip Pour Over Coffee Maker

For the most hands-off approach to pour over, this OXO auto-drip pour over is the way to go. Many fans of pour-over will argue that you don't get the same control over your coffee with auto drip, and while this is true, others will find that it more than makes up for it thanks to the fuss-free brewing process.

So how does it work? Simply place the dripper on top of your favorite mug, add the filter and the coffee grounds, add hot water and the rest of the work is done by the brewer. It automatically regulates water distribution for ideal brew time. It's pour-over coffee, but you don't actually have to do any of the pouring. And this eliminates the need for a gooseneck kettle!

One reviewer even compared the coffee from the OXO auto-drip to a traditional pour-over coffee maker: "After three tests that included flavor and aroma I found absolutely NO DIFFERENCE!"

To buy: $16; amazon.com

Best Portable: Bodum Pour Over Coffee Dripper Set

Don't settle for hotel-room coffee when you travel. If you find yourself on the go often, this $10 pour-over dripper + double wall mug set is shatterproof, so you can feel good about tossing it in your carry on. Plus don't worry about filters, this dripper includes a permanent, reusable stainless steel filter.

"My wife and I have used almost every coffee and espresso making method under the sun and Bodum's Double-Wall Pour Over is by far our favorite for 'regular' coffee," says one reviewer.

To buy: $12; amazon.com

Most Attractive: CHEMEX Pour-Over Glass Coffeemaker

Likely the trendiest of all pour-over coffee makers, this glass pour-over from Chemex features a stunning yet simple design that would look nice with any kitchen decor. But the advantages of this maker go even beyond aesthetics: All Chemex coffee makers are made with non-porous Borosilicate glass, which will not absorb odor or chemical residue.

Here's another really cool feature — the patented design allows you to cover your coffee, refrigerate, and reheat without losing flavor. Game changer.

This reviewer puts it best: "I bought the Chemex recently and it quickly became the go-to standard for my morning brews. It is foolproof, almost impossible to mess up at any stage: Boil water, grind beans, pour water over beans repeatedly until coffee is formed. You could argue there is more technique than that, but at its core the Chemex is built on an extremely simple concept."

To buy: $50; amazon.com

Most Environmentally Friendly: Yitelle Stainless Steel Pour Over Coffee Cone Dripper

If you're feeling a little guilty about all the waste created by paper filters, this is the solution you've been looking for. Take it from this 5-star reviewer who says, "After 6 months of contemplating the Yitelle pour over, I finally decided to give it a try. I will NEVER GO BACK to paper filters."

You'll be saving money and saving the planet; it's a win win! And if you want to reduce your footprint even further, I recommend composting your leftover grounds.

This dripper easily attaches to your favorite mug or carafe, so it's great if you're low on counter space. This set also comes with a stainless steel measuring spoon and a cleaning brush.

To buy: $16; amazon.com

Best Glass Pour Over Coffee Maker: Coffee Gator Paperless Pour Over Coffee Dripper Brewer

Get more from your beans with this 27-ounce glass pour-over coffee maker. The reusable laser-cut mesh filter—which saves money and the planet—traps grounds while allowing the natural oils and flavors to pass through. Plus, the glass carafe is durable and heat resistant. Simply add coffee grounds to the filter, slowly drizzle water to submerge the grounds, and let drip through. The resulting coffee will be far more fragrant and naturally sweeter.

"I've been using the Coffee Gator and I've been extremely happy with each cup of coffee," one shopper says. "Because of the unique filter system, the Coffee Gator gives you the smoothest cup of coffee without any bitterness or oily sediment. It does take a little more time to prepare but you get a perfect cup of coffee every time and hey, I'm worth it! If you think you're worth it to give the Coffee Gator a try."

To buy: $35; amazon.com

Best Ceramic Pour-Over Coffee Maker: Kajava Mama Pour Over-Coffee Dripper

The Kajava Mama ceramic pour-over coffee maker promises pure, unadulterated flavor. This device is different from others due to its ribbed sidewalls, which help ensure optimal extraction. Just insert a high-quality cone-shaped filter into the large opening along with the coffee grounds of choice, then let the hot water take it away. Kajava Mama recommends using water temperature between 195-200 degrees Fahrenheit for best results.

"This is as simple as it gets for a pour-over gizmo," one shopper says. "Put it on a vessel, add a filter, some ground coffee, and pour your water on top in a circular motion. It fits on a mug, Mason jar, or any other reasonably wide drinking vessel. Simple, easy, and exactly what I was looking for."

To buy: $15; amazon.com

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• Browse our entire collection of Coffee Drinks.