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Expert Picks for January 2026

Best Pour Over Coffee Makers

The meditative ritual that showcases single-origin beans. We compared pour-over drippers from V60 to Chemex—finding the right balance of control, forgiveness, and the cleanest cups possible.

Last updated: January 28, 2026

Best Overall Comparison All Products User Reviews Buying Guide FAQ

Best Overall Our top recommendation

Best Overall

Hario

V60 Ceramic Dripper

4.8 (15,678 reviews)

The V60 is the barista's pour-over. Master the technique, and it produces the cleanest, most nuanced cups possible. Screw it up, and you get sour water.

Material

Ceramic

Size

02 (1-4 cups)

Ribs

Spiral

Hole

Large single

Pros

✓ The industry standard
✓ Spiral ribs for optimal extraction
✓ Large hole gives control

Cons

✗ Technique matters—learning curve
✗ Requires specific V60 filters
✗ Fragile ceramic

$25

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Head-to-Head Comparison

Product	Rating	Price	Action
V60 Ceramic Dripper Best Hario	4.8	$25	View
Classic Series Pour-Over Chemex	4.7	$49	View
Wave 185 Dripper Value Kalita	4.6	$34	View
Stagg [XF] Pour-Over Dripper Fellow	4.7	$45	View
Porcelain Pour-Over Brewer Melitta	4.4	$12	View

* Prices may vary. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

All Recommended Products

Best Overall

Hario

V60 Ceramic Dripper

4.8 (15,678 reviews)

The V60 is the barista's pour-over. Master the technique, and it produces the cleanest, most nuanced cups possible. Screw it up, and you get sour water.

Material

Ceramic

Size

02 (1-4 cups)

Ribs

Spiral

Hole

Large single

Pros

✓ The industry standard
✓ Spiral ribs for optimal extraction
✓ Large hole gives control

Cons

✗ Technique matters—learning curve
✗ Requires specific V60 filters
✗ Fragile ceramic

$25

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Premium Pick

Chemex

Classic Series Pour-Over

4.7 (12,345 reviews)

Chemex is as much art as coffee maker—it's in the Museum of Modern Art. The thick filters remove oils for the cleanest cup you'll ever taste.

Material

Borosilicate glass

Sizes

3-10 cup

Filter

Chemex bonded

Design

Hourglass

Pros

✓ Iconic design (in MoMA)
✓ Thick filters = clean cup
✓ Makes 3-10 cups

Cons

✗ Proprietary expensive filters
✗ Glass is fragile
✗ Thick filters remove some oils

$49

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Best Value

Kalita

Wave 185 Dripper

4.6 (5,678 reviews)

The Wave is the V60 for humans who haven't devoted their lives to pour-over technique. Still makes excellent coffee with a larger margin for error.

Material

Stainless steel

Size

185 (2-4 cups)

Holes

Bottom

Flat

Pros

✓ Flat bottom = forgiving
✓ Three holes regulate flow
✓ More consistent than V60

Cons

✗ Less control than V60
✗ Stainless can cool quickly
✗ Filters can be hard to find

$34

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Fellow

Stagg [XF] Pour-Over Dripper

4.7 (3,456 reviews)

Fellow redesigned pour-over for design-conscious coffee lovers. The ratio aid marks take guesswork out of water amounts.

Material

Stainless steel

Wall

Double vacuum

Features

Ratio aid

Compatibility

Multi-filter

Pros

✓ Ratio aid marks guide pouring
✓ Double-wall insulation
✓ Works with many filters

Cons

✗ More expensive than classics
✗ Design is polarizing
✗ Still requires technique

$45

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Budget Pick

Melitta

Porcelain Pour-Over Brewer

4.4 (8,901 reviews)

Melitta Bentz invented the paper filter pour-over in 1908. Over a century later, their simple design still works. The heritage pick for $12.

Material

Porcelain

Size

1-4 cups

Hole

Single

Filter

Cone #4

Pros

✓ Melitta invented the pour-over
✓ Cheap as dirt
✓ Filters available everywhere

Cons

✗ Basic design
✗ Single hole limits flow
✗ Less nuance than V60

$12

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Buying Guide: How to Choose Pour Over Coffee Makers

Pour-Over: The Ritual Worth Learning

Why Pour-Over?
Pour-over gives you control that machines can't match. It's meditative, precise, and produces coffee that showcases individual bean characteristics.

### The Essentials
The Dripper: V60 for control, Chemex for batches, Wave for forgiveness.
The Kettle: Gooseneck is non-negotiable for precision.
The Grinder: Burr grinder required. Medium-fine grind.
The Scale: 1:15 to 1:17 coffee to water ratio.

### Basic Technique
1. Rinse filter
Removes paper taste
2. Bloom - Pour 2x coffee weight, wait 30-45 seconds
3. Pour in circles - Slow, steady, avoid edges
4. Total time - 2:30-3:30 for most drippers

Frequently Asked Questions About Pour Over Coffee Makers

V60 or Chemex—which is better?

Different, not better. V60 has more body; Chemex is cleaner. V60 for single cups; Chemex for batches.

Do I really need a gooseneck kettle?

Yes. A $30 gooseneck transforms your results more than a $100 dripper upgrade.

Why does my pour-over taste sour/bitter?

Sour = under-extracted (grind finer). Bitter = over-extracted (grind coarser).

How important is water quality?

Very. Coffee is 98% water. Filtered water works well for most.

Why Trust Our Recommendations?

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