The 9 Best Pour Over Coffee Makers of 2023, Tested by The Spruce Eats

Best Overall

Chemex Classic Series Coffeemaker

4.8

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Our Ratings

• Design
  4.5/5
• Ease of Use
  4.5/5
• Value
  5/5
• Performance
  5/5

Invented in 1941, the Chemex has long been synonymous with pour over coffee. It's one of the most popular and recognizable coffee makers in general, and after testing the item firsthand, we can confirm it's an all-around excellent brewing device. In fact, several members of The Spruce Eats team love the Chemex and use it at home as their primary source for coffee.

The simple glass carafe is exceptional at highlighting the different flavors in coffee beans, whether notes of bright citrus or rich milk chocolate. Depending on the size of the Chemex, the brewing process can take several minutes, but the results are worth it. Cleaning is easy, too, as the Chemex is dishwasher-safe once the wooden collar is removed. If you prefer washing the brewer by hand, which many members of our team do for convenience, a bottle brush is needed.

The Chemex is available in a variety of sizes, including 3, 6, 8, and 10 cups, which is unique for pour overs, as the majority make just one cup at a time. Many coffee shops and grocery stores sell Chemex brewers and signature paper filters if you are looking to purchase in person. The price increases for larger-capacity models, and even the cheapest model is more expensive than the average pour over coffee maker, but it's not exorbitant.

Price at time of publish: $49

Capacity: 3, 6, 8, and 10 cups | Dimensions: 5.125 x 5.125 x 9 inches (8-cup model) | Filters: Chemex | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes (remove wood collar) | Warranty: None

Best Budget

Melitta 1 Cup Porcelain Pour-Over Cone Coffeemaker

4.7

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Our Ratings

• Design
  4/5
• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Value
  5/5
• Performance
  5/5

Melitta's line of mug-shaped brewing cones are among the most common pour overs today. They are often sold in the coffee aisles of grocery stores, right alongside the paper filters you'll need to brew with them. We tested both the plastic and porcelain models and prefer the latter, giving it extremely high scores in all areas. It's as affordable as any coffee maker you can find; it's approachable for beginners and experts alike, and it consistently makes strong coffee.

All you have to do is place the Melitta brewing cone on top of your mug, scoop finely ground coffee into the paper filter, and pour hot water over the grounds. Such ease of use is a signature benefit of pour over coffee makers and part of why they have remained popular for decades. It also makes the Melitta Pour-Over an excellent gift option for holidays and birthdays because people of any experience level can use it. Plus, the compact design ensures that it fits any countertop or can be stored in a cupboard when not needed. Keep in mind that the item is best for solo use, however, as it only makes one cup at a time, so we don't recommended it as the primary brewing device for a busy household.

Price at time of publish: $15

Capacity: 1 cup | Dimensions: 3.875 x 5.75 x 4 inches | Filters: #2 and #4 cone filters | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes | Warranty: One year

Best for Beginners

Origami Japan Origami Dripper Intro Bundle

5

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Our Ratings

• Design
  5/5
• Brew Quality
  5/5
• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Value
  5/5

This pour over from Origami Japan has crimped sides that make the ceramic look as delicate and artful as paper. It's available in more than a dozen colors, including jewel tones, earth tones, and neutrals, making it and unique and one of the most stylish coffee makers you can find. It received a perfect design score—a category that not only grades how the item looks, but also how user-friendly it is. In fact, one of our Lab testers was new to pour over coffee makers, but said the Origami Japan Dripper was intuitive right away, which makes it the top pick for beginners.

The Dripper comes in two sizes: a small size that brews 1 to 2 cups and a medium that brews 1 to 4 cups. Customers interested in brewing 4 cups at once should place the Dripper over a coffee pot to avoid spills, instead of alternating between four different mugs. The Dripper Bundle that we tested includes a plastic or wooden holder that can be attached to the bottom of the Dripper for a more stable brewing experience. The bundle is on the more expensive end for a small pour over coffee maker like this one, so if you're looking to save a few bucks, you can purchase the Origami Dripper by itself at a cheaper price and still enjoy the rich coffee it produces.

The item is dishwasher-safe and works with several paper filters, including Kalita Wave and V60 filters. The brand recommends using conical filters for best results.

Price at time of publish: $56

Capacity: 1 to 4 cups | Dimensions: Small model is 4.5 x 2.75 inches | Filters: Kalita Wave, V60 filters, and #2 cone filters | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes | Warranty: None

Best Design

Melitta Artisan Porcelain Pour-Over Coffeemaker and Canister Set

4.7

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Our Ratings

• Design
  5/5
• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Value
  4/5
• Performance
  4/5

Melitta designed this set to be a one-stop shop for pour over coffee. It includes a coffee canister, filter holder, and pour over coffee maker, all placed atop a bamboo tray. The pour over itself is made of porcelain and brews a reliable cup of coffee, yet it's worth noting that we gave the flavor a slightly lower score than that of Melitta's standard 1-Cup Porcelain Pour-Over. Both brewers were tested side-by-side using the same coffee-to-water ratio and water temperature.

Other than that, there is little to nitpick here. All the pieces are sturdy. The pour over is dishwasher-safe. There are even cutouts in the bamboo tray to give pieces extra stability, which is especially handy if you need to carry the set from countertop to kitchen table. Like most pour overs, it's better suited for solo use than a full household of coffee drinkers. For best results, use #4 cone filters and medium-fine ground coffee beans. Finally, the cost may vary depending on the retailer, but like most Melitta products, the price is generally reasonable.

Price at time of publish: $80

Capacity: 1 cup | Dimensions: 5.5 x 7.7 x 14.75 inches| Filters: #4 cone filters | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes | Warranty: One year

Best Single-Serve

Chemex Funnex

4.5

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Our Ratings

• Design
  5/5
• Ease of Use
  3.5/5
• Value
  4.5/5
• Performance
  5/5

The Chemex Funnex is a compact alternative to the Chemex Classic Series. While the latter is available in multiple sizes and additionally functions as a carafe, the Funnex is meant to be placed on top of a mug when brewing, like the majority of pour overs. It's made for single servings of coffee instead of a day's worth of joe. One of the best details, though, is that the Funnex is designed to brew up to 15 ounces at once, so you can fill up an entire travel mug on the way to work.

After trying the product, we found the coffee to be aromatic, flavorful, and dynamic—everything customers have come to know and expect from a Chemex brewing device. The brand's filters also eliminated any grit or sediment in our testing process, leading to a clean cup of coffee. That said, folding the filters and placing them inside the Funnex is more difficult than the setup process for other pour overs that we tested, so this option may be better suited for people with a bit of coffee experience rather than those looking to try pour overs for the first time. Keep in mind, too, that the filters can be difficult to find in stores, so you will likely need to order them online.

The Funnex is reasonably priced and less expensive than the Chemex Classic Series. The all-glass brewer can be placed in the dishwasher for easy cleaning. Unfortunately, the brand does not cover damage or breakage.

Price at time of publish: $38

Capacity: 5 to 15 ounces | Dimensions: 4.25 x 4.5 inches | Filters: Chemex | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes | Warranty: None

Best for Travel

MiiR Pourigami

4.4

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Our Ratings

• Design
  4.8/5
• Ease of Use
  4/5
• Value
  4.8/5
• Performance
  4.5/5

This innovative, easy-to-transport coffee maker is comprised of nothing but three stainless steel panels. The pieces can be attached in seconds when it's time to brew and then detached and stored in a complimentary carrying case when you're on the go. The Miir Pourigami is simple but highly functional, and it creates an intersection for coffee lovers and outdoors lovers to meet.

Since the Pourigami is unlike any other brewing device, it took us a trial run to learn the setup process, including how to rest a paper filter inside the panels. After that, however, it proved easy to use. If you're really confused, the box has a QR code that links to an instructional video.

It takes about four minutes to brew a full cup of coffee; this is on par with other pour over coffee makers, but users need to pour slowly to ensure that the filter doesn't overfill and make a mess. The flavor is strong enough to perk you up and keep you warm when camping. We found cleanup expectedly simple, as a quick rinse gets the job done. The price is slightly more expensive than a standard pour over, but it feels reasonable, especially considering how often outdoor gear is marked up. The Pourigami can certainly be used as a home brewing device, too, but we view it as a travel item first and foremost.

Price at time of publish: $30

Capacity: 1 cup | Dimensions: 4.94 x 3.38 inches | Filters: V60, #2 cone filters, or Miir filters | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes | Warranty: Lifetime

Best With Reusable Filter

Coffee Gator Paperless Pour Over Coffee Maker Set

4.3

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Our Ratings

• Design
  4/5
• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Value
  4.5/5
• Performance
  4/5

For the majority of pour over coffee makers, a reusable filter is a separate purchase, but Coffee Gator includes a stainless steel mesh filter with this pour over, eliminating the need for paper ones. The brand also manages to keep the price low. For both of these reasons, the Coffee Gator Pour Over is an excellent fit for beginners because there are no paper filters to fold and no big sunk cost if you end up preferring a different brew method down the line.

It's worth mentioning that no mesh filter can completely prevent coffee grounds from sneaking into your cup the way that a paper filter can, but in testing, the Coffee Gator filter was highly effective at limiting sediment. One knock against the item, however, is that we found the taste and quality of the coffee subpar when they used Coffee Gator's brewing instructions. It wasn't until using a ratio of 250 grams of water to 15 grams of coffee—which was used for all pour overs we tested in our Lab—that the coffee came out smooth and flavorful. A convenient detail is that the 14-ounce glass carafe has measurements on the sides to ensure precision when brewing.

Price at time of publish: $24

Capacity: 14 ounces | Dimensions: 5.5 x 6.8 inches | Filters: Reusable stainless steel filter | Dishwasher-Safe: No | Warranty: Not specified

Best Set

Hario Pour Over Coffee Starter Set

4.2

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Our Ratings

• Design
  4/5
• Ease of Use
  3.8/5
• Value
  5/5
• Performance
  4.5/5

Complete with paper filters, a coffee scoop, and a 23-ounce serving pot, the Hario V60 Pour Over Starter Set is a convenient way to improve your coffee routine. The V60 Dripper itself has long been one of the most iconic pour over coffee makers, known for its blend of simplicity and performance. The name comes from the 60-degree angle of the pour over's sides, which helps funnel the coffee at an effective speed and direction. One of our writers who tried the V60 said they could discern different notes in the coffee beans after brewing, including honey, hazelnut, and citrus—a hallmark of an effective coffee maker.

This set suits a two-person household, thanks to the serving pot. That said, the glass doesn't offer much heat insulation. We found that the coffee turned lukewarm rather quickly, so you may want to drink it right after brewing or it will be sent to the microwave. The pieces themselves don't feel high quality, but they more than get the job done. Plus, it's somewhat expected given the budget price. For best results, use #2 conical filters and medium-fine ground coffee.

Price at time of publish: $22

Capacity: 23 ounces | Dimensions: V60 measures 5 x 4.5 x 3.75 inches; serving pot measures 7 x 4.9 x 5.2 inches | Filters: V60 or #2 filters | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes | Warranty: 90 days