How to Choose the Best Pour Over Coffee Maker for Your Needs

Pour over coffee is a simple and elegant way to brew a delicious cup of coffee with minimal fuss and equipment. All you need is a filter, a cone-shaped or flat-bottomed dripper, hot water, and your favourite coffee grounds. But with so many options available, how do you choose the best pour over coffee maker for your needs?

In this blog post, we will compare some of the most popular and highly rated pour over coffee makers on the market, and give you some tips on how to select the one that suits your preferences, budget, and lifestyle.

What is Pour Over Coffee?

Pour over coffee is a method of brewing coffee that involves pouring hot water over freshly ground coffee beans in a filter. The water passes through the coffee grounds and drips into a cup or a carafe below. The result is a clean, flavourful, and aromatic brew that highlights the nuances of different coffee beans and roasts.

Pour over coffee is different from other methods of brewing coffee, such as drip machines, French presses, or espresso machines, in several ways. First, pour over coffee gives you more control over the brewing process, as you can adjust the water temperature, the grind size, the amount of coffee, and the pouring technique to achieve your desired taste and strength. Second, pour over coffee uses paper filters that remove most of the oils and sediments from the coffee, resulting in a smoother and less bitter brew. Third, pour over coffee is easy to make and requires minimal equipment and maintenance.

What are the Benefits of Pour Over Coffee?

There are many benefits of making pour over coffee at home, such as:

– You can enjoy a fresh and flavourful cup of coffee anytime you want, without having to go to a coffee shop or use expensive machines.
– You can experiment with different types of coffee beans, roasts, grinds, and ratios to find your perfect brew.
– You can save money and reduce waste by using reusable filters and avoiding disposable cups and pods.
– You can relax and enjoy the ritual of making pour over coffee, which can be soothing and meditative.

What are the Types of Pour Over Coffee Makers?

There are two main types of pour over coffee makers: cone-shaped and flat-bottomed. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages, depending on your preferences and needs.

Cone-Shaped Pour Over Coffee Makers

Cone-shaped pour over coffee makers have a narrow opening at the bottom that allows the water to flow through the coffee grounds faster and more evenly. This results in a more balanced and consistent extraction of flavours and aromas from the coffee. Some examples of cone-shaped pour over coffee makers are:

• V60: This is one of the most popular and widely used pour over coffee makers in the world. It has a spiral design that creates turbulence in the water flow and helps to evenly wet the coffee grounds. It also has a large hole at the bottom that allows you to control the brewing speed by adjusting the grind size and the pouring technique. The Hario V60 comes in different sizes (01, 02, 03) and materials (plastic, ceramic, glass, metal), so you can choose the one that fits your needs.
• Chemex: This is another classic and iconic pour over coffee maker that has been around since 1941. It has an elegant hourglass shape that doubles as a carafe that can hold up to 10 cups of coffee. It uses thick paper filters that remove most of the oils and sediments from the coffee, resulting in a clear and smooth brew. The Chemex also has a wooden collar that acts as a handle and insulates your hands from the heat.
• Kalita Wave: This is a newer and more innovative pour over coffee maker that has gained popularity in recent years. It has a flat bottom with three small holes that create a more stable and even extraction of flavours from the coffee. It also has wave-shaped filters that prevent the water from flowing too fast or too slow through the coffee grounds. The Kalita Wave comes in two sizes (155 and 185) and materials (stainless steel, glass, ceramic), so you can choose the one that suits your needs.