Best pour-over coffee maker 2023: classic coffee at its best

Pour-over coffee makers are the simplest way to brew fresh coffee from the comfort of your home. This straightforward method is easy to clean-up and even easier to enjoy, so it's no wonder they're one of the most popular brewing styles.

Much-loved by baristas and home coffee enthusiasts alike, the humble pour-over can extract every last drop of flavor from your freshly-ground beans. They also take up a lot less space than some of the best coffee makers and can be used from just about anywhere. All you need is hot water and some delicious fresh-ground coffee.

With a pour-over, everything is under your control. You can adjust the amount of coffee you use, the filters, the heat of your water, and how long you leave the grounds to bloom and develop in flavor.

Unlike the best drip coffee maker, which is designed to make a batch of coffee at a time, pour over is perfect for those who live alone or who would struggle to get through a full jug of coffee every morning. As a former barista, I took some of the very best to our test kitchen to put them through their paces.

The best pour-over coffee makers 2023

Best pour-over overall

The Kalita Wave is a chic, trusted pour-over coffee maker that’s been popular since the early 2000’s. The design hasn’t changed much since, because it works so well. With three small holes in the bottom, it brews slightly slower, but noticeably more evenly than the average pour-over.

The beautiful aesthetic alone of the Kalita Wave makes it a winner in our books. With a flat bottom, pour-over coffee drinkers agree this feature produces a rich, aromatic cup every time. 

We like the three holes, as opposed to models which just feature one, because the coffee grounds are saturated more evenly. Fans of the wave recommend pouring with a gooseneck kettle like this one from QVC, so you can follow a circular motion. This prevents over-extraction and bitterness.

Filters are not included, and although Kalita manufactures their own paper products, most filters on the market work just fine. We recommend opting for stainless steel to get the most out of your coffee maker, but you will have to hand-wash them. 

Best batch pour-over

A quick search for this Chemex pour-over will result in thousands of five star reviews praising its coffee-making ability. It’s by far the most popular brand for old-school brewing, and we agree it’s pretty great. If you like a large cup of coffee as opposed to smaller servings, you will enjoy that the Chemex makes by far the smoothest cup of joe. You can buy models which can make several cups at once too.

Obviously a good cup of coffee is the goal, but we can’t help but obsess over the design of this Chemex pour-over set. It’s so pretty, and thoughtfully designed. If you make too much, you can keep the whole carafe in the refrigerator for a refreshing iced coffee.

It's good to know that Chemex uses non-porous Borosilicate glass, claiming that this will not retain odors or chemicals from your coffee. If you want a coffee maker that will last for years, this is a non-negotiable.

Best pour-over with a reusable filter

Exceptional value for money, this $20 Bodum is a pint-sized miracle maker that our expert, Courtney, has used for years without fail. It delivers a delicious coffee with very little effort. The built-in, stainless steel filter means that you'll never have to worry about running out of filters again. The paper also absorbs some of the coffee oils, so a stainless steel filter will brew a better cup. Once finished, the carafe is also easily removed to pop in the dishwasher, which Cortney loves. Plus, she think it's the best aesthetic choice for her kitchen. 

She told me 'there is a learning curve to the Bodum, simply because the stainless-steel filter allows water to pass through more quickly than its paper counterpart. Pouring the water very slowly and evenly across the coffee grounds is the trick, yielding a rich cup of coffee full of flavor'. 

Most stylish pour-over

Thoughtfully designed, the Fellow has quite a few touches to make the brewing experience simple and enjoyable. Not only is it beautiful, it includes a number of stand-out features that separate it from the rest. There's a ratio aid, which will help you make the perfect brew and a double-sealed, vacuum wall which will keep your coffee hot.

For one cup of coffee, you should use 20g of ground beans and add water to the first dot. For two cups, 40g of grounds is the perfect amount, with water added until it reaches the second dot. The double wall makes a big difference in heat retention, which makes it a winner in our books. 

Although this model comes with 30 filters, when you run out, you'll have to buy 45 more, which cost $18, plus shipping. You can't use the filters more than once, as they break down quite quickly. Because the spout is slightly thicker and rounder than others, occasionally it allows for some dripping. If you have a white kitchen, be ready to wipe up any spills.

Best value pour-over

Single-serve and chic, this porcelain pour-over makes a beautiful gift for you, or for other coffee lovers. With one large drain hole, your coffee might brew faster than some other pour-overs, so don't add lots of water in one go, or your water will 'channel' and some grounds will become over-extracted and bitter. If this is your first pour-over, it's easier to brew a good cup of coffee with the Melitta when competed to other models. We only wish we could brew more than one cup at once, since it's so easy to use.

At $15, this is exceptional value. It's one of the cheapest in our guide, but it looks, feels, and brews like it could be one of the most expensive.  If you have the budget for a bit more, you can buy the Aritisan Set from Amazon, which comes with a bamboo tray, filter paper holder, and airtight coffee grounds container. 

Best budget pour-over

This isn't the most beautiful pour-over coffee maker, but looks aren't everything. Of all the pour-overs in this guide, you'll have probably seen this on shelves at your local stores. If you wondered whether to buy one, you should. We've tested a range of OXO's kitchen staples and their products are consistently reliable.

The straightforward design of this coffee maker makes brewing easy. If you're accident prone, in a house of children, or you have pets, this plastic pour-over avoids any risk of smashed glass and tears. 

The plastic is BPA-free, so you don't need to worry about nasty chemicals in your cup. lters are a standard size, so they’re readily available at any major grocery chain, too. It is worth mentioning, a “cup” of coffee in pour-over terms is appx. 6oz, is not the amount you'll be used to getting in your local coffee chain. If, however, you drink coffee for the taste (not caffeine), disregard this concern.  

The best pour-over for consistency

We love the Hario V60. It’s a no-frills, consistent, straightforward coffee maker that delivers consistently great coffee. Courtney has even taken this pour-over camping, because, even in the woods, she still loves coffee. 

Simple aspects of the Hario help you to make a big, strong cup of coffee. The cone shape makes it easy to layer your coffee grounds, whilst the thick ceramic keeps your pour-over warm, extracting the most flavor from your grounds. With one drip hole it's easier to customize your coffee taste: if you pour quickly, you'll have lighter flavors and if your pour slower, they'll be richer and stronger.

Ceramic may not scratch easily, but it will shatter the second it hits something too forcefully. Like several other pour-over makers, the Hario V60 uses proprietary filters. Sure, it can be an inconvenience hunting down the filters, but they are worth the wait and money. 

How We Test Coffee

At Homes & Gardens, we take our coffee testing seriously. We take market-leading coffee makers, as well as new and innovative designs, to our test kitchen. Here, our experts go through the whole coffee maker process, from unboxing and setting-up to cleaning and storing. Most importantly, we taste the coffee that each maker brews. If it scores highly across these categories, we'll write up a review and include it in our guide.

We haven't yet tested all of these pour-overs. They're on our list and our experts are making their way through them, so we will update this guide when we have more in-person testing. For now, in the absence of in-person tests, we thoroughly research each pour-over. From customers to experts, we go through hundreds of articles and reviews to get a clear idea of what each pour-over is like. If you want to find our more, you can visit our detailed page on how we test coffee makers. 

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