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

Ensure that your morning brew becomes a daily ritual with the best pour-over coffee maker. These barista-recommended models will make the best cup of joe.

Best pour-over coffee maker with a gooseneck kettle pouring water into it
(Image credit: GettyImages)

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

You can trust Homes & Gardens. Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing the latest products, helping you choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

Best pour-over overall

Kalita Pour-Over Wave

(Image credit: Kalita)

1. Kalita Pour-Over Wave

Best pour-over overall

Specifications

Size: 16-25 oz
Material: Stainless steel
Height: 4.8"
Dishwasher safe: Yes, unless your model is plastic

Reasons to buy

+
Stylish design
+
Easy to use
+
Can use any filter

Reasons to avoid

-
Need to pour carefully
-
Hand-wash only

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

Chemex Pour Over

(Image credit: Chemex)

2. Chemex Eight Cup Classic Pour-Over Glass Coffee Maker

Best batch pour-over

Specifications

Size: 40 oz.
Material: Borosilicate glass
Height: 9"
Dishwasher safe: Yes

Reasons to buy

+
Creates ultra smooth coffee
+
Easy to use and clean
+
Can store carafe in the fridge

Reasons to avoid

-
Must use Chemex filters, which aren’t readily available at retail stores

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

Bodum pour over coffee maker

(Image credit: Bodum)

3. Bodum pour-over coffee maker

Best pour-over with a reusable filter

Specifications

Size: 17 oz.
Material: Borosilicate glass
Height: "
Dishwasher safe: No

Reasons to buy

+
Permanent filter
+
Budget-friendly
+
Environmentally-friendly (no paper products)

Reasons to avoid

-
Water moves quickly through the filter, affecting taste

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

Fellow Pour Over coffee set

(Image credit: Fellow)

4. Fellow Stagg [XF] pour-over coffee maker set

Most stylish pour-over

Specifications

Size: 20 oz.
Material: Borosilicate glass
Height: 9"
Dishwasher safe: Yes

Reasons to buy

+
Hand blown and beautiful
+
Double wall
+
Vacuum seal
+
Built-in ratio aid

Reasons to avoid

-
More expensive than other options
-
Paper filters are pricey

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

Melitta pour over coffee maker on white

(Image credit: Melitta)

5. Melitta Porcelain Pour-Over Coffee Brewer Cone 1 Cup

Best value pour-over

Specifications

Dimensions: 6.75 x 6.75 x 5 inches
Capacity: 1 cup
Weight: 1.15 lbs
Material: Porcelain
Dishwasher safe: yes

Reasons to buy

+
Feels premium
+
Makes really good coffee
+
Easy to clean
+
Compact

Reasons to avoid

-
East to over-brew
-
Can only make one cup

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

OXO pour over coffee maker

(Image credit: OXO)

6. OXO Pour-Over Coffee Maker

Best budget pour-over

Specifications

Size: 12 oz.
Material: Plastic
Height: 5.5"
Dishwasher safe: Yes

Reasons to buy

+
Plastic won’t shatter
+
Simple design
+
Affordable

Reasons to avoid

-
Takes 5-10 minutes to brew
-
Not aesthetically pleasing
-
Premade holes give you no control over water flow

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

Hario v60

(Image credit: Hario)

7. Hario V60

The best pour-over coffee maker for consistency

Specifications

Size: 10 oz.
Material: Ceramic, Glass or Plastic
Height: 4.7"
Dishwasher safe: Yes

Reasons to buy

+
Easy to adjust flavors
+
Very consistent brew
+
Keeps coffee warm

Reasons to avoid

-
Have to buy special filters
-
Ceramic can be fragile

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

casabrews 5700 pro alongside Breville and Wacaco espresso machines

(Image credit: Future)

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

FAQs

What's the best pour-over coffee maker?

We love the Kalita Wave, because it makes consistently smooth coffee. The stylish design means that it looks beautiful, whilst making incredible coffee. It has three drip holes, which means you have to be a bit slower with your coffee brew time, but it's worth it.

How many drip holes should my pour-over have?

Pour-overs can vary. Some have one drip hole and some will have three. The size and placement of these holes will affect the taste of your coffee. If there is one, large drain hole, it will brew your coffee quickly, but not very evenly. If it has three, smaller holes, your water will be more restricted at the bottom, your coffee won't funnel as much, so you'll have more even extraction, resulting in a cleaner cup. 

Should my pour-over have bypass ridges?

In short, ridges make your coffee stronger and more balanced. Having ridges on your pour-over keep the water distributed evenly across coffee grounds, so that water doesn't 'channel' and over-extract coffee. The ridges also help lift filter paper off the side of the wall, so that your coffee is extracted from the bottom and sides of the brewer.

A pour-over coffee maker with a grinder and kilner jar of coffee beans

(Image credit: GettyImages)

What type of filter paper should I use for my pour over?

Every pour-over is different. Some will have filters integrated, some will require specific, proprietary filters, and some will take any filters that you have. To look after the environment, and your wallet, I'd recommend investing in a re-usable filter like this one from Amazon.

What kind of kettle should I use for pour-over?

Is pour-over coffee worth it?

If you like a mess-free, clean cup of coffee, pour-overs are an excellent option. You can make one cup and have it cleaned up within five minutes and it's hard to go wrong when making it too. In summary, yes. We think they're worth it.

A pour over coffee maker with a gooseneck kettle

(Image credit: GettyImages)

Should I get a French press or a pour-over?

There's no better overall option, but there's a better option for different people. French press coffee makers brew acidic, deep, and rich coffees. The process can be more messy, but it makes a good at-home coffee. Pour-over coffee makers brew more delicate, clean coffee, which will taste sweeter and more like filter coffee. One of these will be more suited to your taste buds, so that will make the decision easy.

How do I choose a good pour-over?

With so many options, it can be hard to pick the perfect pour-over. We recommend looking at the features that matter most to you: how much coffee it yields, ease of use, dishwasher safety, and even aesthetics. If you live in a small house and will only make coffee for yourself, the Melitta is a low-cost, small, but excellent option. If you know you'll be making coffee for a few people, the Chemex is a stylish pour-over that will meet your needs.

Do you have any pour-over tips?

Pour-over coffee is a process. The flavor profiles are distinct and rich, and each cup is totally customizable. The good news is, once you get the hang of it, it becomes second nature. These are the most important things to think about:

Brewing Temperature
Since we're all about convenience, we use one of the