Our pick
Kalita Wave 185 Dripper
The Kalita Wave’s flat bottom ensures the most even extraction—and the best-tasting coffee—of all the pour-over drippers we’ve tested.
The Kalita Wave 185 produced the most consistent, flavorful, and balanced cups of coffee among the drippers we tested. In part that’s thanks to its flat-bottomed design, which promotes more even water drainage, making it easier even for beginners to get consistent results. And you can choose to get the Wave in either glass or stainless steel. One drawback: The proprietary “wavy” filters are slightly more expensive than basic, wedge-shaped Melitta filters, and though they’re usually available at online retailers, they can be difficult to find in local stores.
Runner-up
Hario V-60 Coffee Dripper (Size 02)
The Hario dripper should appeal to pour-over experts, because it requires more precision and careful attention to the rate and aim of your pour. It produced some of the best brew in our tests.
If you want a dripper that further captures the essence of pour-over’s ritualistic appeal, we recommend the Hario V-60 Coffee Dripper (Size 02). Once you’re comfortable with your technique, it’s a lot of fun to match your spiral pour to this dripper’s wide, conical shape. The V-60 is capable of brewing coffee that’s just as flavorful, interesting, and well-rounded as the Kalita Wave makes. With the Hario, it just takes a little more practice and focus to get consistently great results. Like the Kalita, the Hario uses proprietary filters, but they’re widely available at specialty coffee shops and online.
Also great
Bee House Ceramic Coffee Dripper
This dripper uses cheap filters that are available in grocery stores, making it ideal for beginners who prioritize convenience over mastering the nuances of pour-over coffee.
If you want a dripper that uses widely available filters, we recommend the Bee House Ceramic Coffee Dripper (large). It brewed less-complex coffee than our other picks, but it’s the most convenient option for beginners who just want a simple way to brew a cup. It uses standard #2 Melitta paper filters, which you can find at most supermarkets.
Also great
Chemex Six Cup Classic Series
As gorgeous as it is usable, the Chemex makes several cups at once, and it produced a delicious, bright brew that our testers loved.
We also love the Chemex Six Cup Classic Series. It’s a good choice for those who want to brew a few cups of coffee at a time, as well as for fans of great design. (The Chemex was invented by chemist Peter Schlumbohm in 1941, and it’s included in the Museum of Modern Art’s permanent collection.) It features a built-in carafe, and in our tests the Chemex produced balanced, nuanced coffee. Like most of our other picks, it uses proprietary filters not usually available in grocery stores, but they’re easy enough to buy online or from high-end coffee shops.
