If you’re looking for a simple, stylish coffee brewer that makes coffee taste exactly the way it should then you’re in for a treat. If you’re fed up with finding a mug full of sediment then put the french press down because this next coffee maker solves that issue completely.
Pour-over coffee makers are renowned for the smooth and delicious coffee they produce. The paper filters remove all the sediment and soak up any bitter oils leaving a balanced and flavorful cup of java. These devices come in all sorts of makes and models but today we will focus on ceramic ones.
Ceramic coffee makers are durable, food-safe, and easy to clean. They hold heat well so you won’t be suffering from a cold coffee any time soon. They come in all shapes and sizes and the only downside as far as I can see is they may break if you drop them. That being said, so will any regular mug or bowl in your home so it’s not really a deal-breaker!
Coming up we have six of the best ceramic pour-over coffee makers available to buy, shortly followed by four fantastic all-in-one sets that include a coffee carafe to brew into. We have full reviews for each product and an in-depth guide to brewing coffee with a pour-over setup. This should answer any questions you may have and tells you all you need to know about this amazing brewing method.
Have a browse through the options and if you like the look of any of these then click on the ‘Price and Reviews’ button to check current prices on Amazon. Don’t forget your filters and you don’t need to spend ages figuring out what kind you need to buy because I’ve done all that for you! Check the ‘filters’ heading in the description to find a link to the exact ones that that particular brewer needs.
Now let’s jump right in and look at our top choice today which is the Hario V60 ceramic coffee dripper.
Best Pour-Over Coffee Makers
- 1. Top Choice – Hario V60 Ceramic Coffee Dripper
- 2. Runner Up – The Kalita Wave
- 3. Budget Option – Ceramic Pour Over Coffee Dripper
- 4. Best Colorful Option – Kajava Mama Pour Over Coffee Dripper
- 5. Best Starter Pack – Pour-Over Coffee Dripper
- 6. Best Design – Chantal Lotus Ceramic Pour-Over Coffee Dripper
Best Ceramic Pour-Over Sets with Jug
- 7. Pour Over Coffee Maker
- 8. AVLA Pour Over Coffee Maker
- 9. Pour Over Coffee Maker Set
- 10. BonJour Stoneware Coffee Maker
1. Top Choice – Hario V60 Ceramic Coffee Dripper
The Hario V60 is a classic when it comes to pour-over coffee brewers. This high-quality coffee cone is Japanese by design and is manufactured there. It has spiral ribs on the internal face of the cone and this allows for optimal expansion of coffee grounds after you add hot water. It’s a pour-over brewing method that gives you full control over all the stages of the brew cycle.
Ceramic helps to retain heat so the brewing coffee doesn’t cool down before it reaches your coffee mug. There are two different size options, 01 for 1-2 cups and 02 for 1-4 cups of coffee. You can choose a white or red color option, whichever you like best.
It takes V60, cone-shaped coffee filters which help direct all the delicious coffee flavors to make the perfect cup every time. This model can’t take standard no. 2 Melitta filters that drip coffee makers use so make sure you choose the V60 cone filters otherwise you’ll be in for a disappointment!
2. Runner Up – The Kalita Wave
Our runner-up is another Japanese best-seller, the ceramic Kalita wave. This option is a dripper brewing process where you add the water and simply leave it be for the coffee to drip through the small holes in the base of the funnel.
It uses special flat bottom filters, Wave Filters 185, so make sure you have these to hand before you set out to brew your first cup of coffee. It has concentric rings on the inner surface to allow the coffee to expand and brew.
This option is perfect for 2-4 cups of coffee but the only color choice is white. Whilst this fits in very well in most homes if you’re looking for something a bit brighter then check out the Kalita Store for more design options.
3. Budget Option – Ceramic Pour Over Coffee Dripper
This coffee dripper by Segarty is another good option for those that like to keep things simple. The durable ceramic body holds in heat well and it comes in white or black color options to suit you best. It takes standard no.2 cone filters (linked above) but do make sure you choose the flat bottom kind.
Add your paper, add ground up coffee beans and pour hot water over the mix. It has a 9.3cm/3.8 inch base that fits most coffee cups well. The swirl filter wall allows for expansion and directs your coffee down into your favorite mug.
4. Best Colorful Option – Kajava Mama Pour Over Coffee Dripper
Brand: Kajava Mama
Carafe: No
Cups: 1 or 2 cups
Color: 8 color options
Filters: Kajava Mama V02 Filters
This option wins the most colorful pour-over category with eight different colors to choose from including three, patterned options. It certainly is a statement piece and you can choose the one to best suit your personality.
It comes in two size options for one or two cup brewing. The funnel is shaped with spiral ridges that help slowly direct the flow of coffee for maximum flavor extraction to make a lovely strong cup of coffee. It has special, cone-shaped filters called V02 filters (linked above) so use these for best results.
It’s a pour-over set up with a wide set hole in the base so you can adjust all the brewing parameters from coffee bloom to brew time and the shape allows for good coffee expansion as it brews. This is the perfect option for those who like things a bit more colorful whilst they enjoy great-tasting coffee.
5. Best Starter Pack – Pour-Over Coffee Dripper
Brand: Simply Charmed
Carafe: No
Cups: Single Cup
Color: Black or White
Filters: No. 2 Flat Bottom Filters
If this is your first time using this coffee brewing method then a starter pack of filters helps to get you brewing from the word go. Simply Charmed has included a full pack of 40 Melitta coffee filters so you don’t have to worry about buying the wrong ones.
It’s perfect for beginners or as a gift for any coffee lover. This is a dripper style single cup pour over so is really easy to use. The three small holes at the bottom control the flow of water and make sure the coffee has plenty of time to brew.
It comes in black or white and has a handy how-to guide included. Perfect for both newbies and seasoned coffee drinkers!
6. Best Design – Chantal Lotus Ceramic Pour-Over Coffee Dripper
Brand: Chantal Lotus
Carafe: No
Cups: Single Cup
Colors: Fade Grey, Aqua, Blue Cove
Filters: No. 2 Flat Bottom Filters
Chantal Lotus has drawn inspiration from the lotus flower when they set out to make this ceramic pour-over coffee maker. They have incorporated textured lines all around the funnel to give plenty of room for the coffee to expand. The glaze finish comes in a variety of beautiful colors which give a stunning finish.
It’s a single cup, two-hole dripper, and it takes the standard no. 2, flat bottom paper filters. A unique design feature is the viewing window that allows you to see into your mug as you brew the coffee so you’re never at risk of it overflowing.
This attractive little piece makes coffee taste exactly the way it should and you’ll never want to go to coffee shops again once you experience it.
Pour-Over Coffee Brewing Guide
Equipment – What Do I need?
To brew the best coffee possible with your pour-over set-up you’ll need several things to hand. First (obviously) you’ll need a pour-over device. Next up you’ll need a mug or carafe that can hold the pour-over funnel. You can also buy special stands to balance this on.
You will need some form of a coffee filter to brew your beans. The most common choice is paper filters but you can also get stainless steel, mesh filters or some people use cloth filters that are reusable.
A gooseneck kettle is a worthwhile investment as it gives you way more control over the brewing process. Ideally, choose one with a built-in thermometer.
You’ll need a conical burr coffee grinder and whole coffee beans or freshly ground coffee that’s medium-fine consistency. Lastly, a set of coffee scales or digital kitchen scales so you can get the ratio just right.
Coffee – What Beans Should I Choose?
Which Region?
The kind of coffee you choose really comes down to personal preference. Coffee originates from coffee plantations all over the world and each region gives coffee with its own flavor characteristics. You really need to sample a few to find out which kind you like best.
Single Origin Vs Blend
Single-origin means beans come from the same region so the depth of flavor reflects the growing conditions. Blends use a variety of beans from different regions so tend to have a more consistent, balanced flavor between batches.
Arabica Vs Robusta
Arabica beans are grown at high altitudes where coffee ripens to give a complex and diverse flavor profile. These are considered better quality beans for most brew methods. Robusta beans are stronger in flavor, occasionally bitter, and higher in caffeine. They are cheaper to source and generally used in espresso blends and instant coffee.
Light Vs Dark Roast
Light roast coffee beans have spent less time in the coffee roaster. The beans themselves have higher moisture content so are larger and are lighter in color. They retain more acid which gives the coffee a ‘brightness’ and more complex flavor notes and they are slightly higher in caffeine.
Dark roast coffee beans have been roasted longer until the coffee oils start to ooze through their surface. This gives the beans a shiny appearance and they are darker brown-black in color. The beans are smaller due to less water content and are less acidic and caffeinated than light roast beans. They have stronger, single-note flavors with chocolate, caramel, and nutty flavors.
The choice of light vs dark roast for pour-over really comes down to the coffee drinker and which kind you enjoy best. If you’re still unsure which to choose, try a medium roast!
Whole Bean Vs Pre Ground
If possible, always opt for whole coffee beans. After the roasting process, the coffee flavors mature continuously for about 2-4 weeks and the coffee is best enjoyed in this time span. If coffee is left for longer than this it starts to lose its fresh flavor and takes on a more bland, stale taste.
This process is sped up the moment coffee is ground up as the higher surface area of ground coffee contacts more oxygen in the environment so it goes stale quicker. Pre-ground coffee tends to have less intense flavors and aromas compared to freshly ground beans.
Grinding Those Beans
To brew coffee in your pour-over set up you want the beans ground up to the right consistency. If the grounds are too coarse then the water will flow too quickly leading to a thin and weak cup of coffee. If the coffee is too fine a grind this will clog the filter, leading to a very slow brewing process and a bitter cup of joe.
Grind your beans to a medium-fine grind or choose pre-ground coffee that’s intended for drip or pour-over.
The best way to grind coffee beans is using a conical burr grinder. These machines ensure an even coffee consistency so give a more balanced cup of java. Blade grinders are best avoided as they cut the beans to an uneven size and they’re also prone to heating up so can burn the beans if you’re not careful.
Ratio – How Much Coffee Should I Use?
The perfect coffee to water ratio is another step that needs a bit of trial and error to get just right for you. A great starting place is a 1:15 coffee to water ratio, so for 300ml of water (that’s the same as 300g) you want to use 20g of coffee.
Weigh out your coffee beans before you grind them up to make sure you don’t grind too many and add these to the filter. Place the whole set-up on your coffee scales and set it to zero. Now you can add the exact amount of water as the scales will show when you’re done. You could also use a measuring jug for this step.
If you find the coffee too strong then you can use a 1:17 or 1:20 ratio (17-15g of coffee). If you like it super-strong then try a 1:14 ratio etc.
Temperature – How Hot Should I Make It?
Coffee has an optimum brewing temperature that extracts the best flavor profile. If the water is too cold the coffee tastes weak and thin. Too hot and you burn the beans leading to a bitter flavor. The water should be between 195-205F or 93-96C. This is where a coffee kettle comes in handy as these often have a built-in thermometer so you can get the temperature perfect with ease.
If you don’t have a kitchen thermometer handy you can always boil the kettle and wait a minute as this allows the water to cool to around this level.
Method
Put the kettle on to warm up and if possible use filtered water for brewing coffee. The better the water tastes, the better your coffee will taste, it’s that simple.
For a 10 oz (300ml) cup of coffee, weigh out 20g (0.7 oz) of coffee beans and grind to a medium-fine consistency.
Grab your favorite coffee mug and place the pour-over funnel over this. Add your paper filter and pour some hot water over it. This helps wet the filter to stick it in place and heats up the device.
Discard any water from the mug and balance the funnel over it. Add the fresh ground coffee to the filter.
Place the whole set-up on some weighing scales and set the tare to zero.
Add just enough water to wet the coffee grounds and wait 30 seconds. This is the coffee ‘blooming’ process and allows the coffee to release CO2 gas which is acidic to help lower the acidity of your coffee.
Gently add the rest of the water, moving in a circular motion to ensure all the coffee is submerged. If it’s a pour-over device you will need to add water in small batches and wait whilst it trickles down through the opening.
For a coffee dripper, you should be able to add all your water at once as the small holes control the flow.
Once your mug is full, remove the pour-over funnel and discard the filter paper and coffee grounds in the compost.
Sit back and enjoy your delicious, fresh-brewed coffee.
Pour Over Sets Reviewed
7. Pour Over Coffee Maker
This all-in-one, pour-over coffee maker and carafe is everything you need to brew and store delicious coffee, ready to be enjoyed whenever you like. The ceramic material is perfect to store hot coffee as it’s non-porous so doesn’t impart any flavor into the liquid and is also great for heat retention so keeps the coffee hot.
The design of this device allows you to remove the pour-over funnel and replace it with a lid to keep the coffee warm and it has a bamboo sleeve so you can pick it up without getting burned.
The carafe can hold 18.5 fl oz so that’s a little over two cups worth of delicious coffee. It’s all food safe, even the silicone seal on the lid is non-toxic, BPA-free. Due to the bamboo, it’s not dishwasher safe and needs to be hand-washed with a mild dish soap, not left to soak.
8. AVLA Pour Over Coffee Maker
If you’re looking for a splash of color in your kitchen then this is the coffee maker for you! This neat little coffee set-up comes in a lovely matte finish and has a few color options to choose between.
It holds up to 37 oz (just over 1 liter) of coffee so perfect for brewing 1-4 cups to enjoy immediately or to save for later. It’s made from professional-grade porcelain so is completely food safe and heat resistant. You can put it in the dishwasher, microwave, oven, or even the freezer!
It comes with a neat little lid to keep your coffee lovely and hot and is easy to keep clean. Some reviews complain that the filter doesn’t hold enough water but this is just down to a misunderstanding about how these devices work. It’s a pour-over design, as opposed to a dripper, so to fill the pot you do need to add water to the filter in stages rather than all at once.
9. Pour Over Coffee Maker Set
A beautiful little jug and pour-over set, perfect for 1-2 people, this option is expertly designed for perfect coffee brewing every time. It comes in white or black so you can get the one that best suits your home.
This device is small and compact so can store away easily but is also pretty substantial in weight and knock resistant so an accidental tap won’t break it. It takes the standard no. 1 filters and is a pour-over design. This means there’s one larger hole in the bottom so you do need the correct filters but you also have more control over the brewing process.
The ceramic works well to keep the water temperature stable thanks to the thick walls. If you like your coffee piping hot then it’s a good idea to pre-heat the carafe before you start brewing.
10. BonJour Stoneware Coffee Maker
Last up, we have BonJour with this gorgeous coffee-making setup. It’s sturdy and substantial and can brew up to 20 oz (568ml) of coffee. The dripper has a lovely teak base which gives it a warmer feel and there’s a lid included with a teak handle.
It comes in a matte white finish and has a lovely natural look about it. The pour-over top has ridges on the internal surface to allow for optimal coffee brewing and it has a single hole in the base. You will need cone-shaped, V60 type filters (linked above).
This is a beautiful coffee maker that’s perfect for two large or up to four small cups of coffee. The thick walls of the jug keep your coffee hot and it’s really easy to keep clean. A perfect option for those busy, bleary-eyed mornings.
Final Thoughts
Ceramic pour-over coffee makers are a great coffee-making piece of kit. They are non-porous and food safe so don’t leech toxins or chemicals into your coffee and they don’t hold stains or odors.
They are easy to keep clean and hold the heat well and brew delicious tasting coffee without barista level skills required. The only downside is that they will break if dropped but are not as delicate as glass options like the Chemex so this is a small price to pay!
We love ceramic pour-over sets and we hope you love them too. Let us know what you think in the comments below and as ever, happy brewing!
