Best Pour Over Carafe
There are many ways to brew coffee and we all have our favorite method. One of the easiest ways to make a deep, rich cup of coffee with little fuss or muss is with a pour over carafe.
A pour over method consists of a carafe and a permanent filter or dripper, which requires the addition of a paper filter. Regardless, they are all simple to use. You place the filter or dripper over the carafe, add ground coffee, and then slowly pour hot or boiling water over the grounds until the carafe is filled to the desire amount.
The slow pour allows the fragrance and aroma of the grounds to bloom, and the small drip hole lets the brew gradually build and release a bold flavor into the carafe.
Most pour over carafes produce between one and four cups of coffee at a time, but it is possible to find models that have a larger output.
We feature five pour over carafes you can buy online. Read on to find the one that best suits your inner barista.
Top Pick Best Overall: Bodum Pour Over Coffee Maker with Permanent Filter
Nothing captures the attention of a coffee enthusiast more than a new way to brew an excellent cup of coffee in minutes. And if it includes not having to purchase filters, then all the better. If you are looking to expand your coffee-making world to include a pour-over method, then you may want to try this model from Bodum.
The pour-over carafe has a permanent, stainless steel mesh filter that helps extract the aromatic oils and subtle flavors from the ground coffee and place them right into the carafe for you to enjoy. Plus, the reusable filter means less waste and more savings, since there is no need to buy extra paper filters – or discover in the early hours of the morning that you have run out of them and can’t make coffee.
Beautifully crafted, the carafe is made of durable, heat-resistant borosilicate glass with an easy-to-remove colored band to protect your hands from the hot container. Easy to use, just add ground coffee to the filter, pour a small amount of hot water in a circular motion over the grounds until soaked, add the remaining water and let drip. Remove the filter and insert the plastic lid, and you’re coffee is ready to enjoy.
The capacity of this pour-over is eight, 4-ounce cups of delicious coffee. Dishwasher safe, it’s an easy cleanup after a great cup of Joe.
Pros:
- Stainless steel reusable filter eliminates the need for paper filters
- Plastic lid lets you drink directly from the carafe
- Affordable
Cons:
- Not a large capacity
Top Pick Best Durable: Platinum Brew Pour Over Coffee Maker
For a solid look and feel, this ceramic pour over coffee carafe is a nice alternative to glass, with some interesting features to enhance the coffee making – and drinking – experience.
This pour-over makes a deep, delicious brew and the attractive ceramic carafe will keep it hotter for longer so you can relax and enjoy each cup. Equipped with a filter cone that takes #2-sized paper filters, a silicone gasket and a heat-resistant bamboo sleeve, this unit is BPA free and non toxic, with no plastic parts.
But it’s the brewing process that makes this ceramic pour over unique. The slow brew pot cone is specially angled at 60 degrees to make each pour steady for a bolder flavor and less standing around for you. With this method, you first moisten the paper filter with a small amount of hot water before adding the ground coffee and then slowly add the rest of the water to cover the grounds and watch as it drips out the other end and into the carafe.
Specially engineered with a wide, hour-glass shape to make it easy to clean by hand with soap and water, this pour over is so flexible, it works well with any coffee type and grind size.
Pros:
- Attractive design
- Made from BPA-free ceramic
- Comes with a cone filter, silicone gasket and heat-resistant bamboo sleeve
- Keeps coffee hot for longer
Cons:
- More expensive than other models
- Do not place in microwave or dishwasher
- Opaque carafe makes it difficult to see how much is being filled
Top Pick Best Large Capacity: Melitta Coffee Maker
Many pour over coffee makers are good for brewing only one or two cups at a time, but sometimes, you want the delicious results of a pour-over to serve a few people, so no one has to wait. Other times, you may want a pour-over from which you can serve yourself a few cups without having to brew a fresh one every time.
This pour over model from Melitta has a stainless steel carafe that can hold up to 10 cups of hot coffee and then keep it warm for hours. It comes with a heavy-duty, BPA-free plastic filter cone that fits on the carafe and uses #4 Melitta filters.
A medium-size drip opening provides a consistent brew and eliminates the risk of bitterness, while a ring underneath the drip opening directs the coffee flow into the carafe and prevents runoff. When the coffee is finished brewing, pour a cup or two and then close with the plastic top. It will keep the rest of the coffee warm for hours.
This package includes the stainless steel carafe, the brewing cone, plastic top and a start-up supply of Melitta #4 cone paper filters.
Pros:
- Large capacity of up to 10 cups
- Stainless steel carafe and lid keep contents hot
- BPA-free, heavy-duty plastic cone filter
Cons:
- Only takes Melitta paper filters
Top Pick Best Starter Set: Hario V60 Pour Over Set with Ceramic Dripper
If you’ve heard about the pour-over method of brewing coffee and have always wanted to try it, this starter set is the perfect way to be introduced to a deep and delicious cup of coffee.
Ideal for making one to four cups at a time, the Japanese-made kit includes a heat-proof borosilicate glass carafe/server with a BPA-free handle; a durable and attractive ceramic reusable filter/dripper; a coffee scoop; and 100 disposable paper filters.
Just place a filter into the dripper and put it on top of the carafe, which has convenient measurements marked on the outside so there is no guesswork on how much water to use for each cup. Put a paper filter into the dripper and measure the right amount of coffee for the number of cups you are brewing, slowly pour over with hot water, and in a minute or two, your coffee is ready
This pour-over kit makes an ideal gift for the coffee lover in your life who is looking for a new way to brew their morning cup.
Pros:
- Complete kit includes carafe, dripper, scoop and paper filters
- Sturdy ceramic dripper
- Borosilicate glass carafe and BPA-free plastic handle
Cons:
- More expensive than other small pour-over models
Top Pick Best Versatile: Mueller Coffee Serving Set Electric Gooseneck Kettle with Pour Over Drip Set Coffee Maker
Many coffee drinkers who swear by the pour over method say part of the brewing beauty is how the hot water is slowly swirled over the coffee grounds to drip at just the right speed into the carafe. Using a kettle with a traditionally shaped spout can result in a rush of too much water, which will affect the outcome of the finished cup.
We like this set because it includes a unique one-liter capacity electric kettle with a gooseneck design that offers a perfect curvature for a slow, controlled water flow to extract maximum flavor from the ground coffee. With its trendy black matte stainless steel finish that is stain and corrosion resistant, an auto switch-off feature and boil-dry protection, it may just replace your current kettle.
And while you can use this quick-heating kettle to make tea, instant noodles and instant soups, you’ll really want to use it with the included pour-over drip set to slowly brew the traditional way and embrace your inner barista.
Shaped like an hourglass, the 10-ounce capacity carafe is made from heat-resistant borosilicate glass, and the permanent reusable filter is made from stainless steel. And when it’s all poured and ready to drink, the heat-resistant silicone band around the carafe will make for safe and easy handling.
Pros:
- Includes quick boil electric kettle
- Kettle has gooseneck for slow, steady pouring
- Includes 10 ounce carafe and permanent stainless steel filter
Cons:
- Outside of the kettle becomes very hot
Things to look out for:
Consider these factors when choosing a pour over carafe:
Capacity: Most pour over carafes are small in size and produce between one and four cups of coffee, and that will depend on the size of your mug. However, there are models that brew only single portions, if that’s all you need, and others that are larger capacity, able to brew up to 10 cups at a time. Which one you choose depends upon your needs and how you intend to use it.
If it is for personal use, then a small one will do. If there are a few people in the house who need their morning coffee at the same time and don’t prefer to wait, then a 10-cupper makes more sense. If you only drink one cup at a time, but like to entertain and wish to use this method for company, then a larger capacity pour over would be a practical choice.
Filter: Pour over carafes can come with a reusable filter that works on its own, or it can have a reusable dripper that holds a paper filter. Some people prefer the stainless steel reusable filters because they don’t have the added expense or waste of paper filters. Other people prefer adding the layer of paper to avoid grinds from slipping through and into the carafe.
If you don’t want to add a paper filter, look for a pour over carafe that is equipped with a tight mesh, quality filter, preferably made from premium stainless steel that is stain and corrosion resistant, and a small hole at the bottom to allow the full aroma, but no grinds, through for a deep and delicious result. If adding a paper filter to the dripper is not a problem for you, then look for a dripper that has a small hole so the water doesn’t flow through too quickly.
Materials: Pour over carafes are made from plastic, glass, ceramic and stainless steel. Which one you choose will depend on many factors, not the least of which is your budget. Plastic models are the least expensive, but if you’re trying to reduce the amount of plastic you use, and are fearful of toxins, then you may want to choose a good quality glass carafe, which is generally affordable.
Some people find glass to be too fragile and prefer thick ceramic, although these can crack or break if dropped from a height. Nonetheless, a ceramic carafe will keep the coffee warmer for longer than a glass one, but not as long as one made from stainless steel, which is often the most expensive material for a pour over carafe.
Design: Pour over carafes are available in different shapes and designs and which you choose will depend on personal preference and aesthetics. But looks aside, a carafe should be wide enough to clean easily by hand, or be dishwasher safe. The carafe itself can become hot to touch once you’ve finished pouring the water. Some come with a silicone or bamboo sleeve to keep your hands safe. Finally, there are models that have a lid or cover to help keep your brew hot for longer. If the one you choose does not have a lid, then you could always transfer the coffee to an insulated travel mug to keep it hot longer.