Utensils & kitchen tools · Coffee maker

Pour-over dripper (V60-style cone)

A cone that holds a paper filter over a cup or carafe; you pour hot water over the coffee by hand.

Useful to have · No power needed · 2 recipes

What it is

A cone-shaped holder of ceramic, glass, plastic or metal with one large hole or several small holes in the base, lined with a paper (or cloth or metal) filter. Medium-fine coffee goes in the filter and hot water is poured over it in stages; the speed of pouring and the grind control how long the water stays in contact. The V60 cone, with spiral ribs and a large single hole, is the best-known style.

What it’s for: Brewing one to three clean, bright cups of filter coffee by hand, with full control over the pour.

How to use it

Rinse the paper filter with hot water to remove papery taste and warm the cone; discard the rinse water.
Add medium-fine coffee (about 15 g for 250 g water, 1:16) and level the bed.
Pour about twice the coffee's weight of water at 92–96 °C to wet all the grounds and let it bloom for 30–45 seconds.
Pour the rest in slow circles, keeping the bed covered, so everything has drained in about 2½–3½ minutes.

Good to know

Tasks: brewing filter coffee, making Japanese-style iced coffee over ice
Materials: ceramic, borosilicate glass, plastic, stainless steel, copper
Care and cleaning: Rinse after use; wash ceramic and glass cones in warm soapy water. Discard paper filters with the grounds (compostable).
Limitations: Needs a kettle you can pour slowly from (a gooseneck spout helps) and some practice; brews only a few cups at a time.