A pour-over is a very easy way to make a good cup of coffee. The technique involves slowly pouring hot water over freshly ground coffee beans, letting the coffee trickle out into a basin below. While you can simply prop a coffee filter over your mug, it’s a bit easier to use a pour-over carafe, which is designed to hold the filter up nicely and brew larger quantities. I picked up the Bodum Pour Over Coffee Maker a few months back and I’ve been using it long enough that I felt it was time to put up a review.

The Bodum Pour Over is a small, nicely designed pour-over carafe that comes with a reusable filter for your grounds. It makes about 2 large cups of coffee at a time, though it could conceivably hold a bit more liquid than that. The Bodum has turned out to be a consistent performer in my kitchen. The reusable filter is much easier to clean than a french press, with holes that are fine enough to keep all the coffee bean sediment out of my coffee while still allowing all of the water that I pour-over to pass through. I appreciate the fact that it comes apart easily and that every part of it is washable, unlike some more expensive carafes with wood, cork or leather accessories. I also simply like the overall look of it.

This is a very good pour-over coffee maker at a reasonable price (less than $20). It allows you to make 1-2 cups of coffee in a few minutes with minimal fuss. My only regret is that I didn’t get one of the funky colors that this coffee maker comes in. You can’t go wrong with classic black, but there are quite a few to choose from that will add a pop of color to the kitchen, as well as brewing your coffee.

How to Use The Bodum Pour Over

The instructions for using the pour over coffee maker are a bit vague, which can be intimidating when you first go to use it. Fortunately, it’s not too difficult to get the hang of the technique.

1. Place the reusable filter in the top of the carafe and bring 2 cups (16-oz) of water to a simmer. If it boils, remove from heat and let it cool for a minute. Boiling water is a bit too hot.
2. Grind your coffee beans for a fairly coarse grind, the same kind you might use for a french press (or a touch finer than that). Place 3 slightly-domed spoonfuls (the Bodum comes with a spoon) into the basket for each cup of coffee you intend to make. So, you’ll want 6 domed spoonfuls to fill the carafe and make 2 cups. If you buy your beans ground, they’re probably ground for a drip machine which is slightly finer, so use a bit less coffee in your basket.
3. Drizzle some of the very hot water over the coffee grounds to moisten them evenly, then pour in more water until the water and grounds come to the top of the filter. Keep adding water every 30-60 seconds, as the coffee drains into the carafe, until you have used all the water.
4. Remove the filter basket and place the plastic lid on the top of the carafe for easy pouring, then serve and enjoy.

Finally, remember that you can – and should – adjust the coffee to suit your preferences. I usually brew medium-dark roasts and prefer a stronger cup of coffee, so I will sometimes add a little more coffee than I describe above.

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