Drip coffee vs pour over coffee compared

Differences between pour over and drip coffee explained

Which coffee brewer gives better coffee: drip or pour over? Here we compare the drip coffee brewing and pour over coffee brewing techniques, how they influence the flavors as well as the overall experience of brewing and drinking coffee. We will look into the quality of cup you get depending on the method, the brewing temperatures, control over extraction as well as price and durability of coffee makers used in both types of brewing. 

First, let’s specify what type of coffee makers we are talking about.

What is a drip coffee maker?

Drip coffee makers are automatic coffee machines. They have a water tank in which they heat the water and hot water flows through the coffee grounds in a coffee basket. Then the coffee extract drips into a jar below.

What is a pour over coffee maker?

Pour over coffee makers use hot water which is poured over from a kettle or pot onto coffee grounds in a filter placed in a cone. The water flows through the coffee grounds straight into a cup or into a carafe. 

You may also come across other names used for  pour over coffee making: filter coffee or drip coffee. The latter one may be confused with drip coffee makers, which is understandable as in fact they use a similar process. This terminology is rather customary and doesn’t really reflect the differences or similarities in the preparation process. The difference is that pour over coffee makers are the ‘unplugged’ type and drip coffee makers mentioned are electrical.

Drip coffee vs pour over coffee makers

Quality

When comparing the quality of brew, we need to consider the brewing temperatures and the way you can control coffee extraction. 

Brewing temperatures and extraction 

In drip coffee makers you have no control over the temperature, some coffee grounds get overheated and over extracted, others get under extracted as they are exposed to water in lower temperatures. The temperature doesn’t stay the same throughout the brewing process either, which also causes uneven extraction. This all results in a higher acidity and bitterness of the brew. 

In contrast, pour over coffee makers give you more control over the temperature of water you use for brewing. Thanks to this you can extract more evenly with the same water temperature throughout the whole brewing process to bring up the best flavors.

Water to coffee ratio

Pour over coffee makers give you much more flexibility here. You can reduce or increase the coffee to water ratio depending on how strong coffee you want to get. This is especially useful when those who you are making coffee for have different preferences in the cup strength and you can adjust it for each person. 

Price

There is a major difference between the price of drip coffee machines and pour over coffee makers. A quality drip coffee brewer costs at least a couple, if not a few hundred of dollars. Pour over coffee sets are way less expensive, prices start from $10 and you can find a simple pour over coffee cone for even a few dollars. 

Durability

There is also a huge difference in durability of drip coffee machines vs pour over coffee makers. 

Drip coffee machines, especially those in the lower price range don’t last very long. There is a lot to break or malfunction in those machines. Contrary to that, in pour over cones there is simply nothing to break, no mechanical parts and they last forever. 

The brewing experience

We know that the joy of making coffee is important for coffee lovers. When making coffee with pour over makers, pouring water from the kettle and all other things around it have a sort of theatrical element and are very satisfying for the person brewing as well as those watching it. 

Drip coffee machines don’t have this element, however their big advantage is the ease of use. They don’t require much time or skill from you and are easy to operate. 

Summary

Why is pour over coffee better than drip coffee? Pour over brew is better because you have higher control over the extraction during the brewing process. Coffee grounds get extracted more evenly and at the same temperature throughout the brewing, so you get a better quality cup. Pour over coffee makers are also cheaper and more durable than drip coffee machines. However, the big advantage of drip coffee makers is their convenience of use. Both types are very popular and can make an enjoyable cup of coffee according to your needs.