If you aren’t familiar with the benefits of pour over coffee, you might want to check out this article from my site which was written over two years ago. It details the actual process of using a ceramic funnel or dripper for making a cup of pour over coffee.
I actually bought that ceramic pour over dripper more than two years ago for my wife to use when she makes her coffee every morning. She didn’t see the need to brew up one cup of coffee using our full-size coffee maker since she only has one cup each day. By the time she makes her morning coffee on weekdays, I’m already at work so she is by herself. The pour over coffee method was perfect for her needs.
Well, a little bit after I bought the ceramic version for my wife, my daughter picked up a Melitta plastic pour over coffee funnel and she used it for years in her college dorm and now in her apartment. I think there are benefits to both versions but I think there is a clear winner if you are looking to save money and end up with a great cup of coffee each morning.
Plastic vs Ceramic
The ceramic model seen here, which I picked up at a local Starbucks, is very similar to the Hario Ceramic Coffee Dripper. It is certainly a classy-looking pour over coffee dripper. My wife loves it and, as I said, has used it for over two years. But, there are some drawbacks to this model which I have come to realize especially after my daughter purchased the Melitta Ready Set Joe Single Cup Coffee Brewer.
Making Pour Over Coffee
Click on any image for a larger view
As you can see, they both have a hole at the bottom of the cone into which the coffee pours into the mug awaiting below but the Melitta has an opening to view the coffee level (see below).
I am using a Chef’s Choice Cordless Electric Teakettle for pouring hot water into the Melitta. Since I wrote this article I have switched over to a Cosori Electric Kettle which has a gooseneck spout. I absolutely love it for pour-over coffee.
Cost
The ceramic model runs for around $20 but, if you are looking for it to match your existing ceramic mugs or dinnerware in your home, it looks great sitting in your cupboard alongside your other china. The plastic Melitta model, on the other hand, runs for about $5.
Breakability
Let’s face it, anything that is ceramic can easily break. We have ceramic tile on our kitchen floor and if the ceramic dripper ever fell off of our kitchen island it would break into bits. So, there is always that concern not only for your dripper but for your ceramic tile floor which could also be damaged if the dripper fell from the height of a kitchen island or counter.
With the plastic Melitta dripper, you simply have no concern whatsoever when it comes to breaking. I guess the only concern you could have is getting it anywhere near a hot surface that could melt it such as a stove burner but my daughter has never had this problem.
Usability
This is where that I feel that the plastic Melitta version has it all over the ceramic version. As you can see in the images above, the Melitta plastic pour over dripper has a convenient opening that allows you to see just how high up the coffee is coming up in the mug below.
With the ceramic model, you almost have to use a measuring cup with your hot water and pour it in from there or you could simply lift the funnel as you are pouring it to see just where the coffee level has reached. Another great benefit is that you can travel with this plastic dripper and you don’t have to worry about it breaking in your suitcase.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a classy pour over coffee dripper that will match the existing decor and material of your kitchen, the ceramic pour over coffee dripper may be your best option. But, if you want to save money, not have to worry about it breaking, and have the convenience of seeing the coffee level as you are making the coffee, I would opt for the Melitta plastic pour over coffee dripper.
Whatever you choose, please remember to always use high quality coffee beans, a burr coffee grinder to grind your beans (this is the one I use), the best water you can find, and it couldn’t hurt to pick up a cordless tea kettle to easily heat up your water. Life is short so you should never settle for a sub par cup of coffee!
Bob started his passion site, TotallyUniqueLife, back in 2009. The website is geared toward fitness, tips, DIY, life hacks, and reviews. Bob has been a fitness and weightlifting enthusiast for the past 50 years. He has also been passionate about woodworking and DIY over the years. He has been formally trained in woodworking at the Homestead Woodworking School in NH.
He enjoys sharing his knowledge of fitness, woodworking, and DIY on his website and YouTube channel with the same name – TotallyUniqueLife.
14 thoughts on “Pour Over Coffee Dripper Review – Plastic vs Ceramic”
There are several problems with the plastic dripper that do not outweigh the fragility of the ceramic. Most homes use glasses to drink from, so the breakage issue isn’t that worrisome for most.
1. Plastic is toxic, and hot foods release those toxins more rapidly.
2. The plastic dripper doesn’t insulate the mug, and even less so with the cutout. It takes only a few cups to learn how much water to pour into the dripper.
3. Cost Plus sells a better quality ceramic dripper for about $6.
Hi,
Good points taken by you and thanks for the tip on the Cost Plus ceramic dripper! I’ll have to check it out…
Best,
Bob
Is it still bad is it’s BPA free?
I’m leaning more towards the plastic dripper but don’t wait to poison myself…
Hi Lia,
It’s your call but with the plastic dripper you don’t have to worry about dropping it and breaking it and it’s easily transportable. My wife uses hers religiously especially when she is on the road.
Best,
Bob
little advise for plastic Melitta users: make some additional holes for, it helps to avoid overextraction. I think 1 hole for dripping is not best construction decision, coffee (water) runs down too slow.
just try (I know what Im saying, I bought 4 plastic melitta and did a few experiments with them).
Hi,
Thanks for your input. That’s interesting about making multiple holes vs just the one. It makes sense!
Best,
Bob
I have both plastic & ceramic (World Market-$6.00).
I am curious about taste comparison between the 2.
I am concerned about the plastic, as well. However, the ceramic seems to chill the water & not give as much flavor. Would like to know others take on this issue.
Hi Carol,
I have not noticed any discernible difference between the two as far as the taste comparison. The lower price and the fact that the plastic dripper has the ability to see the height of the coffee in your mug made it the clear winner in my eyes.
Best,
Bob
Purchased and returned 2 Melitta ceramic pour overs. Glazing is missing underneath around round lip. Two spots are porous, thus became stained with coffee. This is a health risk. Bacteria hides inside the porous areas. And I would not use plastic. Presently, I’m looking into stainless steel pots or glass pour overs.
Hi Angelo,
That’s interesting. I would appreciate it if you report back and let us know your recommendations when it comes to glass pour overs.
Thanks,
Bob
Although I am concerned about the toxicity of pouring hot water into plastic, for me the biggest drawback of the ceramic pourover is that in the winter it really cools off your hot water too much, leaving your coffee barely hot by the time it has run through the cold ceramic pourover and into your cold ceramic mug. Top it off w milk from the fridge and you have an utterly lukewarm experience.
Hi Block,
I hear what you are saying about ending up with a lukewarm experience. That’s one of the reasons I drink black coffee and end up putting my cup of coffee about 3 times into the microwave. I need hot coffee and if I’m going to drink cold coffee I’ll buy it iced!
Thanks,
Bob
I have used a Kalita 102 ceramic cone for a few years. It has three holes rather than one. It is made in Japan and is high quality. It is more costly than others, but delivers a great cup of coffee. I will definitely buy it again, if necessary. I also get my coffee from CoffeeAm in Georgia and grind the beans myself. Highly recommend both.
Hi Virgil,
Thanks for that information. Is this the Kalita 102 ceramic cone (affiliate link) to which you were referring? What coffee do you recommend from CoffeeAM?
Thanks for your comment and it’s nice to hear from someone else who lives for their coffee! 🙂
Best,
Bob