Filtercone Coffee Brewers

Manual pour-over drip brewing is one of the cheapest, easiest ways to make great coffee. All you need is a pack of good quality paper filters, a filtercone holder, and a way to heat water. With a manual method, you can be assured the water is 200 degrees (unlike most auto-drip machines), that the grounds are evenly saturated, and that the brew time is between 3-4 minutes. You can heat water on a stove or if there is not one handy, use an electric kettle. This method doesn't require an expensive grinder, since paper filters compensate for the "fines" produced by whirling-blade type grinders like the Bodum We carry thermoplastic dripper cones, two kinds of porcelain drip cones too, and now, the Clever Coffee Dripper, which represents a "step forward" in drip brewing! We have more tips on brewing the best coffee at home on this page.

Looking for paper filters? They are now on their own Paper Filter page Need roasted coffee? We have Regular and Espresso Roasted Coffee

Clever Coffee Dripper - A full immersion brewing method

I am really excited about this little filtercone; I think it greatly improves the quality of the coffee you brew. And it is so simple! You get full flavor extraction every time and good body.

It differs from a normal filtercone by way of a stopper added to the bottom: water only drains once the filtercone is placed onto a cup. In essence, that means the Clever Coffee Dripper combines the best features of French press and filter drip brewing, eliminating the drawbacks of each. With French press brewing, you have control over steeping time, but heat loss and sediment in the cup can be a problem. Brewing with a paper filter is easy and convenient; the problem is lack of control over steeping time (i.e. the coffee begins to drain immediately). By adding a stopper to the filtercone, the Clever Coffee Dripper combines control over steeping time with a sediment-free cup. We call this a "full immersion brewing" method.

Like all filtercone brewing methods, you directly control the temperature of the water, ratio of water and coffee and infusion time. As long as the filtercone is kept clean, you can make consistently good coffee. We have more information with photos and tips on using the filtercone here, and you can read discussion of the Clever Coffee Dripper on the SM Coffee Forum here.

The dripper will fit on cups and thermoses with tops between 1.5" and 3.75" in diameter. Of course, if you put the dripper on a very narrow thermos, you should make sure the dripper is stable.

Clever Coffee Dripper $13.50 (1.2 lb ship wt.) Back in Stock - Limit 2 per order
BPA-free plastic

The filter takes either a #4 or #6 Size Filter. #4 is recommended since #6 extends above the lip.

Plastic Filtercones

Black Plastic Cone Filter Holders

These are black ABS plastic filtercone holders -use with your favorite type of cone-shaped paper filters (I prefer Filtropa). We stock this model because it has 2 draining holes, whereas some others have 3 to 4 and drain way too quickly.

Please note - our supplier has been changing the color of these cones seemingly at random - so we have black and red - same filter, two different colors. Our choice based on availability.

#4 Size Black or Red Cone Filter Holder
$5.25 (.5 Lb ship wt )

ABS Plastic Thermos Filtercone Holders

(For direct brewing into a thermos vacuum bottle)

The thermos-type filtercone has a narrow funnel to direct coffee into the neck of a vacuum bottle. This one works with most of the Zojirushi bottles we sell, even the narrow TuffSlim. I am sure it works with Nissan thermos too. These are a translucent dark colored plastic. They are made to fit #6 size paper filters (we sell the Filtropa brand) but work very well with #4 size or with #4 SwissGold filters. See the picture of this with a #4 paper filter and you'll see what I mean. Here's a picture of it in use with a Zojirushi TuffBoy thermos.

One thing to notice is that the flange that comes out to hold this over the bottle opening is not wide (just 3 in. wide) . It's made for narrow thermoses (thermosi?) not to brew into wider-mouth bottles or jugs...

$11 (1 lb. ship wt.)

Porcelain Filtercones

New!

Beehouse Coffee Drippers

The Beehouse filtercone holder is more expensive, but has a more attractive design. We like the 2 drip holes which help slow down infusion time, but don't stall it.

Beehouse Japan is a venerable maker of porcelain tea and kitchen wares, and they happen to make the most attractive coffee drip filter cone in existence. It's more expensive, but if it is something you are going to use (and look at) every day, we feel there is some value in this great design. It features a patented integrated handle as well as a view hole so you can see the volume of coffee you have brewed (in case you are brewing into an opaque pot or cup. The two drip holes means the coffee is extracted neither too fast nor slow. The small size takes a #1 or #2 size cone filter, and the large size takes a #2 or #4 filter (though the #4 filter will extend above the rim of the cone about an inch). As with any filtercone, you adjust the grind to achieve ideal infusion time - which is 2 to 4 minutes or to your taste. In cold ambient temperatures, I suggest pre-warming with hot water to prevent heat loss. Once heated, it retains heat well, and will help create a better brew. **Certified Lead-Free and Cadmium-Free

Small Beehouse Coffee Dripper $15 (1 lb. ship wt)

Large Beehouse Coffee Dripper $17 (1.4 lbs. ship wt) Back in Stock

The 2 drip holes, from the top

Graceful design with nice "view" spaces so you can look down at the brew. Large and small drippers both are 4 in. dia. at the bottom - so that determines the diameter of the vessel you brew into.

Porcelain #1 Size Coffee Cone Filter Holder

For those who dislike plastic, we offer a nice heavy porcelain coffee filter made in China. I think you could practically drop this from your 2nd story window and not break it ...very heavy vitrified porcelain. These have 3 holes, just as a plastic filtercone does. It fits a #1 paper cone filter, which we also stock ... but this is a small size. This is a very small size cone, and is great for brewing for one person, perhaps two. Here is a picture of the #1 next to the #4 size. Also see the Porcelain #1 Filter Drip Pot Set below. As with any filtercone, you adjust the grind to achieve ideal infusion time - which is 2 to 4 minutes or to your taste. In cold ambient temperatures, I suggest pre-warming with hot water to prevent heat loss. Once heated, it retains heat well, and will help create a better brew.

**Certified Lead-Free and Cadmium-Free

$11.50 (1.2 lbs. ship wt.)

Porcelain #4 Size Coffee Cone Filter Holder

After several years, we have finally found a larger size of coffee filter made in China. This fits the #4 size paper cone filter or the Swissgold #4 cone filter. In fact, you could get away with our paper #6 cone filter too. For size comparison, here is a picture of the #1 next to the #4 size. This cone has three drain holes. As with any filtercone, you adjust the grind to achieve ideal infusion time - which is 2 to 4 minutes or to your taste. In cold ambient temperatures, I suggest pre-warming with hot water to prevent heat loss. Once heated, it retains heat well, and will help create a better brew..

**Certified Lead-Free and Cadmium-Free
Dimensions: lip 4# dia. bottom flange 2.5# dia.

$15.00 (2.2 lbs. ship wt.)

Porcelain #1 Filter Drip Pot Set

We now have our #1 size filter paired with a very nice porcelain drip pot; an elegantly simple total pour-over brewing system made in China. These have 3 drip holes , just as a plastic filtercone does. It fits a #1 paper cone filter, which we also stock ... but this is a small size. It comes with a lid for the pot. As with any filtercone, you adjust the grind to achieve ideal infusion time - which is 2 to 4 minutes or to your taste. In cold ambient temperatures, I suggest pre-warming with hot water to prevent heat loss. Once heated, it retains heat well, and will help create a better brew. Pot holds 16 ounces.