coffee and tea dripper

This is a well thought out product. I've had many drip coffee makers over 3 1/2 decades and this is the best. It has a very large hole in the bottom and substantial ridges on the sides so clogging is unlikely if if used properly (Melitta filters can clog as they restrict flow and coffee ground too fine can be a problem as well). It has a wide base so I use it on top of my 4 cup coffee carafe. Warm the dripper under the tap before using, then time the water flow for 3 to 5 minutes and use a fork to make sure all the grounds are wet when beginning. Pour in the middle, only washing down the coffee stuck to the walls periodically using as little water on the sides as possible. I like this dripper because I can use a standard coffee filter. The Chemex filters are very expensive. Whatever you do, consider ridding yourself of plastic coffee makers with teflon warming plates--these products are carcinogenic.

This really makes a great cup of coffee. I really love it. In order for it perform, I suggest going out on the 'net and watching Youtube videos. There are several of how to really brew with it. Don't expect it to be less work or less time. It actually probably takes a little more effort than just scooping coffee into a drip maker, but the results are so much more enjoyable. Enough of bad coffee! Enjoy.

The Hario V60 Manual Drip Cone

I've found that the Hario V60 is an excellent alternative to a French press.

First, the V60 has an elegant design, and a very sound construction. It is clearly well made. If you are interested in this type of product, it may be helpful to know that Hario sells a plastic version of this drip cone for about $9.00. So you should be asking yourself, why would I want to pay the extra money to upgrade to a ceramic model? For me, I don't like the idea of hot plastic being anywhere near my coffee (or food for that matter). The second benefit of the ceramic model is that it retains heat MUCH better than plastic. With the pour-over method of coffee brewing, you need to plan ahead and pre-heat your drip cone, carafe and coffee cup or you will end up with a luke-warm cup of coffee. The ceramic makes this much easier.

This product is not for everyone. If you prefer a Mr. Coffee that you can program to make your coffee... Read more

This is a solid piece of ceramic with good glazing. It rests securely on either a coffee mug or my old Mr. Coffee carafe.

This cone has three holes in the bottom, a feature which I have come to see doesn't make much difference. Apparently, how fine the coffee is ground determines the flow rate more than the number of holes. Once the coffee is through the filter paper, it is going to flow at a steady rate through one hole or three.

This cone is a little heavy, but I feel that it will last a long time. The handle is nice and thick.

I bought this item after trying the more expensive Frieling/Cilo and having bad luck with two of them. (You can see my review on that item's page.)

Using a cone of any type seems to make better coffee than the many drip machines I've tried over the years. You can control the temperature and flow of the water exactly the way you want.

Enjoy!

UPDATE: Have had this now over two... Read more

I had a difficult time comparing this to the Frieling Cilio version that's significantly more expensive. I ended up getting both, and prefer the Frieling Cilio. I've uploaded some product photos to help others make the comparison.

- Weight and thickness: the HIC is significantly heavier and thicker than the Frieling Cilio. I like the lighter weight of the other one.

- Number of drain holes: HIC has three, Frieling Cilio has one larger one. No noticeable difference in draining time.

- Outer diameter of bottom rim: this is the ring that helps keeps the filter holder in place on your carafe. Frieling Cilio has a smaller diameter (2 7/16") vs. HIC (2 3/4"). My carafe opening diameter is also 2 3/4" which makes the HIC very awkward and unsteady. Your carafe needs to have a larger diameter opening than the bottom rim on the filter holder.

Small differences, but they add up. I like the Frieling Cilio much better and feel it's worth the... Read more

This is a heavy piece of ceramic and I agree with others who note it will last a long time. My one complaint is that this version has 3 drain holes, whereas the Frieling Cilio (which I have never used, but considered buying) has only 1 drain hole. I wish I could plug at least one of these holes in my HIC Filter Cone because I feel it drains too quickly, thereby preventing a stronger brew. But, at the end of the day, its not THAT big of a deal; I do get a decent brew that is superb compared to the machine brew.

If you're looking for a simple drip coffee maker, this is a great choice. A french press still makes better coffee, but this one is simple to use and clean. You can drip directly into a mug, or into a suitable pot or carafe (I've used a small glass pot, for example). I'm considering getting the matching Hario server.

The plastic cone is very well made, from a hard clear plastic. Appears sturdy enough to last for a long time in normal use.

I used the basic #2 coffee filters from Trader Joe's, they work fine, don't break or have any other problems. So I think you can just use any good quality filters, don't have to order the Hario filters (which are much more expensive), unless you really want to.

I'm very happy with the plastic hario cone for making pour overs. I didn't feel like getting the expensive ceramic one (and then fearing breaking it) but I needed an improvement over the cheap melitta ones, which aren't designed as well and don't allow enough coffee flow out causing over extraction. This did the job. You do have to get Hario's filters as well, though; the regular ones won't work very well or will break in the middle of a pourover!

We use it in an office with poor access to running water. Given this, filters, an electric kettle, and ground coffee, we are good to go. Pour-over gives you nearly all of the quality of french press without the clean up and fuss. The downside is that you're making one cup at a time, but that's the issue with Keurig systems, Jura machines, etc.