Start with the Hario V60 Plastic Coffee Dripper, Size 02 . It is the classic V60 cone in plastic, and Hario rates it for 1 to 4 cups. Choose the Kalita Wave 185 if you want a flat-bottomed coffee bed, the Chemex Six Cup if you brew for more than one person, or the Hario Switch if you want the coffee to steep before it drains.

These are manual drippers: you set a paper filter in the dripper, add ground coffee and pour hot water over it by hand. If you would rather have a machine do the pouring, see our pour-over style coffee makers for apartment kitchens . Specs below come from each maker’s own product page, checked October 9, 2026. Nobody tested these drippers for this page.

The Picks at a Glance

Dripper Shape and material Capacity the maker lists Filter it takes Standout listed feature
Hario V60 02, plastic Cone; plastic 1 to 4 cups Hario V60 02 paper filters Spiral ridges inside the cone
Kalita Wave 185 Glass Flat bottom, 3 holes; heat-resistant glass 2 to 4 cups Kalita Wave 185 filters 20-wave filter
Chemex Six Cup Classic Brewer and carafe in one; borosilicate glass 30 oz Chemex Bonded filters Glass is dishwasher safe, collar removed
Hario V60 Switch 02, glass (Amazon search) Cone with a valve; borosilicate glass 200 ml finished Hario V60 02 filters, 40 included Steep, then flip to drain
Fellow Stagg [XF] Flat bottom, steep wall; vacuum insulated Not published by Fellow Stagg [XF] paper filters, included Ratio aid

1. Hario V60 02: Best for Learning the Classic Cone

Hario V60 Plastic Coffee Dripper, Size 02 (Red) on Amazon

Hario says the V60’s conical shape allows a deeper layer of coffee grounds, and that its spiral ridges and lack of flow restriction let you pour quickly for a delicate body or slowly for a heavier flavor. Put simply, your pour sets the pace, which is why the V60 is the dripper to learn the method on.

The plastic 02 size holds 1 to 4 cups and measures 137 x 116 x 102 mm. Hario sells it in red, white and clear; the clear version is acrylonitrile-styrene resin, and all are made in Japan. It takes Hario’s V60 02 paper filters, which Hario says are made without glue and are sized for 1 to 4 cups.

The trade-off: with little flow restriction, more of the result depends on how you pour.

Best for: a first dripper for one to four cups, if you want to learn to control the pour yourself.

2. Kalita Wave 185: Best Flat-Bottom Dripper

Kalita Wave 185 Glass Dripper on Amazon

The Wave swaps the cone for a flat coffee bed with three small extraction holes. Kalita pairs it with a 20-wave paper filter that limits contact between filter and dripper so water flows evenly. Kalita says the flat-bottom, 3-hole design keeps water from pooling, for even extraction, and calls the Wave system “foolproof.”

The glass version is heat-resistant glass with a polypropylene brim, and the collar is 4.25 inches wide. Kalita lists the glass 185 for 2 to 4 cups, and it needs Kalita Wave 185 filters. Kalita recommends warming the dripper before you brew and pitches the glass model at “coffee connoisseurs or beginners.” It also sells the 185 in stainless steel (Search Amazon for Kalita Wave 185 stainless steel ).

The trade-off: it only takes Wave 185 filters, so you need to keep that size in stock.

Best for: beginners who want a flat bed and an even drawdown rather than a cone.

3. Chemex Six Cup Classic: Best for Brewing for Two or More

Chemex Six Cup Classic on Amazon

The Chemex is a dripper and serving carafe in one piece of borosilicate glass, the same type used for labware, finished with a polished wood collar and leather tie. The Six Cup (CM-6A) holds 30 oz, stands 8 1/2 inches tall and is 5 1/8 inches across. Chemex counts a cup as 5 oz, and says you can brew less than the full amount.

It uses Chemex Bonded filters (FP-1, FC-100, FS-100 or FSU-100). Chemex says that with those filters, its system removes fats, bitterness, acidity and sediments that other types of filters leave behind. Its own method is one rounded tablespoon of medium-coarse ground coffee for every 5 oz cup, with a bloom of about 30 seconds before the main pour. Remove the collar and tie, and the glass can go in the dishwasher.

One buying note: Chemex says its warranty covers Amazon purchases only when they are sold by its own Chemex Coffeemakers seller account, so check the seller before you order.

The trade-off: at 8 1/2 inches tall, it is a carafe to find room for, not a dripper that sits on your mug.

Best for: couples and households that want several cups from one brew. This is the multi-cup pick.

4. Hario V60 Switch: Best for Less Pouring Technique

Search Amazon for Hario V60 Switch Dripper 02

The Switch is a V60 cone with a valve in its base. Hario calls it a hybrid: leave the switch open and it brews like a standard V60, or close it, add ground coffee, a V60 02 filter and hot water, let the coffee steep, then flip the switch to start the drawdown. With the valve closed, the steep time sets the brew rather than your pour speed.

The glass 02 model (SSD-200-B) has a finished capacity of 200 ml and measures 118 x 115 x 133 mm. Hario also sells a 360 ml 03 size. The bowl is borosilicate glass on a silicone rubber base, with a PCT resin switch and a stainless steel ball; Hario notes that the plastic trigger touches the brewed coffee. A 40-pack of tabbed white filters comes in the box.

The trade-off: 200 ml is one mug, not a pot.

Best for: beginners who want a repeatable cup without mastering a pour.

5. Fellow Stagg [XF]: Best for a Guided, Insulated Setup

Fellow Stagg [XF] Pour-Over Dripper on Amazon

Fellow’s dripper is flat-bottomed with a steep wall and a hole-and-bump pattern that Fellow says drains without clogging. It is vacuum insulated, it has a ratio aid to help you measure the right amount of coffee, and filters are included. Fellow makes two sizes, [X] and [XF], and lists Stagg paper filters in matching sizes.

Fellow does not list the capacity of either size on its product page, so check the size on the listing before you buy.

The trade-off: it uses Fellow’s own Stagg filters, and the capacity isn’t stated on Fellow’s page.

Best for: someone who wants built-in measuring help and an insulated dripper.

How to Choose

  • Cone or flat bottom. The V60 and Switch are cones, and Hario says the V60’s pour speed shapes the cup. The Kalita Wave and Fellow Stagg have flat beds with small holes, and Kalita says its design keeps water from pooling.
  • How much you brew. The Switch 02 finishes at 200 ml, the V60 02 is rated for 1 to 4 cups, Kalita lists the glass 185 for 2 to 4 cups, and the Chemex Six Cup holds 30 oz.
  • Filters. None of these share a filter except the V60 and Switch, which both take V60 02 papers. Pick a dripper whose filters you can restock easily.
  • Pour or steep. If timing a slow pour sounds like a chore, the Switch lets the coffee steep first. The other four drain while you pour.
  • Kettle and grinder. A dripper is only half the setup. Our comparison of manual and electric gooseneck kettles covers the pour, and our pour-over grinder picks cover the grind. For beans, see our pour-over coffee picks . To weigh beans and water, see our coffee scale picks .

Still deciding on the method? Compare French press and pour-over coffee .

Frequently Asked Questions

Which filters do these drippers use?

Each uses its own: Hario V60 02 paper filters for the V60 and the Switch, Kalita Wave 185 filters for the Wave, Chemex Bonded filters for the Chemex, and Stagg [XF] paper filters for the Fellow dripper.

Can I brew less coffee than a Chemex holds?

Yes. Chemex says you can brew up to the coffeemaker’s ounce amount or less, adjusting coffee and water to the number of cups you want. Chemex counts a cup as 5 oz.

What does the switch on the Hario Switch do?

It holds the water in the dripper. Hario says you add ground coffee, a V60 02 filter and hot water, let the coffee steep, then flip the switch to start the drawdown. Leave it open and it brews like a standard V60.

Sources

For a choice between two manual brewers, compare the six-cup Chemex and Hario V60 02 by serving vessel and filter fit.