[Evaluation] Analysis and comparison of water filling and operation performance of five hand-poured kettles

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Hand-poured coffee is a coffee brewing method that everyone can learn and is easy to get started. If someone is not familiar with hand-poured coffee, it is one of the products of the third wave of coffee. Although people have been hand-poured coffee earlier, the third wave of coffee brings a brewing method that pays more attention to details.

The main equipment to consider for hand-poured coffee is the gooseneck kettle, which is usually used with a hand-poured filter cup, such as Melitta, Hario V60, Chemex, Kalita Wave, etc. Although the design differences of hand-poured kettles are not as great as those of filter cups or grinders, subtle differences can also have a significant impact on the results of hand-poured coffee.

All hand-poured coffee cups have the same essential function, which is to allow ground coffee powder to flow through water to achieve the purpose of coffee extraction. Whether using a coffee brewing machine or a hand-poured coffee cup, the principle is similar. However, the gooseneck hand-poured coffee pot is more special because it allows the brewer to fully control the distribution of water flow. The shape and flow of water flowing through the coffee powder will affect the result of coffee extraction, and better control of extraction means better coffee.

The design of the gooseneck, spout angle and shape of the hand-poured teapot is the key.

These variables (which affect the flow of water) are how to choose the hand-pour kettle that suits you. The author of this article has sorted out five hand-pour kettles, but what is the best for you? In the end, it may still be up to you to judge, even if the author thinks that there is a hand-pour kettle that is the best to use.

1. Hario Buono

Design Principle

Hario might be the first pour-over kettle you've seen. A few years ago, when a group of boutique coffee shops like Intelligentsia began to feature pour-over coffee as a menu staple, the Hario V60 Buono became a favorite among baristas. First of all, the threaded design of this pour-over kettle is pleasing to the eye, and its smooth stainless steel body is durable for hours of continuous use. The lid is designed with a black plastic knob, and the gooseneck spout extends from the bottom of the body. The Buono's handle uses a wave-like pattern, which makes it easy to hold in your hand without slipping. I think this is the best-looking pour-over kettle, and it can also be left on the shelf for everyone to admire.

Practicality

This is where Buono is slightly inferior to its competitors, mainly because of the thinner body material and gooseneck design of Buono. When used for hand brewing, the angle and shape of the gooseneck are key. In order to brew delicious coffee, some manufacturers such as Bonavita and Fellow Stagg use a gooseneck design with a thin water flow. When the water flows to the spout, it will drip directly into the filter cup at a nearly 90-degree angle. Another theory of water flow, which the author calls direct water injection, allows hot water to flow directly down to the coffee powder after it comes out of the spout.

The author did a test using the most popular Hario V60 conical filter cup with a Buono hand-pour pot, using a water flow between a thin stream and a large water column, which means that the water is more likely to flow at a certain angle rather than flowing directly down vertically. When using Buono, you will find it very difficult to fix the hand-pour pot in place and steadily pour water at a precise angle. The author has many years of experience in hand-poured coffee, but found that it is still challenging to operate. Another problem with Buono is that its pot body has a thin metal, which may quickly reduce the temperature of the water, resulting in potentially less consistent extraction results.

Comprehensive evaluation

With an affordable price of around RMB 200+, Buono is very suitable for beginners. If you pay more attention to the appearance design, then you may choose this hand brewing kettle.

2. Kalita Kettle Wave

Design Principle

This eye-catching pour-over kettle may be even better than the Hario Buono, with a wooden handle, a wooden lid, and a more durable gooseneck. The threaded design is the same as the Hario Buono, although it is a bit more rugged than the previous one. I have one of these kettles and use it for brewing coffee every day. I also like the design of this kettle.

Practicality

The Kalita gooseneck is thicker but more sturdy in design, and tapers gradually near the tip, ensuring that the small water flow is easy to control and not difficult to master. The water flow can be a mixture of a thin stream and a large water column, but it is closer to the flow of a large water column. The author likes to use Kettle Wave very much, and finds that the coffee brewed is of good quality when paired with Hario V60 and Kalita Wave filter cups. However, wooden accessories may wear out or even crack if used for a long time.

The wooden ball on the top of the lid seems to be about to disintegrate after a long time of use, which means that users must store this hand brewing kettle properly and hope that the wooden parts do not fall off. In addition, the thicker metal material of the kettle can maintain the water at the ideal brewing water temperature.

Comprehensive evaluation

At around $50, this kettle is more expensive than the Hario Buono, although it has a sturdier construction. It’s a good alternative to a pour-over kettle, even if some may have concerns about the durability of the wooden parts.

3. Bonavita Kettle

Design Principle

In terms of design, I’m actually not the biggest fan of the Bonavita. It’s sturdy and durable, but not as stylish as the Hario. The hand-pour kettle has a large capacity of 1 liter, but the overall design is more practical. And the lid is difficult to open or close, which can be a bit annoying to use at times. Although the direct-heat kettle and the electric-heated version look almost the same, the electric version of this kettle comes with a nice plastic base and a different handle design for easier holding.

Practicality

The Bonavita is less attractive in appearance, but it has advantages in price and features. Its gooseneck design tapers at the tip, producing a very steady stream of water. The extra finger grip design of the electric version is icing on the cake, and the super simple operation makes it convenient for people who have to boil water and make coffee every morning (I have a vacuum pot that keeps the water close to boiling, which saves me time). The author gave this kettle to his family at home, and family and friends use it to make coffee and tea. After a few times of operation, anyone can easily use it.

Comprehensive evaluation

The electric version of Bonavita costs about 800 RMB (now the new version Brewista is still that expensive), because it has an accurate temperature control panel with a difference of plus or minus one degree Celsius, so it has great advantages in functionality, not only in its fast heating and temperature control functions, but also in its good water filling control. The disadvantages may be that it is difficult to open the lid and the appearance is not very design-conscious.

4. Fellow Stagg Kettle

Design Principle

I previously wrote about the Fellow Duo, an innovative full immersion brewing device that operates similarly to a well-designed French press. Fellow is a company dedicated to reinventing the way coffee is brewed, and it also has an eye-catching pour-over kettle. But does Fellow live up to its promise to redesign the pour-over kettle for the market? Let's start with the exterior design. First of all, the all-black and stainless steel material makes this kettle look great in display.

The design style is more distinct, perhaps a typical American style combined with minimalist design. The author likes to use it very much, and it is very suitable for showing it to others. The long and thin gooseneck design extends from the body of the kettle, like a knight holding a spear, and the ergonomic handle is perfectly suitable for the user to hold. But the lid is not easy to open and close. Maybe the Fellow people deliberately designed it like this to prevent users from using this kettle too much and shortening its service life? ! In addition, the thermometer directly inserted on the top of the lid is a very clever design.

Practicality

Fellow showed the brewer three major innovations that have profound impact on daily operation. First, the thermometer is great and measures temperature very accurately. Of course, in addition to controlling the water temperature, high-quality fresh coffee or good filtered water is also important.

The sturdy design of the gooseneck, which is located near the bottom of the kettle, makes pouring easy, a feature that the company highlights on its website. As long as you can pour water from the spout at a close to 90-degree angle, you can brew delicious coffee with the Stagg. The last innovation is not important, but it feels useful in everyday brewing: a weighted handle to balance your pouring action. The real function of the handle is to make it easy to find the right angle for pouring. Is it nice? Of course. Is it necessary? Probably not.

Comprehensive evaluation

The price of one online is about 600 RMB (without heating base). For those who like the sense of technology, the author would recommend Stagg. Due to the author's preference, he puts Stagg behind Bonavita.

5. Blue Bottle Wood Handle Brewer

Design Principle

In fact, many utensils have not yet been accurately named. For example, this kettle can be purchased on the Blue Bottle website (but the translator cannot find this product in China). The long-distance handle effectively prevents the gooseneck from having too much water flowing out. The wooden design combined with the polished steel body makes this product more pleasing to the eye.

Practicality

The Blue Bottle's flood-proof design effectively slows the water flow, making it easy to pour the water into the filter cup in a steady state. I have made some good coffee with this kettle. However, the handle makes it feel very heavy. When you have to carry 500ml or more of water for several minutes at a time, it is a burden on the arms and shoulders. In fact, after using this kettle to make coffee a few times, I found myself constantly wanting to put the kettle down because it was a bit too heavy. If you are making coffee one cup at a time, you may find it okay, but I found that I used this hand-poured kettle less and less.

Comprehensive evaluation

This pot is not easy to obtain and is not cheap, costing about $60 on the Blue Bottle website. As mentioned above, its practicality makes the author reluctant to use it to make coffee because of its weight.

in conclusion

If you want to buy a pour over kettle and have enough budget, I recommend the Bonavita electric version. If you want a more stylish pour over kettle, I recommend the Fellow Stagg, which also has an electric version, but the price is higher... If you have budget considerations, I would recommend the Bonavita stove-heated pour over kettle or the Hario Buono.

Note: Of course, there are many kinds of pour-over kettles. Some people may even question why Takahiro or Kinto are not included in the comparison. However, the author considers the affordability of the price and whether it can be heated by direct fire (if it cannot be heated by direct fire, it means that another kettle is needed to heat it, and the author believes that this is not in line with the time cost-effectiveness). However, the design of these kettles themselves is very suitable for controlling the water flow. If you are not restricted by budget, you can look for other pour-over kettles.

Translated from Eater

Translated by Cheng Zhen Coffee

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