I test a lot of the best pour-over coffee makers. I’m in a very lucky position where I can get my hands on everything from the Kalita Wave, to the Chemex, to the Yeti Rambler Pour Over, to the Stanley Perfect Brew Pour Over.
I’ve even tried the “scientifically perfect” pour-over method (spoiler alert: I don’t use it anymore). It’s safe to say that I’m a bit of a pour-over nerd.
But even so, I keep going back to the same pour-over coffee maker. Most people expect a pour-over reviewer to switch coffee makers depending on which is newest and shiniest. That’s not the case with me — I’m still a Hario V60 girl through and through.
The Stanley Perfect Brew isn’t perfect, unless…
So, I gave the Stanley Perfect Brew Pour Over a 3.5-star rating in my review. This is an objectively good score: it means the product is “very good”, but not “great”.
The Stanley Perfect Brew has a very particular use-case, though. It’s the perfect camping pour-over coffee maker. As the Perfect Brew has a built-in filter, you don’t need to use any paper filters when you brew up with this. Forget carrying around a plastic bag full of Hario #2 filter papers. Those days are a thing of the past.
With the Perfect Brew, you just need the dripper itself. Everything else? Taken care of.
If you get the Perfect Brew as the set, you get the Stanley travel mug, too. This means you can brew literally on top of an insulated mug that’ll keep your coffee warm for longer. It’s not completely sealed — like a Stanley travel mug with a lid — but it’s better than using a paper or plastic cup.
You do have to grind your beans a lot coarser than usual, though. As I said, the brewer isn’t “great”, it’s just “very good.” There are bound to be a few quirks.
As the built-in filter is constructed of metal mesh, it invariably lets in a degree of solids. I found the end of my drinks to be quite silty. Obviously, though, if you’re at a campsite or on the trail, this isn’t as dramatic as it is when I’m testing at home and I’ve got a plethora of other paper filter pour-over coffee makers at my disposal.
Here, you can see the mesh built-in filter on the Stanley Perfect Brew. This is a game-changer for coffeemaking during outdoor adventures — especially as you won’t have to dispose of your paper filter on the trail — but it just doesn’t have the same finesse as other, less-specialized coffee makers.
The Stanley Perfect Brew’s closest competitor is the Yeti Rambler Pour Over, which is a fantastic pour over coffee maker with the finesse that the Stanley lacks. However, the Yeti is basically just a metal V60, so requires paper filters too. It’s also way more expensive.
The Yeti Rambler is the better outdoor-focused choice for coffee snobs, but the Stanley is more affordable and easier to use for beginners. Whichever one you prefer is up to you.
Me, though? I can’t tear myself away from my beloved Hario V60…
The V60 is just V-Excellent
Even though I test all these wonderful pour-over coffee makers, I keep crawling back to the Hario V60. No, not crawling. I keep marching back to my Hario V60. It’s just pour-over perfection.
I admit that the Hario V60 requires a little more concentration and finesse than other drippers, but I think it’s worth it. With Hario’s #2 paper filters, the brew is utterly delectable. There’s something about a V60 that tastes so juicy, so fresh, so clean. A V60 coffee makes the taste buds on the back of my tongue light up. I’m not sure what the science is behind that, but heck, it makes me want to drink V60 every day.
Even though I have access to every pour-over coffee maker under the sun, I always end up sticking with the first dripper I tried: my V60. I go through phases of using the Kalita Wave or the Chemex (close second!), but the V60 has me hooked.
Other coffee makers have different brewing methods — for example, the Stanley’s built-in filter, or the Kalita’s flat bottom — but the V60… I can’t stop. I won’t stop.
I’m a V60 girl forever. What about you? Which pour-over coffee maker is your favorite? Let me know in the comments!
Follow Tom’s Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!