Introduction:Want to brew a great cup of coffee at home but don't know where to start? Pour over coffee is the preferred entry method for many coffee enthusiasts—not only is it relatively simple to operate, but the initial investment is also much more affordable compared to espresso machines. This article will break down the essential pour over equipment beginners need, from the pour over kettle, grinder, to the filter cone and scale, offering practical purchasing advice and approximate budget ranges to help you build your own pour over coffee corner at a reasonable cost.
For coffee lovers, simply drinking ready-made coffee is never enough—brewing a cup of coffee that’s uniquely yours is the key to experiencing the true charm of coffee. And the simplest way to achieve this is by getting a set of pour over coffee equipment.
Compared to espresso machines that can easily cost tens of thousands of yuan, the entry barrier for pour over coffee is much lower. However, as your skills improve, many people gradually pursue higher-quality coffee beans and more refined equipment, and their budgets may increase accordingly—there’s theoretically no upper limit to this investment.
So, for absolute beginners, how much money do you actually need to spend to put together a functional and user-friendly pour over setup? Below, we’ll explain each basic piece of equipment and calculate an approximate budget range based on options that are suitable for long-term use and don’t need to be replaced within a year.
A. Pour Over KettleIt’s one of the core tools for pour over coffee—like the sword in a swordsman’s hand. Choosing the right kettle can greatly improve brewing stability. Pour over kettles on the market vary widely in price, ranging from just a few dozen yuan to over a thousand, and come in all sorts of designs. For beginners, it’s recommended to choose a model with good handling and wide user acceptance, which will be easier to get the hang of. If you already have a heating device at home, you can opt for a kettle without heating function, which will be even more affordable. After a comprehensive comparison, we take Kettle B as an example, priced at about 280 yuan; if you choose a kettle with temperature control, the price will be around 500 yuan .
B. ThermometerIt’s crucial for controlling the brewing water temperature. If you’re not using a temperature-controlled kettle, it’s recommended to additionally equip a thermometer. Thermometer prices vary widely, from low-end models at 20 yuan to high-end ones costing hundreds of yuan. High-end thermometers usually offer faster and more accurate readings, while entry-level ones may be slightly less sensitive and slower to update. Based on user experience, we recommend choosing a model with stable readings and quick response—for reference, the Zhenghuangxing thermometer is priced at about 85 yuan .
C. Filter ConeFor those just starting out with pour over coffee, it’s recommended to first choose a V60 filter cone made of resin. This type of filter cone is not only affordable but also suitable for experimenting with various coffee bean flavor profiles. If you’re not too concerned about aesthetics, you might prioritize non-transparent resin versions, which are priced at about 40 yuanand offer very good value for money.
D. Filter PaperIs an indispensable consumable in the pour over process. Although prices for filter papers from different brands don’t vary much, we’ll use the common Kono filter paper as an example—one pack of 100 sheets costs about 32 yuan, bringing the per-use cost down extremely low, making it highly suitable for daily use.
E. ServerWhile not absolutely necessary, having one adds a sense of ritual and makes it easier to observe the speed and amount of coffee dripping. If you prefer simplicity, you can actually use a regular glass container instead, which might cost as little as 40 yuan. If you want to make the whole brewing process more atmospheric, it’s recommended to go for a professional server, priced between 100～150 yuan.
F. GrinderIs undoubtedly the most critical component of the entire setup—the coarseness and uniformity of the grind directly affect the coffee’s extraction. For beginners, although hand grinders are cheaper than electric ones, it’s not recommended to buy overly cheap models, as grind precision and durability often can’t be guaranteed. If you truly want to enjoy the pleasure of pour over coffee, it’s advisable to invest a bit more in a hand grinder. We take a mid-range manual grinder as an example, priced at about 699 yuan. In addition, you’ll also need to budget for cleaning tools such as a brush and blow ball, costing about 30 yuan.
G. ScaleIs an important tool for controlling the coffee-to-water ratio and extraction time. It’s recommended to choose one with a built-in timer. Low-cost scales often suffer from unstable readings, slow response, or even temporary errors caused by button pressure. Therefore, it’s advised to pick a model with a separated weighing platform and buttons. We take a practical electronic scale as an example, priced at about 85 yuan, which offers decent cost-performance.
H. Coffee BeansAre naturally the soul of the entire pour over process. For beginners, it’s recommended to start with entry-level single-origin beans—you don’t necessarily have to purchase high-priced specialty beans to avoid adding too much initial cost pressure. You can opt for some cost-effective regional beans, such as options priced at about 25 yuan per 100 grams. The estimated monthly cost for coffee beans is about 100 yuan, which is a more beginner-friendly budget.
Taking all the above items into account, if you hope to build a stable, long-lasting pour over coffee system without frequent equipment replacement and at a reasonable budget, the overall investment is about 1400 yuan. Compared to espresso machines that can cost several thousand yuan, the entry threshold for pour over coffee is clearly much more accessible, making it highly suitable for beginners who want to brew their own coffee.
The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
