Best Japanese Coffee Makers

The Land of the Rising Sun has a reputation for quality design and engineering. And quite rightly so. Anywhere that makes chefs spend 5 years learning to cook rice knows about dedication and perfecting a craft. So we’ve been on a hunt for the best Japanese coffee makers to share with you.

Whilst tea has a long history and huge cultural significance in Japan, coffee has become very popular over time. After all, this is a nation that values working insanely long hours. And, just like most other things in Japan, the dedication to making excellent Japanese coffee makers has grown with the growth in coffee consumption.

Having spent a lot of time in Japan testing and drinking coffee, we’ll take you through the best of the best Japanese coffee makers currently available. From single-cup pour overs to intricate syphon coffee makers, you will be blown away by the beauty of both the coffee and the design.

Product	Details	Cost ($$$$$)
Best Overall	Pour over Various sizes that can handle 1-6 cups Easy to use but difficult to master	$$	Check Price
Best Siphon Coffee Maker	Siphon coffee maker 5 cup capacity Moderately difficult to use	$$$$$	Check Price
Best for Cold Brew	Cold brew coffee maker Available in 2 sizes: 2.5 or 4.5 cups Very easy to use	$	Check Price
	Pour over Available in 2 sizes: 1-2 or 3-4 cups Easy to use but difficult to master	$$$	Check Price
	Drip coffee Available in either 2 or 4 cup sizes Easy to use	$$	Check Price
	Pour over 1 cup capacity Easy to use	$	Check Price

Whilst you can get pretty much every type of coffee maker you can think of from Japan, there are some that are more famous than others. Namely, their drip coffee machines, pour over cones, siphon coffee makers, and cold brew coffee makers.

So, if you’re after a top espresso maker then Japan is not the country for you. But if you’re a fan of any of these methods, then some of the best coffee makers on the market are Japanese-made. 

Each of the most popular Japanese brewing methods focus on a slower process with particular attention to water temperature and flow rate. As a result, they take more time to master so they’re not as beginner-friendly as the classic American 5-cup drip coffee maker or a French press, for example.

However, if you give them the time, you’ll be rewarded with a phenomenal cup of coffee that highlights the more complex, nuanced flavor profile of your chosen type of coffee beans.

So, read on as we break down the best options for each brewing method.

However, there’s stiff competition in the international coffee market meaning the Japanese-made ones aren’t the best drip coffee makers available. Especially considering you usually have to import them which pushes up the prices.

But let’s not get disheartened because what Japan does very well is the pour-over coffee maker.

At first glance, it doesn’t seem like much thought or engineering needs to go into a pour over cone. After all, you just need to put a filter in. But many Japanese coffee companies have perfected it. So there’s a vast range of aesthetically pleasing and excellent pour over devices available – no matter where you’re shopping from.

Pour over cones are versatile beyond great hot coffee. You can also use them to make a delicious Japanese iced coffee drink by allowing your coffee to drip over ice.

Hario V60 Ceramic Coffee Dripper

Hario’s name is synonymous with great coffee-making equipment. And the Hario V60 is one of the most popular pieces of coffee-making gear in the world. It’s easy to see why this Japanese coffee maker is so well-loved:

• Available in a variety of materials and colors (metal or ceramic are the most popular).
• Can buy a range of kits that include extra filters, a serving jug, or accessories like a stand. But, let’s not get carried away – all you need is the V60 dripper cone and filters.
• One of the cheapest coffee makers around.
• Once you’ve mastered the technique, you unlock the potential for the best-tasting cup of coffee you’ll ever have. Okay, yes, we’re fanboys. But it really can handle any roast or origin to brew some of the most complex cups of coffee.

So, at this stage, you might be thinking you’ve found The One. The only downside is that it’s hard to master the pour over method.

(Hint: Check out our Hario V60 Recipe for easy-to-follow steps including a coffee-to-water ratio calculator).

Making pour over requires your complete focus for the entire brewing process. Whilst there are slightly easier options like the Chemex, making great pour over is a craft. So, if you aren’t interested in doing that, then this isn’t the best Japanese coffee maker for you.

But, once you’ve mastered the skill, the Hario V60 ceramic coffee dripper offers excellent value for money. It’s a cheap product that creates great coffee at home.

Kalita Wave Drip Coffee Maker

Did the Hario V60 review put you off making pour over coffee at home? If so, we have a solution…

The Kalita Wave offers an easier way to slide gently into the world of pour over coffee brewing. It’s a great alternative if you don’t have the time or desire to perfect such a nuanced brewing process.

It’s like making pour over coffee with the training wheels on as it has a much greater margin for error. This is because it restricts the water flow and the ridged edges keep the air flowing, maintaining the temperature. So, if you’re new to this brewing method and intimidated by the Hario V60, then this is the Japanese coffee maker for you.

It also brews a slightly stronger coffer than more traditional drip coffee makers. So, if you find the flavors of pour over a little too “delicate”, then the Kalita Wave might be more up your street.

That said, it does have limitations on the grind size you can use. But this is a small downside that can be overlooked

Overall, the Kalita Wave offers up a great budget option in a classic design that will keep everyone happy. It’s available in a couple of differences sizes and various materials (we prefer the classic stainless steel as it’s longer-lasting.) As it’s so cheap, it’s great for newbies then you can easily graduate to the V60 if you feel more confident later.

Hario Woodneck Drip Pot

The Hario Woodneck Drip Pot falls somewhere between a pour over and traditional drip coffee maker. It looks a little like a Chemex, the resulting brew resembles a French press coffee, yet it’s easier to clean. Confused?

Thankfully using the Hario Drip Pot is very simple for beginners and coffee pros alike. Plus, it looks great. The slightly odd shape attracts interest and the wood accent gives a more rustic look, not the chemistry lab vibe of siphon coffee makers (more on those later).

As an added bonus, the filter is reusable. Though you have to store it in a tub of water in the fridge.

The Woodneck features a wide opening at the bottom, similar to the Hario V60. But the filter controls the flow much better, giving you a much larger margin for error.

Whilst this makes the Woodneck more user-friendly, it means you can’t enjoy the light and zesty flavors of a more delicate roast. Instead, the slower extraction accents the rich, chocolatey tones of the coffee so it’s better suited to dark roasts.

Unfortunately, buying the Hario Woodneck will set you back a lot more money than a pour-over cone. But it’s still not expensive and looks 100x better than much of the competition. So, we think it’s good value on looks alone.

ZERO Japan Ceramic Coffee Dripper

ZERO Japan embodies everything that makes Japanese coffee makers so special. They are beautifully made by hand in the Mino area of Japan – an area that has been the center of ceramic production and artistry since the 7th century. So they truly are masters of their craft.

The eye-catching, unique design not only looks stunning but also works incredibly well.

My favorite design features are the beautiful ergonomic handle and ‘peek-holes’ on each side of the base. Not only does this allow the coffee to drip through at the optimal speed, but it also allows you to check the level inside the cup and for the steam to escape. This eliminates overflow and any splashes when you remove the coffee dripper.

Being made of ceramic is both a blessing and a curse.

On the positives, it’s what makes it such a beautiful coffee maker but also allows heat retention. But, on the negatives, it’s fragile so you need to take care not to drop or knock it.

The main drawback is that it’s designed for smaller cups. Anything with a diameter bigger than 3.5 inches and the ZERO Japan coffee dripper will just fall in.

Overall, these are small annoyances for an incredibly affordable coffee dripper that will add a pop of beauty to your coffee setup.

Siphon brewing can produce incredibly complex and rich coffee due to the total immersion of the grounds, like a French Press or AeroPress. But it has the added bonus of consistent temperature control, like the pour over method.

These glass contraptions look very complex but are relatively easy to use. Plus, they look incredible whilst in use, giving the feel that coffee brewing is some arcane knowledge that only a few possess, and you’re one of them! We’ve picked our favorite coffee syphons from Japan.

Read Next: Best Siphon Coffee Maker

Hario Glass Technica Syphon Coffee Maker

Those clever people over at Hario also make a siphon coffee maker.

Boasting its own alcohol burner to heat the water, the Hario Technica Japanese coffee siphon looks like it walked straight out of a science experiment and into your home. 

Where you benefit is getting total control over the brewing process so you can tinker with all the different aspects to your heart’s content. Change up the grind size, temperature, and coffee-to-water ratio to get your perfect cup of coffee.

The only downside is that the alcohol burner is quite slow at heating the water. So we tend to give it a “jumpstart” by using pre-heated water from the kettle.

Using a classic siphon coffee machine isn’t the easiest way to make coffee. And you could definitely argue that it isn’t the best way to make coffee either.

But that’s not really the point with the Hario Technica because it makes brewing coffee fun.

It’s fun to play around with your brewing parameters. And even more fun to watch the water bubbling up then being sucked through the grounds. I feel like an alchemist trying to create gold out of base metals rather than someone working hard to perfect the flavor extraction from my favorite beans.

Even if you don’t use the Hario Technica every day, having a syphon coffee maker makes an excellent ornament. Then, you can bring it out whenever you have time to play (or want to show off!)

A cold brew coffee maker works by immersing your coffee grounds in cold or room temperature water for an extended period of time. This slow extraction produces a totally different style of coffee compared to hot brewing.

What you get is not an iced coffee where a regular cup of coffee has been left to cool, then drunk with ice. Instead, the brewing process produces a less bitter, smoother cup of coffee. And you can batch make your cold brew coffee so you always have some waiting in the fridge.

Hario Mizudashi Cold Brew Coffee Pot

If you’re bored of seeing Hario products, then you’re in the wrong place. Hario is top dog when it comes to Japanese coffee makers.

Making cold brew coffee at home for those hot summer days doesn’t need to be complex nor does it require messing about with funnels and filters. Instead, you can simply add ground coffee and cold water to the Hario Mizudashi and you’re done.

It makes a ready-to-drink cold brew coffee, rather than a concentrate. So, you can simply pour a cup and go, rather than worrying about dilution. Or, you can pop it in a whipped cream dispenser and make nitro cold brew coffee if you’re feeling extra.

The Mizudashi comes with a reusable mesh filter and easily fits in your fridge thanks to the compact design.

One thing to bear in mind is that you’ll need to tweak your cold brew recipe as the grounds can’t move as freely. So, I recommend grinding slightly finer to get the same punch.

It may seem odd to buy a specific cold brew coffee maker when you can just use some big jars and coffee filters. But we love that the Hario Mizudashi is so easy to use, is purpose-made, and you can always have self-contained, ready-to-pour cold brew on hand. Plus, the low price makes it cheaper than a couple of big mason jars and coffee filters. So, it’s a win-win.

Whilst Hario makes a range of other coffee products, which are almost universally excellent, the V60 has been the flagship of Japanese coffee making for a long time. This is thanks to its simple perfection and the nuanced flavors you can draw out of your favorite coffee beans. 

Generally, Japanese coffee equipment is simple and elegant. The focus is placed on the user to perfect their technique, seeing it as an art form and integral skill, rather than doing everything for them.

Whether you love pour over, syphon coffee, or cold brew, you will be blown away by the quality of any of the best Japanese coffee makers.

Matt Woodburn-Simmonds

Matt's coffee obsession started in 2006 when working as a Barista. A tendency to turn up to work hungover kickstarted his coffee journey which quickly turned into a love affair. As he moved on to work as a Restaurant Manager and Sommelier, the obsession continued to grow. Now, his passion is helping others to enjoy better coffee at home.