The best drip coffee makers are simple tools that help to brew the best cups of coffee. If you wish to buy a no-fuss drip coffee maker, then it is best to opt for a manual device. Pour-over coffee machines offer drip function with exceptional results.
Consider these five features of a drip coffee maker with a manual brewing method.

1. The Ceramic Material

The best drip coffee makers are made using ceramic as opposed to plastic or other materials.

The ceramic body of a drip coffee maker will help retain the heat in the brew. Such a thing is not possible with plastic bodies. You can even warm the ceramic dripper before you brew the coffee, depending on your preference. In fact, ceramic is the perfect material for brewing the coffee using a drip method due to its heat-retention property.

The ceramic is also easier to clean. Good quality ceramic material will not stain easily. You won’t feel like throwing away a perfectly good dripper just because it stained beyond redemption.

Ceramic is also a safer material to use for brewing coffee using a drip coffee maker. If you use plastic drippers, there is a possibility that the toxins from the material will seep into your coffee. The ceramic won’t affect the taste of the coffee either, which can be a possibility with plastic bodies.

2. The Angled Walls

The best manual drip coffee makers have angled walls.

The angled walls in manual drip coffee makers work well with two types of filters, at least. The feature offers versatility to the person brewing the coffee. You can use the filter as per your preference or availability.

People have preferences for filters, also just like their coffee or coffee maker. The option to use different kinds of filters offers users the choice to choose one they like or prefer for their brew.

3. The Hole

Drip coffee makers have a hole at the bottom.

The hole at the bottom of the dripper should be large enough for the brew to pass smoothly. Smaller holes often cause clogs in the dripper, eventually affecting the taste of the coffee.

There are drippers available with two or three tiny holes instead of one. These holes are stacked one on top of the other. But more than one hole can pose problems with the brewing process. First, it will slow the movement of water, resulting in a stronger brew. Second, fine coffee grounds can clog the holes with regular use. One hole, which is large enough to brew the coffee unrestricted, is best when choosing a drip coffee maker. Not everyone prefers a stronger brew. You should be able to control the strength of your brewed coffee easily. Such a thing is possible when you use a drip coffee maker with one hole only. The hole needn’t be tiny either.

It is easy to assume that the use of a larger hole will weaken the coffee as the water may pass down the dripper soon enough. But that is the beauty of a manual dripper. You can easily adjust the strength of your brew by better controlling the pour-over technique.

4. The Spirals

The spiral ridges are an important feature of manual drip coffee makers.

It is the ridges that aid a balanced and smooth extraction of the perfect brew from the coffee grounds. Uniformity is crucial for brewing the best coffee using a dripper. Without the ridges on the walls of the dripper, it is not possible to achieve the perfect extraction of the liquid from the coffee.

The ridges help create the required space between the cone and the filter. The ridges help the coffee to flow through little channels instead of via one straight stream. The improved flow of coffee is possible due to these ridges only.

5. The Ergonomic Handle

Drip coffee makers come with a handle for the pour function.

When you are going to use a coffee maker every day, it is important that the dripper is easy to use. The use of ergonomic handle in manual drip coffee maker helps in the pouring of the brew conveniently.