Coffee Drippers -- Finally discovered these great little devices

Just bought a stainless coffee dripper like the one below off ebay ($6). I am sick of standard coffee makers, my last one died a year ago and I never replaced it. Lived off tea for a while, then began each day with some instant coffee but that stuff really is rather nasty.

I always thought a little filter thingy over a cup should work but didn't know they were a "thing". Turns out there are LOTS of them on the market!

Plus I learned stainless filters make a better richer cup of coffee, turns out the paper filters remove the coffee bean oils which reduces flavor/body. And of course these are perfect for off-grid situations or camping since they only require hot water.

Maybe I am the only one that was unaware of this option, but in case others were too here is a photo:

That is a cool item.  I haven't seen that before - thanks for sharing.

If I can figure out an affiliate link, I want to add this to the "cowgirl coffee" thread over in the frugality forum.

Julia Winter wrote:That is a cool item.  I haven't seen that before - thanks for sharing.

If I can figure out an affiliate link, I want to add this to the "cowgirl coffee" thread over in the frugality forum.

Amazon sells a bunch of coffee drippers, not sure if they have a $6 stainless model but they probably have something darn close. I assume you are hooked up to the Amazon affiliate program (though if not good for you -- they are evil).

The one I bought off ebay had all 5-star review: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Stainless-Steel-Pour-Over-Cone-Dripper-Reusable-Coffee-Filter-w-Cup-Stand/152805459833?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

I just don't filter the coffee at all. It sits in the pot for a few minutes – but not long, I drink it hot – and is then decanted into cups. Most of the grains remain in the pot and some at the bottom of the cup.

Sebastian Köln wrote:I just don't filter the coffee at all. It sits in the pot for a few minutes – but not long, I drink it hot – and is then decanted into cups. Most of the grains remain in the pot and some at the bottom of the cup.

Us 'Mericans don't know how to do it that way. :)

Lucrecia Anderson wrote:

Sebastian Köln wrote:I just don't filter the coffee at all. It sits in the pot for a few minutes – but not long, I drink it hot – and is then decanted into cups. Most of the grains remain in the pot and some at the bottom of the cup.

Us 'Mericans don't know how to do it that way. :)

😂 Some of us do... the cowboys and girls amongst us. 😉

There are many different versions on Amazon. . .  

This one here is in two pieces, the cone sets into a frame, which seemed nice, because you'd only need to wash the cone most days.

I like this one that I got on Amazon, with very very fine holes. Since it sits down in your coffee cup, it soaks the coffee for several minutes, like a French press. It's called FORLIFE Extra-fine Tea Infuser and Dish Set. It's easy to carry when travelling or camping. All steel, no glue or plastic.

Rebecca Norman wrote:I like this one that I got on Amazon, with very very fine holes. Since it sits down in your coffee cup, it soaks the coffee for several minutes, like a French press. It's called

I didn't see that type before. That is neat and yes, like a mini-french press.

Still wonder how I never heard of these drippers after all these years especially since it seems like it would be a "recommended" item when purchasing prep/camping stuff online.

I was at the thrift store the other day and bought an electric kettle, those things heat up water so darn fast they are great for tea, soups, hot water for dog food etc...  The electric kettle got me thinking about making real coffee again and only then did I try different search terms and find the drippers.

My parents have made their coffee with this type set-up my whole life. It is handy for travel, but, seriously, it's not much cheaper than a cheap coffee maker. My current coffee maker cost $10, new, with the reusable filter.

Stacy Witscher wrote:My parents have made their coffee with this type set-up my whole life. It is handy for travel, but, seriously, it's not much cheaper than a cheap coffee maker. My current coffee maker cost $10, new, with the reusable filter.

It doesn't take up counter space or require electricity which is the big selling point for me. The price is just an added bonus.

Lucrecia - I get that and I'll likely move to such a system when I need to worry about those things so much, but in my current household, coffee is always brewing. Making a cup of coffee when we drink multiple pots in a day just don't make sense.

Hi Stacy.  For a pot at a time I like using my ceramic drip cone that takes #6 paper filters that get composted with the grounds and it's super easy to use, but I think I'd prefer moving to a paperless stainless version.  One big reason for me moving to that was that I could taste the plastic....yuck....no more coffee makers where anything plastic touches the liquid for me.  I don't miss the plastic ones even a tiny bit.

Rebecca Norman wrote:I like this one that I got on Amazon, with very very fine holes. Since it sits down in your coffee cup, it soaks the coffee for several minutes, like a French press. It's called FORLIFE Extra-fine Tea Infuser and Dish Set. It's easy to carry when travelling or camping. All steel, no glue or plastic.

Thanks for the link. This is PERFECT for me. Simpler and quicker than a French press and good for tea as well! I’m getting one. Ever since DH swore off caffeine I’ve been sporadic with my coffee drinking and I feel my system really benefits from it. It cheers me up.

In the interest of full discosure, I have gotten my coffee dripper and well...errrmmm...not what I expected.

Pros: Very well made little device. Came with surprisingly nice packaging, Nice branded box with a fancy/elegant little pamphlet inside. The packaging must have cost as much as the dripper itself.

Cons: Takes 3 minutes of constant attention to make a cup of coffee!

First time I used it I poured the water in and it ran out IMMEDIATELY as if the dripper was just a strainer (because it actually IS a fine strainer).  I thought "this can't be right" so I read the instructions. It says "very slowly pour the water for 2-3 minutes over the dripper". Huh??? I am not going to stand there slowly dripping hot water for 2-3 minutes! It never said that in the description!

So now I am dumping a spoon of coffee inside a small jar, filling it with hot water, then after 3-4 minutes pouring it into my cup with a regular cheapo strainer filtering out the grounds.

I got one for my husband and he loves it. No complaints. Sorry yours isn't working out... maybe it's defective??

Amit Enventres wrote:I got one for my husband and he loves it. No complaints. Sorry yours isn't working out... maybe it's defective??

So the one your husband has drips slowly on its own? Instead of the water flowing through it too fast to brew?

I don't think mine is defective since the instructions even say "pour water slowly over grounds for 3 minutes".  I thought the "dripper" in the name meant IT would do the dripping, not me.

I got mine (the one that sits down in the cup) a couple of days ago and yes, it does take more time than I expected to make a cup of coffee. It doesn’t run straight through, though. My problem with it is that it doesn’t hold a lot of water. It’s not working to just fill it and sit it down in, either because it’s too hard to keep the coffee from floating over its edge. I’m using three heaping Tbsp (ground slightly coarsely) for a mug (2 cup capacity). The water runs through slowly but I still have to stand there pouring a teensy bit at a time or I’d overrun the strainer. All I can say is that it’s a good thing I like tea. It was meant for tea and it’s great for tea. I ordered one of the cone shaped drippers. Will let you know how that works for me.

This is the one I got him. He says it uses less coffee grounds and about one filling of water is about 1 cup of copy.

E-PRANCE Honeycombed Stainless Steel Coffee Filter, Reusable Pour Over Coffee Filter Cone Coffee Dripper with Removable Cup Stand and Bonus Brush(2nd Generation)

Cindy Skillman wrote:I got mine (the one that sits down in the cup) a couple of days ago and yes, it does take more time than I expected to make a cup of coffee. It doesn’t run straight through, though. My problem with it is that it doesn’t hold a lot of water. It’s not working to just fill it and sit it down in, either because it’s too hard to keep the coffee from floating over its edge. I’m using three heaping Tbsp (ground slightly coarsely) for a mug (2 cup capacity). The water runs through slowly but I still have to stand there pouring a teensy bit at a time or I’d overrun the strainer. All I can say is that it’s a good thing I like tea. It was meant for tea and it’s great for tea. I ordered one of the cone shaped drippers. Will let you know how that works for me.

Glad to hear it works for tea!

While you wait for your new dripper you might want to try the "jar" method. Works pretty well. Put your coffee and boiling water in a jar (or in the pot that holds the boiling water) and let it brew for 3 minutes, then pour over a strainer and into your mug. I tried that when our European friend Sebastian Köln suggested it.

Kind of funny, making coffee is so simple but somewhere along the line many of us got brainwashed into thinking we need a machine or a special device in order to do it.

Good point, Lucretia! I do love me some gadgets, though. I got the pretty shiny thing yesterday and it works great. Not even a teensy dusting of grounds at the bottom of the mug. I’m still gonna try the jar. I always wondered “why not tea bags for coffee?” They did make those for a little while but I guess they didn’t catch on. Yes! We do make things too complicated—or at least I do.

Lol. Makes my butter tub and coffee filter contraption seem almost legit!

Lucrecia Anderson wrote:turns out the paper filters remove the coffee bean oils which reduces flavor/body.

wasteful too - how many of those melitta filters aren't properly disposed off?

I assume you are hooked up to the Amazon affiliate program (though if not good for you -- they are evil)

AMEN!!!