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Cafellissimo Paperless Pour Over Review

The best model that does not require filters and one of the few that does not involve hot water on plastic
Cafellissimo Paperless Pour Over
Photo: Cafellissimo
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Price:  $35 List | $18.49 at Amazon
Pros:  No filter needed, great taste, stylish
Cons:  Expensive, requires water and more time to fully clean, bulky
Manufacturer:   Cafellissimo
By Mary Witlacil and Penney Garrett  ⋅  Apr 29, 2020
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65
OVERALL
SCORE

RANKED
#12 of 19
  • Taste - 40% 7
  • Ease of Use - 25% 6
  • Group Cooking - 15% 6
  • Portability - 10% 5
  • Weight - 10% 8

Our Verdict

The Cafellissimo Paperless Pour Over is a great filterless brewer. While this device is a little more challenging to clean than a standard pour-over model, it does save money and paper filters. The Cafellissimo is also an excellent option for those who want to avoid pouring hot water over plastic in order to make coffee. This attractive and durable brewer is pricey (though often available well under its full list price), but you'll never have to worry about tracking down and stocking up on fancy filters, and it will always reward you with great tasting coffee.

Compare to Similar Products

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Awards  Editors' Choice Award Best Buy Award Top Pick Award  
Price $18.49 at Amazon$9 List$9.67 at Amazon$29.95 at Amazon
Compare at 2 sellers		$39.95 at Amazon
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Pros No filter needed, great taste, stylishGourmet flavor, well-conceived design, ceramic version available for home useNo filter needed, tiny and light, consistently good tasteAmazing flavor, versatile, very portable, simple cleanupExcellent clean flavor, double-filtered to eliminate sediment, press completely stops extraction, vessel can be used as a leakproof travel mug
Cons Expensive, requires water and more time to fully clean, bulkySpecial shaped filters are harder to find, expensive for a plastic dripper, heavier than other brandsMust lift filter out of most cups to avoid steeping, poor for large groupA lot of little pieces to keep track of, on the heavy side for backpackingLots of pieces to keep track of, heavy, on the pricier side
Bottom Line One of our favorite coffee makers and it's filterless to boot!Great taste, easy to use, and lightweight - we love this plastic iteration of the classic glass and ceramic versionsDurable, light, and compact, this is a fantastic option for backpacking trips or any kind of light travelWhile this unique brewer has a bit of a learning curve, the final flavor is the best in our test suiteThe superfine double filter and extraction-stopping plunger of this press make for a very excellent brew
Rating Categories Paperless Pour Over Hario V60 Plastic Dripper Primula Coffee Brew Buddy AeroPress Coffee Maker Espro Travel Press
Taste (40%)
7
9
7
10
8
Ease Of Use (25%)
6
7
9
7
8
Group Cooking (15%)
6
6
4
4
5
Portability (10%)
5
5
9
6
6
Weight (10%)
8
8
9
5
3
Specs Paperless Pour Over Hario V60 Plastic... Primula Coffee... AeroPress Coffee... Espro Travel Press
Weight 3.3 oz Dripper alone: 2.95 oz
Dripper + scoop: 3.37 oz		 1.1 oz Press alone: 7.98 oz
Press + spoon + stirrer: 9.39 oz		 12.3 oz
Brew Type Pour Over Pour Over Pour Over Pour Over/Press Hybrid French Press/ Pour Over
Main Material Stainless steel Hard plastic Nylon filter BPA-free polypropylene Stainless steel
Filter needed? No Yes No Yes No
Notable Features No filter pour over Cone shape, large hole, ribs along side Rests on any mug Easy to clean, re-usable filter Can be used as french press, pour over, or for tea
Notes Requires some water to clean between uses Makes strong, smooth coffee Filter hangs in coffee for most cups Eliminates bitterness while keeping a good flavor Brews a really clean cup, keeps liquids nice and hot

Our Analysis and Test Results

With the Cafellissimo, you will never need to worry about pesky paper filters again! While it's a more significant investment upfront, you won't have to purchase a separate component that constantly creates paper waste. Yes, you need extra water to clean, but it's a small price to pay for a beautiful dripper that delivers an excellent cup of coffee.

Performance Comparison


The Cafellissimo is one of our all-around favorite brew methods.
The Cafellissimo is one of our all-around favorite brew methods.
Photo: Jenna Ammerman

Brew Features


This metal perforated cone requires no filters. While you may expect coffee to pour out the sides, it most certainly does not. The Cafellissimo pours at roughly the same speed as some of the other pour-over brewers we tested. As with all pour-over brewing devices, the more attention you pay to the amount of coffee, grind size, amount of water, and how you pour, the better final cup you will receive.

The Cafellissimo delivers great taste with no filter.
The Cafellissimo delivers great taste with no filter.
Photo: Jenna Ammerman

Hot water and plastic
The Cafellissimo is one of the few pour-over brewers in our test suite that does not involve pouring hot water through plastic, something we see as a definite bonus.

Taste


In side-by-side tests, we had a hard time telling the difference between this brewer and some of the more highly rated pour-over brewing methods. The Cafelissimo delivers a consistently clean and luscious cup of coffee, far better than some of the other cone-shaped pour-over options in our review.

This stainless steel cone is easy to use and produces a delightful...
This stainless steel cone is easy to use and produces a delightful cup every time - especially if you follow a proper recipe.
Photo: Penney Garrett

If you're new to using a pour-over cone and want to do it right, be sure to weigh both your coffee and your water. A good starting place is a 1:14 ratio. So, if you want to finish with a 12-ounce cup, use about 25 grams of coffee and about 350 grams of water (grams and milliliters are interchangeable, and there are approximately 30 grams in 1 ounce). Your full brew time should take about 3 minutes total after a 20-30 second bloom.

Ease of Use


While the Cafellissimo requires no buying or packing of filters, it will take some extra time, care, and water to clean after each use. If you don't want to thoroughly clean this brewer after each use, you don't have to — bang the cone at the edge of a trash can and carry on. Don't make this a habit, though, as doing so will result in your cone becoming clogged with oils. Clean it regularly and properly to ensure you can continue to brew up a great cup.

Filterless options like the Cafelissimo require cleaning after each...
Filterless options like the Cafelissimo require cleaning after each use. How much time and water is dependent on your personal cleanliness standards, though if you let too many coffee oils build up it will impede how well your dripper works.
Photo: Jenna Ammerman

Group Cooking


This is a decent option for group cooking scenarios. Load it to the brim with grounds, and you can make coffee for four people. This is not, however, the recommended way to brew and flavor will suffer as a result.

This isn't a great option for large groups, but if it's all you have...
This isn't a great option for large groups, but if it's all you have you can make it work. Either load it up with more grounds or, more ideal, brew smaller amounts back to back. Clean up is easy and brew time should only take about 3 minutes per cup.
Photo: Penney Garrett

Portability


The Cafelissimo does not score as highly as many of the other brewers for portability. This is because it is a non-collapsible cone, and is rather bulky compared to many of the other brewers in our review. Further, while it is stainless-steel, it is somewhat delicate. If you are committed to carrying a non-plastic pour-over cone into the backcountry, then be careful with how you pack this filter into your backpack to avoid denting or crushing it.

Weight


At 3.3 ounces, the Cafelissimo is only slightly heavier than some of the ultralight options in our review. There are lighter options available, but be prepared to brew with plastic.

Light and easy to use, this filter is a joy to use.
Light and easy to use, this filter is a joy to use.
Photo: Jenna Ammerman

Value


When comparing the prices of cone drippers, this one is definitely pricey. However, a couple of factors justify the price point: it's high-quality stainless steel instead of plastic, AND you will never need to buy filters. When you consider these things, then the initial sticker-shock might start to make more sense.

Conclusion


If you're looking for something light, easy to use, and with practically zero-waste, then the Cafellissimo is a stellar option. This device earned fairly high marks in our taste tests, making it a solid investment that will serve you well for the long haul.

No paper waste and easy to clean. This is a great filter.
No paper waste and easy to clean. This is a great filter.
Photo: Jenna Ammerman

— Mary Witlacil and Penney Garrett