Cafellissimo Paperless Pour Over Review
Cons: Pricey, requires water and more time to fully clean, bulky
Manufacturer: Cafellissimo
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Cafellissimo Paperless Pour Over | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  | | |||
| Price | $25 List $19.90 at Amazon | $9.75 List $9.65 at Amazon | Check Price at Amazon | $6.00 List $6.99 at Amazon | $9.95 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | No filter needed, great taste, stylish | Gourmet flavor, well-conceived design, ceramic version available for home use | No filter needed, tiny and light, consistently good taste | Light, simple, affordable, design allows you to see the level of coffee while brewing | No filter needed, tiny and light |
| Cons | Pricey, requires water and more time to fully clean, bulky | Special shaped filters are harder to find, expensive for a plastic dripper, heavier than other brands | Must lift filter out of most cups to avoid over-steeping, poor for large groups | Not as refined a flavor as the V60, bulky | Must pour carefully for bold flavor, delicate clips |
| Bottom Line | A great filterless option and one of the few that does not involve hot water on plastic | The iconic pour over model in a light plastic package, delivering a consistently great flavor | The best option for light travel and backpacking, this savvy brewer will keep you caffeinated without taking up space in your bag | This is a very light and inexpensive pour over option that provides solid taste and stellar value | A great ultralight backpacking option, as long as you pour carefully and aren't too rough with the contents of your pack |
| Rating Categories | Cafellissimo Paperl... | Hario V60 Plastic D... | Primula Coffee Brew... | Melitta 1-Cup Pour-... | GSI Outdoors Ultral... |
| Taste (40%) | |||||
| Ease of Use (25%) | |||||
| Group Cooking (15%) | |||||
| Portability (10%) | |||||
| Weight (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Cafellissimo Paperl... | Hario V60 Plastic D... | Primula Coffee Brew... | Melitta 1-Cup Pour-... | GSI Outdoors Ultral... |
| Measured Weight | 3.3 oz | Dripper alone: 2.95 oz Dripper + scoop: 3.37 oz |
1.1 oz | 2.01 oz | 1.1 oz |
| Brew Type | Pour Over | Pour Over | Pour Over | Pour Over | Pour Over |
| Main Material | Stainless steel | Hard plastic | Nylon filter | Hard plastic | Nylon filter |
| Filter Needed? | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Notable Features | No paper filter needed | Cone shape, large hole, ribs along side | Rests on any mug | Can see cup without lifting dripper | Collapsible to fit under fuel canister |
Our Analysis and Test Results
With the Cafellissimo, you will never need to worry about pesky paper filters again! While it is a more significant initial investment, you won't have to constantly stock up (and waste) paper filters. 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
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 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 Cafellissimo delivers a consistently clean and luscious cup of coffee, far better than some of the other cone-shaped pour-over options in our review.
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 with soap and water to ensure you can continue to brew up a great cup.
Group Cooking
This is a decent — but not ideal — 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.
Portability
The Cafellissimo 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, there are other (albeit heavier) options at a similar price. However, if you decide to go with this one, then you will need to be careful with how you pack it into your backpack to avoid denting or crushing it.
Weight
At 3.3 ounces, the Cafellissimo 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.
Value
The Cafellissimo is definitely on the spendier end of the spectrum for cone drippers. However, a couple of factors justify the price point: it is made from 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 lightweight, 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.
— Mary Witlacil and Penney Garrett
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