Top Performing Pour Over "Gooseneck" Kettles For Precision
Pour over kettles are a must in any coffee afficianado's arsenal.
Personally I use my gooseneck kettle everyday, to brew my morning pour over.
However you may be asking yourself the question: "Do I really need a pour over kettle?"
After working in the coffee industry for over 10 years I can honestly say that they do make a difference if you are brewing pour over coffee (cafetiere or aeropress you’re good with a regular kettle).
I have in the past, ever so gently brewed pour overs using a regular electric kettle with half decent results.
However if you’re aiming for the top, buying high quality coffee and striving for the best coffee you can possibly brew, then you’re going to need a gooseneck!!!
It enables you to pour exact measurements of your brewing water (down to grams) onto your coffee grinds so you can extract the very best filter coffee.
So rather than me talk any further about my experiences with kettles, here’s a few tips on what to look for followed by our top 7 pour over kettles.
Here are a few of our league leaders…
| Catagory | Manual Grinder |
|---|---|
| Best Overall Gooseneck Kettle | Fellow - Stagg |
| Best Budget Goosenck | Coffee Gator - True Brew |
| Most Robust Gooseneck | Kalita - Wave |
| Best Electric Gooseneck | Dualit - Fast Boil |
Why trust me?
I’m Tom and I have been working in the coffee industry for over 10 years, starting my journey as a barista in Australia, working on coffee farms in South America and roasting coffee in The UK. Today I review and write about speciality coffee. I am the founder of Batch Coffee Club, which showcases the very best coffee from around the world.
Checkout our award-winning coffee beans subscription.
Find below our 7 best gooseneck coffee kettles.
How to choose a pour over kettle?
Here are a few pointers that we think are important when purchasing a gooseneck kettle:
Stovetop or electric?
You need to decide the method on which you would like to heat the water and what suits your needs.
Stovetop pour over water kettles are used by either heating the water on the hob (great for camping) or as a vehicle to pour the preheated water from your kettle.
I like to boil the water in my regular kettle first before pouring it into my stovetop gooseneck.
During the brewing I then maintain the water temperature by gently heating the water on the stove.
Electric pour over kettles come with a range of functionalities. The water is heated directly in the kettle as you would expect, some also offer control over water temperature down to the exact degree.
Flow Rate.
The flow rate of most pour over water kettles is fairly steady.
You should be able to control how much water is poured onto the coffee grounds down to the exact gram.
Some goosenecks are designed slightly differently and have larger spouts, these may be slightly harder to control the flow rate.
On the other end of the spout spectrum, some pour over kettles have extremely narrow spouts, this may actually result in a slower than required flow rate.
Usability
You would like to think that anything that has been designed for a certain process would be easy to use. This is sometimes not the case and certain pour over kettles are uncomfortable and have a couple of basic design flaws.
A shortcoming that I have noticed when using numerous kettles is the balance. A well designed gooseneck will be easy to hold when full and the motion to pour the water should be minimal.
I have used kettles for pour over coffee beans in the past that feel awkward to hold when full and the angle and which the handle is attached to the kettle makes it difficult to control the flow.
Capacity
Most pour over kettles have a fairly standard capacity of around 1 litre. Some do however creep down to 0.7 litres.
This is enough for a double V60 and most other pour over method recipes rarely call for the water volume to be over 700 ml.
The problem may lie in the water you need to rinse the filter paper and preheat the coffee cups.
Material
The material of your gooseneck kettle is usually stainless steel although there are the occasional plastic electric kettles.
The quality and density of the stainless steel is something to look out for. You will find a lot of the cheaper pour over kettles are made from thinner stainless steel.
This is fine if you are heating the kettle directly on the stove however if not you may find these loose heat quicker than heavier ones.
The sturdier well constructed kettles are also more robust and in turn will last a little longer. The thin spout is always in danger of damage.
Cleaning
One of the least exciting factors to discuss (yawn) but still important is the ease at which you can cleans your pour over kettle.
With the majority of kettles you should be able to remove the lid and give the bottom a good scrub with a sponge but some of the smaller ones may be a little tighter which will require a brush
Features
You should take into account the added extras that some kettles offer and weigh up the importance to your brewing needs.
One of my favourite features on a gooseneck kettle is the temperature gauge. This allows me to maintain a constant temperature throughout the brew.
Other features include as mentioned above, electric kettles with temperature control or silicone covers to hold in the heat.
Top 7 Pour Over Kettles
1. Fellow - Stagg
Capacity - 1 Litre
Dimensions (cm) - 39 x 16.5 x 20.5
Material - Stainless Steel Body.
Stovetop/Electric - Stovetop and Electric.
Value - ★★★★★★★★★☆
Pros: ✅ Slick, Temperature Control, Weighted Handle
Cons: ❌ Flow Can Be Slow
The Stagg pour over Kettle by Fellow is a work of art.
The slick and functional design takes your coffee brewing to the next level. The flow control of the Stagg is something that I noticed straight away and really does make a difference at any level of coffee brewer.
The spout is crafted at the perfect angle for you to effortlessly pour over your coffee grounds and brew the best coffee.
Keep in control of your brewing at all times with the inbuilt thermometer that probes right at the heart of the brew water.
The red range highlights the optimum brew temperature between 90 and 95 degrees celsius.
The unique and characteristic handle is heat proof and also weighted meaning the centre of mass is shifted closer to your hands making it easier to pour.
Does the Fellow Stagg gooseneck kettle tick all your boxes?
2. Kalita - Wave Drip Kettle
Capacity - 1 Litre
Dimensions (cm) - 15 x 15 x 25.5
Material - Stainless Steel, 18 Chrome.
Stovetop/Electric - Stovetop.
Value - ★★★★★★★★★☆
Pros: ✅ Robust
Cons: ❌ Easily Scratched
A modern classic of pour over kettles.
The Kalita Wave Drip Kettle is something that I first came across while working as a barista.
The robust body and wooden handle make it a great pour over coffee kettle for high impact and lots of use.
The stainless steel body 1 litre body is the perfect size to heat your equipment and execute the perfect brew.
Your brew time and flow rate will all be under control with the sharply pinched lip that allows for even higher levels of precision pouring to allow for complete control to achieve a balanced extraction.
The Kalita is a simple yet effective gooseneck kettle. It’s not all singing, all dancing, however it will certainly stand the test of time.
Is the Kalita Wave Drip Kettle what you’re looking for?
3. Dualit - Fast Boil Electric Kettle
Capacity - 800 ml
Dimensions (cm) - 22 x 22 x 21
Material - Stainless Steel and Plastic.
Stovetop/Electric - Electric.
Value - ★★★★★★★★☆☆
Pros: ✅ Perfect Brew Temperature
Cons: ❌ As With Electrical’s - Small Lifespan
Flip of a switch ease.
The Dualit pour over fast boil electric kettle is the first on our list of electric kettles for pour over coffee.
The Kettle sits on the smart base which is fitted with an LCD screen and controls.
Simply set your temperature measurement to either Fahrenheit or Celsius and alter what temperature you would like your brew water.
The Dualit pour over coffee kettle looks after a key variable in pour over coffee and will deliver consistent brew temperature water.
The matt black finish alongside the precision engineered non drip spout ensures your brew will never taste so good.
There is also a mutability function that allows you at the touch of a button to eliminate any key tones or feedback sounds that can usually be heard, which is great for early risers.
If the Dualit looks like the best electric gooseneck kettle to you then
4. Coffee Gator - True Brew Coffee Kettle
Capacity - 1.6 litres
Dimensions (cm) - 31 x 18.5 x 16.5
Material - Stainless Steel, Aluminium and Silicone.
Stovetop/Electric - Stovetop.
Value - ★★★★★★★★☆☆
Pros: ✅ Large Volume
Cons: ❌ Handle can break
Coffee Gator take heating water seriously.
The design team at Coffee Gator have done their market research. They stripped back their competitors' products to try and figure out how to make their pour over kettle better.
Their answer is the True Brew Coffee Kettle. The 360-degree swivelling thermometer is mounted in place, even when you are filling the kettle. Once you start to pour, twist the thermometer so you can read the temperature (great for lefties).
There are multiple insulated grip points to ensure your pour over technique is as controlled as possible.
The layer of aluminum layered between the 304-grade stainless steel allows you to use this gooseneck kettle on induction hobs and any other hobs for that matter.
The extra large capacity of 1.6 litres (1.2 litres boil safe capacity) means that you will not run out of brew water mid pour and have enough to preheat your cups.
If the Coffee Gator True Brew looks like your cup of tea then
5. Brewista - Artisan Electric Gooseneck Kettle
Capacity - 1 litres
Dimensions (cm) - 38 x 23 x 23
Material - Stainless Steel, Plastic.
Stovetop/Electric - Electric.
Value - ★★★★★★★☆☆☆
Pros: ✅ Technology
Cons: ❌ Handle Can Peel
The Bat-mobile of gooseneck kettles.
This guys would look great on anyone's work surface.
The slick matt black design along with the wood grain style lid make this a gooseneck for the fashionistas.
The ample water capacity of 1 litre (maybe 900ml safe boil) is perfect for one or two cup pour overs.
Change the temperature of the brew water in 1 degree increments on the LCD screen and set your goal from 40 - 100 C.
A unique feature of the Brewista Gooseneck is the ‘Keep Warm’ function which allows you to rest the kettle on the platform and keep a constant temperature for up to one hour. A great choice electric kettle for pour over or Aeropress coffee.
Is the Brewista the best gooseneck for your kitchen work-surface?
6. Hario - V60 Buono Coffee Drip Kettle
Capacity - 1.2 litres
Dimensions (cm) - 27 x 14 x 14
Material - Stainless Steel.
Stovetop/Electric - Stovetop.
Value - ★★★★★★★☆☆☆
Pros: ✅ Simplicity
Cons: ❌ Not That Robust
The OG of pour over coffee kettles.
A baristas best mate. The Hario gooseneck kettle has been around forever.
I think my first pour over attempt was probably with one of these.
There is a reason why baristas all over the world opt for this pour over kettle so regularly. First off Hario is a wonderful specialty coffee brand, manufactured in Japan.
The quality of coffee brewing is the priority of their designs.
The low-mounted spout and a high-mounted easy-to-grip handle allows you to control the flow of water for the perfect cup of coffee every time.
The stainless steel body with flat-bottom makes it durable, easy to clean and enables you to use it on any kind of heater.
If you’re the sort for a Hario pour over kettle,
7. Soulhand - Dome Pour Over Kettle
Capacity - 1.5 litres
Dimensions (cm) - 26 x 16 x 16
Material - Stainless Steel.
Stovetop/Electric - Stovetop.
Value - ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆
Pros: ✅ Stylish
Cons: ❌ Paint Can Lose Colour
The eye catching teal design of the Soulhand pour over kettle.
The Soulhand dome gooseneck comes in blue, pink and matt black.
The large capacity will leave you with enough water to heat your cups before or after you have brewed your coffee.
This gooseneck has style, the wood grain handle and matt finish will look great on your hob.
With an Induction compatible base it’s one for the future. Be careful not to use it on a gas stove though.
Is your kitchen theme teal? Then this could be the best coffee kettle for you.
One To Avoid - Small Gooseneck Kettles
Just keep an eye on the volume of your pour over kettle.
Now this actually isn’t for everybody as some people will opt for a small gooseneck to travel with or they may only brew very small amounts.
Which leads me on to my point that some of the smaller goosenecks on the market have a volume of less than 300ml.
Our pour over recipe calls for 300ml of brew water and that’s not taking into account water that is needed to soak the filter and preheat the vessel.
Like I said, some people brew small amounts but the last thing you want to be doing is trying to fill up the kettle half way through a brew.
FAQs
What is a Pour Over Kettle?
A pour over kettle is a piece of coffee equipment that makes brewing pour over coffee more precise and consistent.
Also referred to as a gooseneck kettle or drip kettle the spout usually collects water from the bottom of the body and pours at a steady flow rate from the protruding spout.
The steady flow rate enables you to pour relatively small amounts of water onto a bed of coffee grounds which is important for brew methods such as a V60, Chemex or various other pour overs.
Is a Pour Over Kettle Necessary?
If you drink quality specialty coffee and you want to extract the best possible brew then a pour over kettle is certainly necessary.
Can I Use a Regular Kettle For Pour Over Coffee?
Yes you can use a regular kettle instead of a gooseneck kettle. You will still be able to brew a coffee providing all other variables are fixed (water temperature, grind size, brew ratio).
What a pour over kettle offers is control. When you start to really dive into specialty coffee and you begin to taste the complexities of specialty coffee you will then be able to tell the difference between a coffee brewed with a regular and a gooseneck kettle.
With a gooseneck kettle you are able to pour a steady flow of water onto the grounds in comparison to a regular ‘all or nothing’ kettle. Without the controlled pour the coffee will not be properly extracted and you’ll no doubt end up with a flat tasting brew.
Which Coffee Maker Can I Use a Pour Over Gooseneck Kettle With?
Gooseneck kettles are used in any pour over method like a V60, Chemex, Kalita Wave, Clever Dripper etc.
You can also use a gooseneck when you are brewing other methods such as a Cafetiere or an Aeropress.
What Water Temperature is Best For Brewing Coffee?
The best water for brewing coffee is usually between 90 and 95 degrees C. This changes between brew methods and recipes.
Anything above 95C though and you are in danger of burning the coffee and suddenly over extracting the grounds resulting in bitter burnt tasting coffee.
In contrast anything below 90 C and the water may not be able to extract the complex compounds from the grounds resulting in sour under extracted coffee.
Do Gooseneck Kettles Whistle?
Gooseneck kettles don’t whistle like stovetop espresso makers. At least I have never come across a whistling gooseneck.
This is probably because they are used much of the time as a vessel to hold hot water and pour at a steady rate. I personally heat my water up in an electric kettle and pour it into my kettle for pour over coffee.
What Is Pour Over Coffee?
Pour over coffee makers are a method of coffee brewing where ground coffee is placed into a paper filter (usually conical or flat bottomed) that sits in a similar sized dripper. Water is then poured over the grounds in intervals and the brewed coffee is collected in the server (jug/carafe) below.
Pour over coffee is one of the best ways to enjoy high quality coffee. The bright and clean brew that a correctly extracted pour over creates highlights the complex and subtle flavour notes in speciality coffee the most.
Are gooseneck kettles good for tea?
Gooseneck kettles are a great choice for tea drinkers. The consistent flow or the water creates the perfect conditions for the tea to infuse at a steady rate.
The pour over kettles with built-in thermometers will also take your tea brewing to the next level and give you the perfect temperature brew water.
