In our opinion, it generally isn’t said often enough, probably because it’s somewhat self-evident, but pour-over coffee brewing is an elegant art. From weighing out your dose to pouring your water (preferably with a tasteful gooseneck kettle), the whole process is wrapped in a layer of ritualistic intentionality, and anyone who’s gone through the effort would likely agree. Pour-over brewers themselves are generally pretty elegant devices, but none are quite as elegant as the Origami dripper.

Inspired by the Japanese art of paper folding, the Origami is a relatively new pour-over dripper, though it's been seen on the World Brewers Cup stage a number of times now, and it's as unique as it is pretty to look at. The Origami has neither the spiral ribs of the Hario V60 nor the flat walls of the Kalita Wave, but instead opts for vertical folds, hence the name. Not only does this give the brewer its signature form-factor, it’s also the key to its greatest asset — its versatility.

What makes the Origami something of a game changer is that it is compatible with both V60-style cone filter papers and flat-bottomed “wave” filters (such as Origami's own). This means that with one brewer you have access to both flat-bottomed and cone-style brewing methods, and all the benefits they each have to offer. 

In case you didn’t know, here’s the difference. Conical brewers tend to brew coffees with lighter bodies and a clean, bright acidity. Flat-bottomed brewers, on the other hand, tend to brew full-bodied coffees, and highlight sweetness. We’re painting in broad strokes here though, and there are myriad brewing variables other than brewer shape that determine what ends up in your cup, such as roast degree, grind size, filter material, and your water’s mineral content. But the point is that with the Origami you don’t have to choose between one or the other. 

That said, there‘s an important design quirk aside from the aforementioned vertical ribs that differentiate the Origami from its two closest cousins: its diameter. Compared to the V60, the Origami has wider external and internal openings. The upshot is that, all other variables being the same, the Origami has a faster flow rate than the V60 when using conical filters. Whether or not this is a pro is for the user to determine, but a potential benefit is that you could grind finer without fear of stalling your brew, increasing your extraction. 

On the other hand, the Origami actually has a slower flow rate than the Kalita Wave when using wave-shaped filters. The potential upsides of this are a little less clear, but it could allow you to get even more sweetness into your cup with a coarser ground coffee that still benefits from a longer contact time than it would experience when brewed with a V60. 

Another key difference between the Origami and its cohort is that it doesn't feature a built-in base. It’s still compatible with certain servers (so long as you’re mindful not to fill them to the point that your brewed coffee submerges the tip of the brewer), but for other servers and for brewing directly into a single cup, you might want this attachable base. 

All in all, the Origami dripper is a uniquely versatile pour-over brewer. Compatible with both conical and flat-bottom filters, it’s the perfect choice for the budding home coffee enthusiast who isn’t sure of which style of brewing suits them best. And, if you already have a V60 and/or Kalita Wave, you can always pick up an Origami if you just find it really pretty — spend any time on the manual brewing side of social media and you’ll see that most enthusiasts tend to share that opinion.

Size guide

• Size S - Good for 1 to 2 250ml cups, compatible with Kalita 155, Origami Wave 1-2 Cup, and Hario 01 filters
• Size M - Good for 2 to 4 250ml cups, compatible with Kalita 185, Origami Wave 2-4 Cup, and Hario 02 filters

Origami Air Pour-Over Coffee Dripper features

• Elegant, versatile design - compatible with both conical and “wave” style filters
• Easy to clean (dishwasher safe)
• Heat-resistant, low thermal syphoning (i.e. it won’t sap heat from your brewing water)
• Lightweight and durable

Origami Air Pour-Over Coffee Dripper specifications

• Material: Food-safe styrene-acrylonitrile resin
• Dimensions
• S: 70mm (height), 118mm (diameter, top), 25mm (diameter, bottom)
• M: 87mm (height), 142mm (diameter, top), 25mm (diameter, bottom)