ORIGAMI DRIPPER REVIEW: CAN IT COMPETE WITH THE V60?

Who says Origami is limited to folding paper? The elegant Origami coffee dripper takes inspiration from the ancient Japanese art of Origami, with stylish and colorful vertical grooves. It is a beautiful and practical accessory to complement your coffee brewing experience.

Can it make good coffee, or is it just a pretty face? How does it compare with classics like the V60 or Kalita Wave? Read our Origami dripper review to find out.

The Origami Coffee Dripper Review

The Origami coffee dripper is a pour over coffee dripper, like the Kalita Wave 185, the Hario V60, and the Chemex coffeemaker. Made in Japan, it became a sensation after one was used to win the 2019 World Barista Championship (1).

The ceramic in Origami coffee drippers comes from Mino, the Japanese Tono region of the Gifu prefecture, a land rich with over four centuries of tradition crafting high-quality ceramics. These drippers from Japan are as well-made as they are beautiful (2).

How We Rated It

• Aesthetic Appeal
• Ease Of Use
• Brew Control Ability
• Coffee Flavor
• Portability
• Value For Money

4.2

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Aesthetic Appeal – 5/5 

The Origami dripper is one of the most beautiful coffee makers. It has a characteristic blooming flower vibe, with its vertical grooves reminiscent of petals. Equal parts art and brewer, it’s meant to be proudly featured on Instagram or your coffee bar. The ceramic has the finest finish, smoothest texture, and crispest corners. 

There are 16 color options, so you’re sure to find one that suits your home decor or matches the rest of your coffee gear. The polished wood holder (sold separately) amplifies the aesthetic appeal.

The Origami coffee dripper comes in two different sizes: the Origami dripper small vs medium. The small is meant for 1 to 2 cups, and the medium handles up to 4.

Ease Of Use – 5/5 

The Origami dripper is as easy to use as any other coffee dripper, which is to say that the concept is simple, but the recipe options are endless. In a nutshell:

1. Set the Origami dripper over a carafe or cup with a filter. 
2. Pre-wet the filter with hot water.
3. Add grounds into the filter. 
4. Pour hot water in swirls over the grounds until you get your desired amount of great coffee. 

Use a soft cloth and warm, soapy water for hand washing the dripper afterwards. 

Brew Control Ability – 4/5 

We mentioned that the eye-catching vertical ridges of the Origami dripper contribute to its overall aesthetic appeal. But they also have a specific function. The ridges craft the perfect spaces for air channels that separate the dripper and the filter inside.

The ridged conical design of the Origami dripper gives it tremendous versatility because it is compatible with both conical V60 and flat-bottom Kalita Wave filters. Fancy a clear cup with a prominent acidity? Or perhaps a more mild and full-bodied blend? You’ll be able to play around with flow rate, grind size, and filter to achieve either.

The material of a dripper also plays a role in the outcome of your coffee. Ceramics are not known for ideal thermal properties, says coffee scientist Jonathan Gagné (3).

This results in a lower temperature for your cup of coffee and a small loss in its inherent sweetness. With the more open design of the Origami dripper, you’ll need to perfect your recipe to avoid an under-extracted brew. 

Coffee Flavor – 4.5/5

With that perfect recipe in hand, you’re in for a real treat when it comes to tasting coffee brewed with the Origami Dripper. It creates that textbook bright and complex pour over coffee. It really shines with lighter roasts, which tend to have subtle flavors and a vibrant acidity. If you’ve been wondering why the tasting notes on your bag of single-origin light roast beans don’t match up with your tasting experience, try this brewer.

I tested it with dark roast blends as well, in the interest of completeness. Of course, it does a perfectly fine job. Well-balanced dark roast brews are easy to extract and enjoy; nearly any brewer will do a perfectly fine job.

Origami Dripper Vs V60

The Hario V60 has long been one of the most popular pour over brewers, so we were curious how the new Origami dripper would stack up. 

Both have similar 60-degree angled sides, but the Origami is a bit wider at the top and bottom. This yields a faster dripping speed and shorter brew time, so your Origami dripper recipe will need to be adjusted accordingly. In terms of flavor, we found both produced similar coffee using the same conical filters, with the Origami brew offering just a touch more acidity.

Portability – 3.5/5 

The Origami coffee dripper comes in two sizes, and neither is larger than your open palm. While they are small enough to take on the go, their jagged edges make them sharp and awkward to carry. More importantly, the Origami dripper is ceramic, which is heavier and more fragile than alternative materials like metal, plastic, or silicone. If you’re looking for a pour-over dripper for your next camping trip, a plastic V60 or metal Kalita Wave is a safer choice.

The recently released Origami Air, however, is an Origami dripper plastic version. Featuring an identical folder-paper-inspired design, it may be the perfect solution for Origami fans on the move.

Value For Money – 3/5

The Origami dripper is nearly twice the cost of more budget-friendly options. Plus, while both the V60 and Kalita Wave include a built-in stand to set the dripper on a mug, the Origami stand is sold separately at about half the cost of the dripper itself. 

You can brew very similar coffee for a lower cost if aesthetics are of no concern.

The fact that you can use any filters with the Origami adds value. While there are branded Origami dripper filters, inexpensive and widely available V60 filters work just as well.

See how Origami compares to similar brewers:

Brand	Origami	Hario	Hario	Chemex	HandyBrew	Kalita	Goat Story	Zero	Hario	Hario
Model	Origami Dripper	V60	Switch	Chemex	Clever Dripper	Wave	Gina	Bee House Dripper	Woodneck	W60
Coffee Style	Pour over	Pour over	Pour over, immersion	Pour over	Pour over, immersion	Pour over	Pour over, immersion, slow drip cold brew	Pour over	Drip pot	Pour over
Shape	Conical	Conical	Conical	Conical	Conical	Flat-bottom	Conical + carafe	Wedge	Conical	Conical
Flow control	One large hole	One large hole	Small hole with valve	One large hole	Small hole with valve	Three small holes	Small hole with valve	Two small holes	One large hole	One large hole
Available sizes	Small (1-2 cups), medium (1-4 cups)	01 (1-2 cups), 02 (1-4 cups), 03 (1-6 cups)	02 (1-4 cups), 03 (1-6 cups)	3 cups, 6 cups, 8 cups, 10 cups	One size (1-4 cups)	155 (1-2 cups), 185 (1-4 cups)	One size (1-5 cups)	Small (1-2 cups), large (1-5 cups)	Small (1-2 cups), large (1-4 cups)	02 (1-4 cups)
Available materials	Ceramic, AS resin	Plastic, glass, ceramic, stainless steel, copper	Heat-proof glass	Borosilicate glass	Tritan plastic	Stainless steel, ceramic, glass, Tsubame steel	Ceramic	Ceramic	Heat-proof glass	Ceramic
Baseplate included	No	Yes	Yes	Includes carafe	Yes	Yes	Includes carafe and stand	Yes	Includes carafe	Yes
Dishwasher safe	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Filters	Standard conical filters	Conical V60 filters	Conical V60 filters	Double-bonded Chemex filters	Standard conical filters	Flat-bottom wave filters	Standard conical filters	Standard conical filters	Hario handled cloth filters	Conical resin mesh
Weight	6.4 oz	14 oz	17.6 oz	21.6 oz	9 oz	5.6 oz	49 oz	7.2 oz	14 oz	17.6 oz
Dimensions	3.4” x 5.5” x 5.5”	5.5” x 4.7” x 4.0”	4.6" x 4.5" x 5.2"	8.5” x 5.3” x 5.3”	6" x 5" x 6"	2.8’ x 4” x 4.4”	6.0" x 6.7" x 13.8"	3.5” x 4.5” x 4.5”	3.7" x 3.7" x 6.6"	6.2" x 5" x 4.3"
Current Price	$40.00	$20.00	$44.50	$49.50	$25.00	$39.99	$190.00	$23.99	$28.40	$43.50
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Do Not Buy the origami dripper If…

• You’re a pour-over beginner – If you’re just getting started with pour-over brewing, the Clever coffee dripper is the perfect learning tool. Its hybrid design can be used as an immersion brewer like a French press or as a traditional pour-over cone.
• You want a more portable option – To take your pour-over to go, opt for a dripper in a more durable material like the plastic Hario V60 pour-over or metal Kalita Wave 155. Or consider an all-in-one kit like the Wacaco Cuppamoka.

The Verdict

The Origami dripper is a charming device to admire, outshining similar offerings with its iconic folded paper design and bright colors. Though relatively pricey, it’s a versatile brewer that any home barista can quickly master. If you love flavorful pour-over coffee and attractive design, the Origami dripper is well worth the splurge.

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