Asayu Japan Pour Over Set Review: Is It Worth It?
Hi there, I'm Sam, and today I review Asayu Japan. The Asayu Japan Pour Over Set is a single-cup ceramic coffee dripper with a matching mug. Potters in Gifu, Japan, make the pieces in the Mino ware style.
I visited the café streets of Tel Aviv and came home with new ideas about ceramic pour over drippers. The three-hole dripper follows a five-step recipe that takes 2 to 3 minutes. The two pieces weigh about 530 g (18.7 oz), and Amazon buyers rate the set 4.3 out of 5.
Here are brew recipe, heat retention and care notes, plus my honest verdict. No brand read this review first. Filters are not included, and rivals such as the Kalita 102 sell the dripper alone. The sections below cover size, cleaning, cost and who should skip the set.
What Is the Asayu Japan Pour Over Set?
The Asayu Japan Pour Over Set is a single-cup ceramic coffee dripper paired with a matching mug, made in Gifu, Japan. The dripper holds a paper filter above the mug. Hot water passes through the coffee and the filter, and the brewed coffee drips straight into the mug below.
Asayu Japan sells the set as a manual pour over brewer. The user adds ground coffee to a paper filter and pours hot water by hand. The brewer has no electric parts, so nothing needs to be plugged in.
Both pieces are ceramic. The dripper measures 120 x 97 x 65 mm (4.7 x 3.8 x 2.6 in) and weighs 270 g (9.5 oz). The mug measures 120 x 88 x 85 mm (4.7 x 3.5 x 3.3 in) and weighs 265 g (9.3 oz).
The set comes in four glazes:
- Dark navy blue
- Caramel
- Ocean
- Chrome red
Who Makes the Asayu Set?
Japanese potters in Gifu Prefecture make each piece of the Asayu set, and Wazakura Japan Inc. sells it under the Asayu brand. The company is based in Hakata-ku, Fukuoka. Its US representative is THREE R US LLC in Lewes, Delaware.
The name Asayu is written with the Japanese characters for morning and evening. The brand describes its line as 100% Made in Japan wellness and self-care products. The ceramic pieces come from artisans in Toki, a city known for pottery for 1,300 years.
The place of origin appears in two forms. The brand's store lists a Mizunami, Gifu origin for the dripper. The Amazon listings name Toki, Gifu. Toki and Mizunami are both in Gifu Prefecture, so Gifu is the consistent origin.
What Comes in the Asayu Set?
The Asayu set comes with two ceramic pieces: one dripper and one mug in a matching glaze. Paper filters are sold separately, and the listings name no filter size. Ground coffee and hot water are also extra.
The Amazon Japan listing counts the set as two items with a combined weight of 530 g (18.7 oz). That figure is close to the 270 g and 265 g listed for the single pieces.
In the Box:
- Dripper: One ceramic dripper with three holes.
- Mug: One matching ceramic mug.
- Glaze: A glaze in dark navy, caramel, ocean or chrome red.
Colors vary by listing. Dark navy blue, caramel, ocean and chrome red sets all appear in marketplace listings. The brand states that glazes shift in the kiln, so each piece looks slightly different.
How Does the Asayu Japan Pour Over Set Work?
The Asayu Japan Pour Over Set works by letting hot water drip through ground coffee in a paper filter, and the coffee falls into the mug below. The dripper sits on top of the mug. Three holes in the dripper base control the flow.
Gravity pulls the water down through the grounds. The paper filter catches fine particles, so the cup comes out clean.
The three holes also set how fast the dripper drains. Kalita pairs three holes with a wedge shape, which encourages smooth extraction. The Asayu dripper uses the same three-hole layout.
How Do You Brew With the Asayu Set?
Users brew with the Asayu set in five steps, finishing in about 2 to 3 minutes. The brand lists about 10 g (0.35 oz) of ground coffee and 120 ml (4 fl oz) of hot water per pour. The result is one small cup.
The user first places a paper filter in the dripper. Next the user adds about 10 g of ground coffee. A little hot water wets all the grounds, and the bloom lasts about 30 seconds.
The user then pours 120 ml (4 fl oz) of hot water in a spiral from the center to the outer edge. The coffee bed drips until it stops. The brand says to repeat the pour two or three times.
Steps:
- Place a paper filter in the dripper.
- Add about 10 g of ground coffee.
- Wet all the grounds with hot water and wait about 30 seconds.
- Pour 120 ml of hot water in a spiral from the center outward.
- Repeat the pour two or three times.
Warming the dripper and mug with a splash of hot water first keeps the brew temperature steady. Ceramic takes heat from the water it meets.
Two or three pours of 120 ml add up to 240 to 360 ml (8 to 12 fl oz) of water. The mug has a listed capacity of 320 ml (10.8 fl oz). The grounds absorb some water, so the final cup is smaller than the water poured.
What Are the Features of the Asayu Japan Pour Over Set?
The Asayu Japan Pour Over Set offers a three-hole ceramic dripper, a matching ceramic mug and Mino ware glazing. Both pieces are microwave safe. Every piece is made in Japan.
The mug sits under the dripper during brewing, so the two pieces work as one system. The mug also serves as an everyday cup for coffee, tea or cocoa. The dripper handles tea as well.
Some glazes show pointy cracks. The brand calls these cracks an intended result of the artisan process, not a defect.
What Is the Asayu Set Made Of?
The Asayu set is made of ceramic, fired in the Mino ware style in Gifu Prefecture. Mino ware is a pottery tradition more than 1,300 years old. The listings describe it as a protected traditional craft of Gifu.
Japan made that protection official in 1978, when it designated Mino ware a traditional craft. The designation covers 15 types of Mino-yaki, including Oribe, Kizeto and Setoguro. Production centers on the Gifu cities of Tajimi and Toki.
The listings do not agree on the exact material. The Moabrew listing names it as porcelain. Amazon and the brand's own pages say ceramic.
Mino ware is known for innovative glazes and unusual shapes and colors. Kiln temperature changes the color, size and weight of each piece slightly. For that reason, no two pieces match exactly.
What Size Is the Asayu Set?
The Asayu set has a single-cup size, with a dripper of 120 x 97 x 65 mm (4.7 x 3.8 x 2.6 in) and a mug of 120 x 88 x 85 mm (4.7 x 3.5 x 3.3 in). The pieces weigh 270 g (9.5 oz) and 265 g (9.3 oz). Together they weigh about 530 g (18.7 oz).
Size and Weight:
| Piece | Size | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Dripper | 120 x 97 x 65 mm (4.7 x 3.8 x 2.6 in) | 270 g (9.5 oz) |
| Mug | 120 x 88 x 85 mm (4.7 x 3.5 x 3.3 in) | 265 g (9.3 oz) |
| Set of two | Two pieces | About 530 g (18.7 oz) |
Dimension listings differ between pages. The brand's own dripper page lists 125 x 125 x 48 mm (4.9 x 4.9 x 1.9 in) and 265 g (9.35 oz). The brand states that kiln conditions cause small variations in size and weight.
Capacity fields conflict across listings. One Amazon page gives 80 ml (2.7 fl oz), and the Amazon Japan page gives 320 ml (10.8 fl oz). The 320 ml figure fits the brewing recipe better.
Does the Asayu Japan Pour Over Set Make Good Coffee?
Yes. The Asayu Japan Pour Over Set makes good single-cup coffee, and Amazon buyers rate the set 4.3 out of 5. The dripper is a plain manual cone with three holes. Because it has no special parts, the cup depends on grind, water temperature and pour speed.
The brand's recipe shows how much those choices matter. It lists 10 g (0.35 oz) of coffee once. It repeats the 120 ml (4 fl oz) pour two or three times. If the dose stays at 10 g, the ratio runs from 1 g per 24 ml to 1 g per 36 ml. The full brew takes 2 to 3 minutes.
The Specialty Coffee Association's Golden Cup Standard gives a point of comparison. It points to 55 g of coffee per liter of water, or 1:18, at 195 to 205°F (90 to 96°C). The Asayu recipe lands on the weak side of that ratio unless the user adds more coffee. A scale lets the user adjust the dose.
Ratings add some support, but only a little. The Amazon Japan listing for the set shows 4.4 stars from 9 ratings. The mug-only listing on Amazon.com shows 4.8 stars. Small rating counts limit what the scores prove.
Does the Asayu Set Hold Heat?
Yes. The Asayu set holds heat through its ceramic body, and the dripper weighs 270 g (9.5 oz). Ceramic is a dense material. The mug is also safe to heat in a microwave.
Japanese Taste credits the Kalita ceramic dripper with durable heat retention. The same page lists that dripper at 280 g (9.9 oz). The Asayu dripper is close to that weight. The weight comes from the same dense ceramic that holds the heat.
Plastic drippers show the other side of this trade. The Kalita plastic 102 dripper is listed at 68 g (2.4 oz). It is much lighter, but plastic gives up the heat retention that ceramic offers.
What Do Asayu Japan Pour Over Set Reviews Say?
Asayu Japan Pour Over Set reviews rate the set between 4.3 and 4.4 stars out of 5 on Amazon. The US listing for the dripper and mug set shows 4.3. The Japanese listing shows 4.4 from 9 ratings.
The brand's store lists 7 reviews for the set and 2 for the dripper alone. Both dripper reviews are five stars.
Review counts stay small compared with rivals. The Kalita Mino ware dripper on Amazon Japan lists 816 ratings at 4.6 stars.
What Are the Common Complaints About the Asayu Set?
The common complaints about the Asayu set involve glaze variation, filters sold separately and conflicting care notes. Each issue comes from the listings themselves. The listings point to three complaints:
- Glaze variation: Glaze varies from piece to piece. The brand says glazes shift in the kiln. Some dripper glazes show pointy cracks that the brand calls intended.
- Filters sold separately: Filters are not part of the set and must be bought apart.
- Conflicting care notes: The US listing calls the set microwave and dishwasher safe. The Amazon Japan listing marks the set as not dishwasher safe.
None of them stops the set from brewing.
How Does the Asayu Japan Pour Over Set Compare to Rivals?
The Asayu Japan Pour Over Set stands apart from rivals by including a matching mug. Most rivals, such as the Kalita Ceramic Dripper 102 and the Hario V60 glass dripper, sell the dripper alone. The Asayu set suits buyers who want both pieces.
A buyer who wants only a dripper will compare the dripper designs. The Kalita Ceramic Dripper 102 uses a wedge shape, ribbed inner walls and three holes. Its listing calls the dripper the most classic pour over coffee maker. It serves 2 to 4 cups with #102 filters. The ceramic is prone to chips.
The Hario V60 takes a different approach to the holes. It uses a cone shape with one large hole and spiral ribs, which lengthen contact between water and grounds. The ceramic V60 is made in Arita, Japan. Size 02 fits 1 to 4 cups.
The Kalita Wave 185 changes the shape of the bed itself. It uses a flat bottom with a wave filter for even extraction. The Asayu dripper uses a three-hole base, like the Kalita 102.
Dripper Comparison:
| Dripper | Shape | Cups |
|---|---|---|
| Asayu set | Three-hole base | Single cup |
| Kalita Ceramic Dripper 102 | Wedge, three holes | 2 to 4 |
| Hario V60 02 ceramic | Cone, one large hole | 1 to 4 |
How Does the Asayu Set Compare to the Kalita Mino Ware Dripper?
The Asayu set compares to the Kalita Mino ware dripper as a two-piece set against a single dripper. The Kalita Mino ware dripper belongs to the Wave series and serves 1 to 2 people. Both are made in Japan from Mino ware pottery.
The Asayu set adds a mug to the dripper. The Kalita dripper has no mug, but it adds a wave filter design. This difference in what each one includes decides who should pick which.
A buyer who already owns a mug can compare the dripper alone. A buyer who wants a ready pair chooses the Asayu set.
Ratings on Amazon Japan add another point. The Kalita dripper lists 4.6 stars from 816 ratings. The Asayu set lists 4.4 stars from 9 ratings. The larger count makes the Kalita score more reliable.
How Do You Clean and Care for the Asayu Japan Pour Over Set?
Users care for the Asayu Japan Pour Over Set by keeping both pieces away from direct flame and ovens. The listing bars both. The set is microwave safe.
The pieces are ceramic, and the brand's pages describe them as microwave, freezer, dishwasher and dish dryer safe. Open burner stoves and ovens are not safe.
Cleaning is simple because the set uses paper filters. The filter holds the used grounds, so the user lifts it out and discards it. The grounds leave with the paper, and the dripper and mug then need only a rinse or a wash.
Is the Asayu Set Dishwasher Safe?
Yes. The Asayu set is dishwasher safe on the brand's US listing, though the Japanese listing says it is not. The brand's own pages list the pieces as dishwasher safe. The Amazon Japan page marks the dishwasher field as no.
Dishwasher Notes:
| Listing | Dishwasher |
|---|---|
| Amazon.com listing | Safe |
| Brand pages | Safe |
| Amazon Japan listing | Not safe |
The brand's pages also list the pieces as dish dryer safe and freezer safe. They are not safe on an open burner or in an oven.
Hand washing removes the conflict between the two listings. A hand wash also needs no extra equipment. The set is small enough for a sink.
How Much Does the Asayu Japan Pour Over Set Cost?
The Asayu Japan Pour Over Set costs less as a set than the dripper and mug cost bought one at a time, based on the brand's own store. The store lists the set below the sum of the two single pieces. Buyers pay for the dripper and mug together.
A single listing from a US reseller shows why the set price needs care. It lists a dark navy Asayu item at $44.79. The description on that page covers only the mug. The price therefore does not represent the full set.
The set price also leaves out some costs. The set includes no filters, so paper filters cost extra. Ground coffee costs extra too. A buyer needs a kettle and a scale for a repeatable pour.
Where to Buy the Asayu Set?
Shoppers buy the Asayu set where Amazon, asayujapan.com and resellers such as Moabrew sell it. Amazon lists the set in the US, Japan, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. Etsy also carries a caramel listing.
The brand's own store is based in Japan, so orders ship from abroad. The store says delivery cost and import duties, if any, appear at checkout. The US representative is THREE R US LLC in Delaware.
Amazon.com lists free returns on the set for new and unused items. Moabrew asks buyers to make contact within 14 days of delivery.
Reseller pages repeat the manufacturer's text and vary in price. The brand's store and Amazon give the clearest specifications. Color availability differs by seller.
Is the Asayu Japan Pour Over Set Worth It?
Yes. The Asayu Japan Pour Over Set is worth it for a single-cup brewer who wants a Japanese ceramic pair. It is a weaker pick for anyone who wants proven brew data. The set works best as a gift or a desk brewer.
The strengths are real. The pieces are Mino ware from Gifu. The mug matches the dripper, and the brand's store prices the set below the parts.
The drawbacks are also clear. Filters are not included, and the review counts are small. The care notes conflict, and the set brews one cup at a time.
Pros:
- Mino ware pieces from Gifu
- Matching mug and dripper
- Set priced below the separate pieces
Cons:
- Paper filters not included
- Small review counts
- Conflicting care notes
- One cup at a time
Who Should Skip the Asayu Set?
Households that brew for two or more should skip the Asayu set, because the dripper makes one cup at a time. The listing calls the set a single cup pour over set. A group would have to brew again and again to fill every mug. Larger drippers such as the Zero Japan 3 to 4 cup model suit groups.
Buyers who need a light travel brewer should also skip the set. The Asayu dripper weighs 270 g (9.5 oz). The Kalita plastic 102 weighs 68 g (2.4 oz).
Buyers who want a large review base should look at the Kalita Mino ware dripper, which lists 816 ratings. The Asayu set lists just 9 ratings on Amazon Japan.
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