Asobu Pour Over Coffee Maker Review: Is It Worth It?
Hey, Sam here, and this review covers the Asobu Pour Over. Regulars near Di Fara Pizza in Midwood taught me what insulated pour over coffee makers must do.
The Asobu Pour Over is a 32 oz (946 mL) insulated pour over coffee maker, sold as model PO300. A glass cone sits on a vacuum-insulated steel carafe, and a mesh filter replaces paper. Asobu is a drinkware brand based in Montreal, Quebec.
Asobu claims the carafe keeps coffee hot for 12 hours, though one owner reports at least six. Reviews land at 4.0 out of 5 on Amazon from 430 ratings. Rivals from Bodum cost less and carry far more ratings. Prices swing from $33.74 on sale to $74.99 at list.
I explain hot hold, mesh filter and rival prices the way I explain coffee to a regular. No sponsor. Price decides the verdict. The maker suits anyone who wants hot coffee for hours and can find a sale price. The sections below cover the parts, brewing, features, reviews, rivals, safety, cost and who skips it.
What Is the Asobu Pour Over?
The Asobu Pour Over is a 32 oz (946 mL) insulated pour over coffee maker, sold as model PO300. A glass cone sits on a double-wall vacuum carafe. Asobu first funded the design on Kickstarter.
Asobu is a drinkware brand based in Montreal, Quebec. The name comes from a Japanese word tied to fun and play. The brand is best known for vacuum-insulated stainless steel bottles.
The Pour Over reached Kickstarter backers as a preorder at $45 in 2018. Retail listings now run well above that early price.
The brewer stands 9.37 inches (23.8 cm) tall and measures 6.25 inches (15.9 cm) across. The hourglass shape puts the glass cone above the steel carafe. One vessel handles both brewing and serving.
Asobu sells the maker in eight colors: Black, Silver, Copper, Maroon, Midnight Marble, Smoke, Teal and Wood. Several of those colors show as sold out on the Asobu site.
The brewer is fully manual. Water, grounds and a hand pour do the work. No plug, heater or timer is involved.
What Parts Make Up the Asobu Pour Over?
The Asobu Pour Over has five parts: a cone, a filter, a carafe, a collar and a lid. Each part has one clear job in the brew.
The cone is borosilicate glass, a heat-resistant glass. The reusable filter is stainless steel micro mesh. Asobu says the filter replaces paper.
Parts:
- Borosilicate glass cone
- Stainless steel micro mesh filter
- Copper-lined vacuum carafe
- Heat-resistant grip collar
- Stainless steel screw-on lid
The carafe is double-wall, vacuum-insulated stainless steel with a copper lining. A heavy-duty stainless steel lid screws on top. A heat-resistant collar gives the hand a safe grip while the carafe is full.
Asobu also sells a replacement strainer and replacement glass. A cracked cone or a bent filter does not end the life of the carafe.
How Does the Asobu Pour Over Work?
The Asobu Pour Over works by letting hot water drain through coffee grounds and a mesh filter into the carafe below. Gravity does the pulling. No pump or pressure is involved.
This method is called percolation, which means the water passes through the grounds once. A French press works differently because the grounds steep in the water. The Chemex and the Hario V60 use the same gravity method, but they use paper filters.
The Asobu uses a stainless mesh filter instead of paper. The mesh lets coffee oils and a few fine particles into the cup. The cup tastes fuller in body and less clear than a paper-filtered cup. That trait belongs to metal filters in general, not to an Asobu test.
The glass cone holds the filter in place during the bloom, the first wet pause. The same cone stays in place until the pour over brew ends.
The brewer has no switch, so the start and the shut-off are both manual. The user decides when to pour and when to lift the cone.
How Do You Brew With the Asobu Pour Over?
Brewing with the Asobu Pour Over takes a gooseneck kettle of boiled water, freshly ground coffee and a few measuring tools. Those three items are the full list from Asobu.
Retailers describe a coarse grind for this brewer. The Asobu uses a mesh filter, and fine grounds slip through the holes of a mesh. Coarse grounds stay in the cone.
Asobu publishes no ratio, water temperature or brew time in the pages found. The Specialty Coffee Association guide is 55 g of coffee per liter of water, or about 1:18. For 946 mL, that is about 52 g of coffee. Treat this figure as general guidance, not an Asobu spec.
Brewing guides set water at 195 to 205°F (90 to 96°C) at contact with the grounds. That range sits just off the boil. This too is general guidance, not an Asobu spec.
The steps run in order. Add grounds to the cone, then pour a little water to bloom them. Next, pour in slow circles until the carafe is full. Lift the cone and screw on the lid.
What Are the Asobu Pour Over's Main Features?
The Asobu Pour Over has four main features: a reusable mesh filter, an insulated carafe, a leakproof lid and a grip collar. Asobu also lists the build as 100% BPA free.
Staples lists the capacity as 4 cups. That matches the 32 oz (946 mL) size when each cup is 8 oz (237 mL). Staples also lists the warranty as one year.
A full carafe yields four 8 oz (237 mL) cups. Smaller pours stretch the same brew further. In 5 oz (148 mL) tasting cups, the carafe fills about six. The brewer has no electric parts.
How Long Does the Asobu Pour Over Keep Coffee Hot?
The Asobu Pour Over keeps coffee hot for up to 12 hours by Asobu's own claim. Amazon and Newegg both repeat the 12 hour figure.
The claim is not consistent. A Staples bullet says up to 8 hours, while the text of the same listing says 12 hours. A buyer who reads only one part of that listing gets a different answer. A buyer who reads the other part gets another.
One owner quoted by SheKnows said the coffee stays warm for at least six hours. That report is a single owner at a remote cabin, not a timed test.
Hot-hold figures:
| Source | Claim |
|---|---|
| Asobu, Amazon, Newegg | Up to 12 hours |
| Staples bullet | Up to 8 hours |
| Owner quoted by SheKnows | At least 6 hours |
No independent temperature test was found, so none of these numbers has been checked. Six hours is the best-supported figure, and 12 hours is the maker's ceiling.
Does the Asobu Pour Over Mesh Filter Work Well?
Yes. The Asobu Pour Over mesh filter blocks grounds and particles from reaching the cup, by Asobu's description. The filter replaces a paper liner.
Asobu says dropping paper gives a clean, crisp taste.
No independent test of fines or clarity was found. A coarse grind keeps most fine grounds out of the carafe.
What Are the Benefits of the Asobu Pour Over?
The main benefits of the Asobu Pour Over are less paper filter waste and a hot carafe without a warming plate. Two ongoing costs drop away at once.
A warming plate keeps heating coffee after the brew ends. That long heat dulls the flavor of the cup. The vacuum carafe holds heat without a heating element, so the last cup tastes close to the first.
The reusable mesh filter removes the paper filter purchase. Paper filters must be bought again and again, and the mesh filter is used over and over. The vacuum carafe also replaces a heated plate that keeps cooking the coffee.
The maker brews and serves from one vessel, so the coffee never moves to a second pot. The grip collar and the screw lid make pouring from the carafe easy.
The brewer has no electric parts, so it has no heating element or board to fail. The tradeoff is that the brewer needs a kettle and a hand pour.
Is the Asobu Pour Over Good for Travel?
Yes. The Asobu Pour Over suits travel because the screw-on lid is leakproof and the carafe is insulated. Asobu calls the lid 100% spill proof.
Listings point to work, school and travel as common uses. One owner uses the maker at a remote cabin, which suits a brewer with no cord.
Size works against those uses. The maker stands 9.37 inches (23.8 cm) tall, so it takes up room in a bag. The cone is glass, so it can break when packed.
What Do Asobu Pour Over Reviews Say?
Asobu Pour Over reviews land at 4.0 out of 5 on Amazon from 430 ratings. Amazon also shows more than 100 bought in the past month.
The recent sales figure adds that people are still buying the product now.
The other two sources have less behind them. The Asobu site shows 4.9 on the Silver product page, but it gives no count. Without a count, the reader cannot tell whether 4.9 comes from a few reviews or many. Walmart shows 4.5 stars from 14 reviews, which is a small sample.
Ratings:
| Source | Rating | Sample |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | 4.0 | 430 ratings |
| Asobu site, Silver page | 4.9 | No count shown |
| Walmart | 4.5 | 14 reviews |
Detailed hands-on tests are rare. Most written coverage comes from retailer pages and a single sale story.
What Do Owners Like About the Asobu Pour Over?
Owners of the Asobu Pour Over like the heat hold, the handle top and the clean design. Three points stand out, and each comes from a quoted owner:
- Heat hold: One owner said the coffee stays warm for at least six hours. This owner uses the maker at a remote cabin.
- Handle top: Another owner liked the interchangeable top with a handle.
- Clean design: A third owner called the design clean and said the pouring handle works better than pouring from the glass carafe.
All three points describe daily use, not lab results. No owner quote gave a measured temperature.
What Are the Common Complaints About the Asobu Pour Over?
The common complaints about the Asobu Pour Over center on price swings, glass fragility and unclear heat claims. A 4.0 Amazon average means some buyers rated it lower.
Prices run from $33.74 on sale to $74.99 list to $129.80 from a third-party seller. Buyers who pay the high end judge the maker harder, because the cost raises what they expect from it.
The cone is glass, so a drop can crack it. Asobu sells replacement glass, so a break does not mean buying the whole maker again. That softens the loss.
Heat claims are the third complaint. The 12 hour and 8 hour heat claims differ between listings. A buyer who expects 12 hours can end up disappointed when the coffee stays hot for less time.
How Does the Asobu Pour Over Compare to Rival Pour Over Makers?
The Asobu Pour Over costs more than most glass rivals and stands apart by its insulated steel carafe. The Bodum 34 oz line is the closest named rival.
The Asobu costs $74.99 and holds a 4.0 rating from 430 ratings. Its carafe is vacuum steel.
The Bodum 34 oz with a black band costs $31.71 and holds a 4.5 rating from 12,474 ratings. The cork grip version costs $39.71 with 4.4 from 17,806 ratings. Both use single glass and cost less than the Asobu. They also earn higher ratings from far more buyers.
Bodum also sells a double-wall cork grip model for $68.77, with 4.4 from 2,372 ratings. It costs $6.22 less than the Asobu and rates higher.
The Amazon Basics 1 L maker costs $30.18 with 4.2 from 145 ratings. It is also single glass, so it sits at the low end of the price range.
Rival prices:
| Maker | Price | Rating | Carafe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asobu Pour Over | $74.99 | 4.0 (430) | Vacuum steel |
| Bodum 34 oz, black band | $31.71 | 4.5 (12,474) | Single glass |
| Bodum 34 oz, cork grip | $39.71 | 4.4 (17,806) | Single glass |
| Bodum double wall, cork grip | $68.77 | 4.4 (2,372) | Double wall |
| Amazon Basics 1 L | $30.18 | 4.2 (145) | Single glass |
Asobu Pour Over vs Bodum Pour Over: Which Is Better?
The Asobu Pour Over wins on heat hold, while the Bodum pour over wins on price and rating count. The better pick depends on whether hot hours matter.
The Asobu carafe is vacuum insulated, which means a sealed gap of empty space slows heat loss. The base Bodum glass carafe is not vacuum insulated. Coffee in that carafe cools faster.
Price is close between the two. The Bodum double wall costs $68.77, and the Asobu lists at $74.99.
Rating counts differ far more. The Asobu has 430 ratings, while the Bodum black band has 12,474. The larger count gives the Bodum a longer record of buyer feedback.
Is the Asobu Pour Over Safe to Use?
Yes. The Asobu Pour Over is safe to use and is listed as 100% BPA free. Asobu also cites FDA, SGS and Prop 65 approval. All of those claims come from the maker.
The carafe is made of stainless steel, and Asobu says it leaves no metal taste.
The cone that holds the grounds is borosilicate glass. This glass handles boiling water, so hot water can pour through it without trouble.
The steel body still holds heat, so pour with care. A heat-resistant collar helps with gripping the hot carafe.
Is the Asobu Pour Over Dishwasher Safe?
Yes. The Asobu Pour Over is listed as dishwasher safe on retail pages. Asobu also calls the parts easy to hand clean.
Hand washing is the gentler choice for the glass cone and the mesh filter. Both parts can get knocked around in a dishwasher rack, and washing by hand protects them from those knocks.
A bottle brush reaches the inside of the carafe.
The official manual was not found. The box insert holds any part-specific care note.
How Much Does the Asobu Pour Over Cost?
The Asobu Pour Over costs $74.99 on the Asobu site in every color. Street prices run well below and above that figure.
Retailers set their own prices, so the same brewer sells for different amounts. A SheKnows story from May 2022 showed a Nordstrom Rack price of $33.74, down from $54.95. That sale price was less than half of the Asobu list price. Newegg went the other way and listed a third-party offer at $129.80.
Bulk buyers face a different price again. A reseller quotes $68.96 each at 24 units with logo printing. That price suits a corporate gift, not a home buyer.
Price points:
| Source | Price |
|---|---|
| Asobu site list price | $74.99 |
| Nordstrom Rack sale, May 2022 | $33.74 |
| Nordstrom Rack original price | $54.95 |
| Newegg third-party seller | $129.80 |
| Reseller, 24 units with logo | $68.96 each |
Is the Asobu Pour Over Worth the Price?
Yes. The Asobu Pour Over is worth the price near $34 to $40, and a stretch at $74.99. Rivals sell for $31.71 to $39.71.
Those rival prices set the bar for a fair deal. At a sale price near $34, the Asobu costs about the same as its rivals. The insulation comes almost free.
At the $74.99 list price, the picture changes. The maker then costs more than double a basic Bodum.
That makes the heat claim the real test of value. Six hours is supported by an owner. The maker alone claims 12 hours, and no other source backs that figure.
Is the Asobu Pour Over Worth It?
Yes. The Asobu Pour Over is worth it at sale prices for anyone who wants hot pour over coffee for hours. At full price the case is weaker.
The strengths are the insulated carafe, the reusable filter and the leakproof lid. An owner report supports six hours of warmth.
Pros:
- Insulated carafe keeps coffee hot for hours
- Reusable mesh filter replaces paper
- Leakproof lid for carrying
- No electric parts to fail
Cons:
- No independent hot-hold test
- $74.99 list price is high for the category
- Glass cone can break if dropped
The gaps are the missing independent hot-hold test and the $74.99 list price. Rivals cost about half as much.
Who Should Skip the Asobu Pour Over?
Buyers who want a proven 12 hour hold skip the Asobu Pour Over. Three kinds of buyers skip it:
- Buyers who want a proven 12 hour hold: The 12 hour figure comes from the maker, and listings disagree on it.
- Buyers who want the lowest cost brewer: The Bodum and Amazon Basics makers cost $30.18 to $39.71.
- Buyers who want a rugged all-metal brewer: The borosilicate glass cone breaks if dropped.
A sale price near $34 changes the second case. At that price, the Asobu costs about the same as its rivals.
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