If you're browsing for a coffee maker, it may shock you to see how many options you have for at-home brewing. Two popular options, and ones you will likely see numerous choices for, are pour-over coffee makers and drip coffee makers. They can look similar and both give you a warm cup of joe, so how would you choose one over the other?

As much as we love a good showdown, you may not have to choose between pour-over coffee vs. drip coffee makers, since each one could have their distinct place in your kitchen. In this case, your schedule and your tastebuds may dictate which one works best for you – or perhaps there's room for both.

Pour-Over Coffee vs. Drip Coffee Makers

Drip Coffee Makers

Drip coffee makers are likely what you think of when picturing automatic brewing. This type of coffee maker gives you a convenient, and often quick, option for brewing a large pot of coffee at once.

To use a drip machine, you first need access to electricity since it requires plugging in. You add the desired amount of water to the water reservoir (which the machine heats for you), place your coffee grinds in the filter, and simply press start and watch it drip into the carafe. It may have convenient extra features, such as a built-in coffee grinder, keep warm plate, or larger 12-cup capacity.

With drip machines, you typically have one or two settings for brew strength but it's mostly a hands-off operation. The temperature of the coffee is largely determined by the factory settings too, which is why it's more challenging to achieve a café-quality taste with a drip machine.

Pour-Over Coffee Makers

Pour-over coffee makers operate in a somewhat similar fashion as a drip, or automatic coffee maker, but with a few distinct differences.

For starters, what is pour-over coffee? A pour-over coffee maker does not require any plugs – it uses a manual, hands-on process to brew coffee. You heat up the water on your own, typically with a tea kettle. You pour the hot water over coffee grinds inside a cone-shaped filter, placed right above an opening to a mug or carafe. The hot water sits while the grinds steep for the amount of time you determine. When the extracting is complete, the coffee drips through to the mug or carafe placed below. To learn more, read our guides What Is Pour Over Coffee & Is It Worth the Effort? and How to Make Pour-Over Coffee for Next-Level Taste.

When to Choose a Pour-Over Coffee vs. Drip Coffee Maker

If you had to choose between one or the other, consider the following factors and how important each one is for your enjoyment:

• Time: Pour-over coffee may offer the same taste you get from your local barista, but it takes time to achieve it. Not only do you have to heat up the water, but you need to let the coffee beans steep and extract the perfect flavor. With drip coffee, you begin brewing right away and can enjoy your first cup within a few moments-perfect for the hectic morning rush.
• Temperature: Pour-over coffee lets you control how hot you want your coffee. Not only is this a personal preference, but the right temperature enhances the flavor of the grinds. You won't have this level of control with drip coffee, which can impact the overall taste.
• Taste:Like temperature, a pour-over coffee maker lets you regulate the strength of the brew. You can choose to steep the grinds longer or shorter and reduce the bitterness and strength. Drip coffee limits the brew strength and taste, simply because of the settings of the machine.
• Traveling: Another advantage pour-over coffee makers offer is portability. Since there is no electricity required for brewing, you can pack up your favorite coffee maker and take it anywhere you go, such as a hotel, camping, or another house.
• Capacity: While there are options for pour-over coffee makers to make two or three cups at a time, drip coffee makers are better for brewing a large pot at once. If you have multiple coffee drinkers in your household-or you want the giant pot all to yourself-a drip machine is usually a better choice.

If your budget allows, you may prefer to keep both types of coffee makers in your kitchen. This way you can use your pour-over coffee maker when you have a special coffee bean you've purchased or a longer amount of time to brew the perfect cup. You can use your drip coffee for the busy morning madness when you're rushing out the door.

Check out all of these accessories and pour-over coffee vs. drip coffee makers so you can settle your own battle of the brews.

Written by Sara Coleman