Origami Air Coffee Dripper

The Origami Air is the lightest and toughest dripper in the Origami range, taking the Japanese brand's famous pleated design and reworking it in AS resin. It weighs roughly half as much as its porcelain siblings, and shrugs off the knocks and drops that would finish off a ceramic brewer. Take it to a busy café, throw it in a travel bag, or leave it on the kitchen counter: it holds up. It has serious competition credentials too: 2018 World Barista Champion Agnieszka Rojewska chose the Air M for its stability and the recipe flexibility it gave her on stage.

Those distinctive folds aren't just for looks. The 20 ribs running down the inside of the cone hold the filter paper away from the walls, creating channels that let air escape and water drain freely. Push towards a fast, bright, clean cup, or slow things down for more body and sweetness, just by adjusting your grind and pour. AS resin also has a practical edge over porcelain when it comes to heat: it doesn't draw as much warmth out of your brew water, so the slurry holds a more stable temperature from bloom to drawdown, no preheating needed.

The Air comes in two sizes. The S brews 1 to 2 cups, up to around 300ml: perfect for a morning mug. The M brews 2 to 4 cups, up to around 500ml: the better choice for sharing or batch brewing into a server. Choose from matte black, matte grey, matte beige, matte green, matte pink, or clear, so you can watch the coffee bed and flow as you brew. It's made in Japan, dishwasher-safe and works with a wide range of filter papers, from Origami's own cup-sized papers to Kalita Wave and Hario cone filters. Pair it with a bag of our filter roasts and a good pouring kettle, and you're set for some seriously clean pour over.

• Brand: Origami
• Model: Dripper Air
• Brew method: Pour over (hand filter)
• Material: AS resin (acrylonitrile styrene)
• Country of manufacture: Japan
• Internal ribs: 20
• Outlet hole diameter: 25mm (both sizes)
• Size S: Φ118mm x H70mm, approx. 64g, brews 1 to 2 cups, up to 300ml
• Size M: Φ142mm x H87mm, approx. 90g, brews 2 to 4 cups, up to 500ml
• Weight relative to ceramic: Approximately 50% of an equivalent Origami ceramic dripper
• Colour options: Clear, Matte Black, Matte Grey, Matte Beige, Matte Green, Matte Pink
• Filter compatibility (S): Origami 2 Cup papers, 155 Kalita Wave filters, Hario 01 cone filters
• Filter compatibility (M): Origami 4 Cup papers, 185 Kalita Wave filters, Hario 02 cone filters
• Care: Dishwasher-safe, not microwave-safe
• Manufacturer part codes (S): 78021200 (Clear), 78021217 (Matte Black), 78021224 (Matte Beige), 78021231 (Matte Grey), 78021248 (Matte Pink), 78021255 (Matte Green)
• Manufacturer part codes (M): 78022474 (Clear), 78022481 (Matte Black), 78022498 (Matte Beige), 78022504 (Matte Grey), 78022511 (Matte Pink), 78022528 (Matte Green)

Should I choose the Origami Air S or M?

The S brews 1 to 2 cups, up to around 300ml, and suits single mugs and smaller doses. The M brews 2 to 4 cups, up to around 500ml, giving more headroom for larger doses and brewing for others. If you mostly brew for yourself, the S is the easier choice; if you share or like a bigger brew, go for the M.

What filter papers does the Origami Air use?

The S works with Origami's own 2 Cup papers, 155-size Kalita Wave filters and Hario 01 cone filters. The M works with Origami's 4 Cup papers, 185-size Kalita Wave filters and Hario 02 cone filters. Use whichever filter shape suits your taste: a cone for faster flow, a wave for a gentler drawdown.

What's the difference between the Origami Air and the ceramic Origami dripper?

Both share the same 20-rib pleated design. The Air is made from AS resin, so it's around half the weight, far more impact-resistant and doesn't pull as much heat from your brew water. The ceramic version offers the classic glazed look and feel, but benefits from preheating before you brew.

Is the Origami Air dishwasher-safe?

Yes, Origami confirms the Air is dishwasher-safe. It is not suitable for the microwave.

Does the Origami Air need preheating?

Unlike ceramic, the resin body absorbs very little heat, so preheating the dripper itself isn't essential. We'd still recommend rinsing your filter paper with hot water before brewing to remove any papery taste and warm your server or mug.

What's a good recipe to start with?

For the S, try 15g of medium-fine coffee to 250ml of water. Bloom with around 50ml for 30 seconds, then pour the rest in two stages, aiming to finish drawdown at around 2:30 to 3:00. For the M, try 24g of coffee to 400ml of water, again with a 50g and 30 second bloom, then pour the remainder in three stages. Grind finer to slow things down, coarser to speed up, or get creative and change up your pouring pattern or even pour structure!

Why are there 20 ribs inside the dripper?

The ribs keep the filter paper from sticking to the dripper walls, leaving channels for air and water to move through. This keeps flow consistent and gives you more control over extraction than a smooth-walled brewer.

Is there a difference between the clear and matte versions?

Only in looks. All colours share the same AS resin construction, dimensions and brewing performance. The clear version lets you watch the coffee bed and flow while you brew.

I've noticed a small rough edge inside the outlet hole. Is it faulty?

No. Origami notes that the production process can leave tiny burrs inside the bottom hole. They don't affect brewing and are not considered a defect.

Is the Origami Air good for travel?

Very. At around 64g for the S and 90g for the M, and tough enough to survive being dropped, it's one of the best pour over drippers to pack for trips, camping or the office.