When you see a new brewer or gadget claiming to "unlock" flavor, ask two questions: Does it change the grind or the water flow? And is the price justified by the material, not the hype?

Most pour-over cones are just plastic, ceramic, or glass with a hole. Expensive versions use better materials or aesthetics, but they don't brew better coffee. The filter shape and your technique do the heavy lifting.

If a product claims to fix bitterness without changing your grind, it's probably marketing. Bitterness comes from over-extraction, which is a grind or time issue, not a brewer issue.