Ratio Four Full Review (Updated: 2025)
Introduction
The Ratio Four is the newest release from boutique automated pour-over brand, Ratio. The Ratio Four is the first 'half batch' pour-over machine, which means it is designed to brew between 5 and 20 ounces per batch.
Now you might be asking: 'Why is Espresso Setup Chris writing a review for a pour-over machine?"
And you'd be right, this is slightly out of my normal scope, but Ratio did reach out to me to see if I would be interested in writing a review for the Four. And wow am I glad I did, because I absolutely love this little brewer.
So, in this long-term review, we're going to cover the key features of the Ratio Four, why this small machine deserves such big praise, and of course - cover a few of the nitpicks I didn't love.
Let's get brewing
Table of Contents
Ratio Four Overview
Automated Pour Over
As the name suggested, the Ratio Four is an automated pour-over machine. So what does that mean? Essentially the Ratio Four uses an external water reservoir that it heats to brewing temperate. It then runs a bloom cycle to pre-wet and saturates the grounds within the paper filter. After about 15 seconds, the remaining water is poured in to continue extraction.
Small Batch
Compared to the big brother Ratio Eight, the Ratio Four is designed to brew between 5 and 20 ounces. This is wonderful if you're looking for a brewer that will support you, and maybe up to two friends.
The smaller brew size also means a smaller overall footprint. I have my main coffee bar full of espresso gear, so the Ratio Four had to find space elsewhere in my kitchen. The 11.5" height and 7.5" width made it really easy to fit on the side of my counter.
Design & Build
One of my favorite aspects of the Ratio Four is the design. It has a sleek modern look that fits really well in my kitchen without taking up much space. While the body of the Ratio Four is plastic, the carafe is a high-quality glass. And to be honest, for the price, I wouldn't expect anything else.
What I Love About the Ratio Four
Phenomenal Coffee
The most important question with any automated type of machine is: does it make good coffee? For the Ratio Four, the answer is a resounding 'Yes.' When looking at my notes from the day I got it, I quite literally wrote down "Wow, phenomenal." Once you get your grind size and dose dialed in, the Ratio Four brews coffee at a much higher quality than any other automated brewer I've used.
Will it outperform a highly calculated, perfectly extracted traditional Pour Over? Maybe not. But for the effort it takes to brew a cup, this thing really can't be beat.
Perfect Brew Temperature
Another piece that pleasantly surprised me was that the brew temperature is dead on. If I pour out the karafa as soon as I brew, the coffee is hot but not scalding. I was 100% expecting to burn my tongue the first time I took a sip, but damn if this isn't dead on. I really appreciated that. Just note, that if you let it sit for 5-10 minutes, it will cool on you.
Design and Aesthetics
I really can't get over the overall design. Coming from espresso where most all products are boxy and rigid, I really appreciate the design choice here. Of course, one of my favorite pieces is the semi-attached water canister that can go on either side or behind the Ratio Four. While the canister is plastic, it doesn't bother me as the water is not heated until it is piped into the machine.
Another feature that I have yet to use - but is worth mentioning - is that the Ratio Four filter holder is designed to support Hario V60, Kalita Wave, and Origami brewers.
Easy to Clean
When the brewing is complete, I found the Ratio Four to be very easy to clean. I've stopped using French Press because I hate the post-brew clean-up. With the Four, I just dump the paper filter and rinse the karafa and filter holder.
The only call out is that I do not machine wash any of the parts as even the glass carafe has a small plastic foam base padding (which is rather nice!)
Ratio Four Small Misses
So I found a few things I didn't love, but they are all extremely nitpicky. If these are the worst parts of a brewer, I won't complain.
Collects Dust Easily
Although the design is beautiful and the build is sound, I have found the plastic material collects dust easily. I find myself wiping down the Ratio Four quite frequently (much more than my espresso machines).
Strange Cup Measurement Markings
I also have been a little put off by the overall markings on the water canister. It has markings based on cups brewed - 1 through 4. I've found that the 2-cup marking fills up a full 8-10 mug, and the 4-cup is really only enough for 2-3 max. This looks like a slightly documented problem, as it has been mentioned once or twice in the product reviews.
So just be aware that this 'half-batch' is truly a half-batch brewer.
Didn't Come with Filters
One small nitpick is that the Brewer didn't come with a collection of paper filters, and being an espresso guy, I didn't have any on hand. Of course, the filters I got were in the mail, only a day away, but I was impatient and wanted to use the brewer immediately.
Fat Fingers
Part of the beauty of the Ratio Four is its one-button interface. Hit start and it runs a bloom, brew, ready cycle (as indicated by the LEDs). I have found myself fat-fingering the 'start' button when I was inserting or removing the filter holder, starting a cycle when I wasn't ready.
More on the Ratio Four
Can the Ratio Four serve a crowd?
Yes! Back in November of 2024, I hosted a 'caffeine party' with the center of focus on the Ratio Four. Although I wasn't slinging 64 ounces at a time, we were able to serve 4 half-cups for each batch. Given we were changing up beans and experimenting with grind size, it worked out great.
That being said, if you are planning on serving 4+ every day, I'd recommend the full-size Ratio Eight.
Is the Ratio Four difficult to use?
I wouldn't say so at all. Although I didn't have a brief second of confusion looking at the grind size and dose in the beginning, I quickly set my mind to: 17 grams for 2 cups, 36 grams for 4 cups. Of course, this can vary but it is a good rule of thumb.
I also let my sister and brother-in-law play with it when they visited for the holidays. My BIL is also an espresso guy and was very impressed with both the ease-of-use, and the overall flavor.
Where to Buy
The Ratio Four is available on the Ratio Website for $259. You can also get a $20 of coupon with you use code ESB20. Just don't forget to order filters to go with it!
The Final Sip
The Ratio Four has been a delightful surprise as Espresso Chris has stepped away from the world of Espresso. The awesome design, ease of use, and high-quality coffee is not something you usually get at this price point. If you're interested in something a little bit different or don't need pure espresso, I would highly recommend the Ratio Four.
