<p>Capillaric microfluidics offer miniaturization and simplified liquid handling without the need for peripheral equipment. Paper materials like cellulose and nitrocellulose are commonly used as passive pumps in capillaric microfluidics due to their porous structure capable of wicking relatively large volumes of liquid in a compact device footprint. Growing interest in capillaric microfluidics over the past four decades has provided a wide range of self-powered fluidic control elements and expanded the range of available applications. However, the integration of paper pumps with microchannels is an often overlooked and delicate process with tips and tricks – often spread via word of mouth – that can significantly impact the performance and reproducibility of capillaric microfluidics. In this work, we compared fabrication and connection strategies between a 3D printed microfluidic device, nitrocellulose substrate, and cellulose wicking pump to determine the optimal design for reliable and user-friendly handling. Leveraging prior work in the field, we found that a thick cellulose wicking pump, secured to the device and connected to the nitrocellulose substrate using adhesive tape to apply pressure resulted in low variation of the fluid flow within the system. We also showed that overlapping the nitrocellulose with the outlet microchannel produced repeatable results for users of various training levels. These results demonstrate an effective, reliable, and user-friendly microchannel-paper interface that could prove suitable for a broad range of applications, including diagnostic immunoassays. Our characterization and conclusions also offer transparency into a crucial yet under-discussed aspect of capillaric microfluidics design and fabrication.</p>