How to Use a Hario V60

Curious to try the HARIO V60? We have everything you need to know about this popular coffee dripper, from the pros and cons (because every coffee brewing method has them) to comparisons with similar products.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• What Is a Hario V60?
• Hario V60 Accessories
• How to Use a Hario V60
• The Best Coffee for a Hario V60
• How to Clean a Hario V60
• Hario V60 Comparisons

What Is a Hario V60?

Made in Japan, the Hario V60 is a coffee dripper. It operates similarly to a drip coffee machine, but doesn’t require electricity. The carafe is made of heat-resistant glass, while the funnel (the actual V60) is glass, ceramic or plastic. While the HARIO V60 requires patience and attention, it’s fairly easy to use and makes a clean cup of coffee every time.  

There are three Hario V60 sizes—01, 02 and 03—with a minimal price difference between each. Each one makes a slightly different amount of coffee:

• HARIO V60 01: 1-2 cups 
• HARIO V60 02: 1-4 cups 
• HARIO V60 03: 1-6 cups

Tip: ‘Cups’ as defined by the brand are very modest; for reference, from our experience, the V60 02 (which is considered the standard size) can comfortably make 600 ml of coffee, though you’ll get a better coffee if you make 300 to 400 ml. 

Hario V60 Accessories

While the Hario V60 is inexpensive, there’s a bit of an initial investment in using one, as it requires other gear.

• Carafe or Mug: You can buy the complementary carafe by Hario, though a standard coffee cup also works just fine. 
• V60 Paper Filters: Hario V60 paper filters are easy to find on Amazon, with generic versions available as well.
• Scale: Try one of these coffee scales for the best accuracy. 
• Gooseneck Kettle: We recommend an electric gooseneck kettle, though a stovetop gooseneck kettle is fine to use, too.
• Grinder: Purchase a burr grinder for the best results. 
• Coffee: Last, but never least, use fresh coffee and grind to table salt consistency. 

How to Use a Hario V60

1. Heat Your Water

Set your kettle to boil, or if you’re using a temperature controlled kettle, to 205°F.

2. Prepare the Filter

Fold your paper filter at the seam. Place it inside of the V60 dripper atop your carafe or mug. Rinse the filter with heated water to remove the paper smell/taste and heat the carafe. Pour out the rinse water from your carafe.

3. Measure Your Coffee

Tare your scale and add 20g (or 4 tbsp) freshly ground coffee into the filter. Give it a gentle shake to level out the grounds. Tare your scale again.

4. Calculate Your Ratio

We like to start with a 1:15 coffee-to-water ratio. This means for the 20g coffee in, we’ll use 300g (or 11oz) water. Aim for your brew to finish between 2:45 to 3:30 minutes.

5. Let Your Kettle Cool

If using boiling water, allow the kettle to sit off the stove for 30 seconds to cool.

6. Start the Brew

There will be three pours in total. This is the first. Start your timer and bloom the coffee by pouring 50g of your heated water onto the grounds, starting in the center of the coffee and working your way out. This first pour, called the “bloom”, should be about double the weight of your coffee. The goal here is to saturate all of the grounds. Let bloom for 30 seconds and enjoy the aroma! 

Tip: It's important to have a slow, controlled pour, which is why we recommend using a gooseneck kettle when making coffee with the Hario V60.

7. Pour Your Next Round of Water

Do this in the same concentric fashion and use around half of your remaining water. As the coffee drains down, repeat this for your last pour to finish up with your goal weight: 300g. 

Tip: Try not to let the coffee bed completely drain in between pours. If the coffee is draining too quickly, make your grind finer, and vice versa. 

8. Let the Coffee Finish Dripping

Then compost the filter and remove the dripper.

9. Serve

Give the carafe or cup a swirl to incorporate the coffee, and enjoy! 

The Best Coffee for a Hario V60

Coffees across the roast spectrum can shine in a Hario V60. It’s a popular brewing device from neighborhood cafes to national competition stages. We find that light to medium dark roasts shine in the Hario V60. The V60’s thin paper filter and relatively quick, three-minute extraction allow the complexity and nuances in light to medium roasts to come through. 

How to Clean a Hario V60

It’s best to hand wash the HARIO V60 with mild unscented soap and warm water. If it’s extra dirty, you can try a mix of baking soda and water to clean it. 

Hario V60 Comparisons

Hario V60 vs. Chemex

• Design: The V60 is a standalone filter that can sit on top of a coffee mug or carafe, while the Chemex is a single piece of blown glass that includes both the filter and the decanter.
• Taste: Chemex uses a particularly thick filter paper. which makes for a cleaner (albeit slower) brew with less coffee oils. The HARIO V60 also uses a paper filter, but this tends to be thinner and as such, has a quicker brew time. 
• Capacity: The Hario V60 02 size will brew at maximum 3 small cups. For larger groups, opt for a Chemex.

HARIO V60 vs. Kalita Wave 

• Design: While the V60 has a single large hole at the bottom of the brewer, the Kalita Wave has three smaller holes within a flat base. A V60 is sometimes referred to as a conical brewer, while the Wave is a flat-bottomed brewer. 
• Extraction: Due to the large single hole, the V60 tends toward a faster extraction and is less forgiving. The speed of extraction is governed exclusively by the size and consistency of the grind and the pouring technique. The Kalita Wave operates similarly to a pressurized portafilter and the three small holes make for a more even extraction. For this reason, the Kalita Wave can be a far more forgiving brewer that 'protects' you from technical mistakes if you're just entering the pour over scene.