MY VERDICT: Considering I’ve owned a few V60s for over ten years, I feel confident giving this overwhelmingly positive Hario V60 review. Although I mostly use the plastic model at home, I’ve brewed a few times on the other materials, and they are all fantastic pour over coffee makers that brew a bold and flavorful cup. The one downside: it comes with a learning curve. So is the Hario V60 worth it? Despite the learning, I believe it absolutely is! Keep reading for the complete details!
As a regular user of the Hario V60 size 02 Plastic Coffee Maker, I’ll admit that it takes some time to master this brewer. However, there is a reason that it was my top recommendation in last year’s best pour over coffee maker round-up guide: when brewed correctly, you can make an incredibly bold and delicious cup of coffee.
Already convinced to upgrade your home coffee game with this brewer? If so, purchase your Hario V60 now! But, if you’re on the fence about whether it’s the right choice for you, I cover the following in this review:
- A detailed overview of the Hario V60
- Features that make it unique
- My experience with this brewer: pros, cons, and alternatives
Let’s dive in!
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My Hario V60 Review: Product Overview
My very first coffee dripper was the Chemex, but I got a Hario V60 after trying it at a friend’s house and loving the unique taste. Since then, I’ve used this brewer consistently over the past eight years and especially love using it with lighter roasts to highlight fruity/floral flavors.
See Also: How To Make Pour Over Coffee: Complete Guide For Any Dripper
And, enthusiasts and professionals (like World Brewer’s Cup winners) also consider this dripper one of the iconic brewers for a serious specialty coffee home brewer. While the design of a coffee dripper may seem unimportant, the shape, texture, and hole design greatly affect how well it brews. And, the conical shape, ridged sides, and large single hole at the bottom lead to great flow and rich flavors.
- Ceramic, plastic, or copper materials
- Multiple colors & sleek design
- Cone shape with spiral ribs & single-hole flow
- Used by many World Brewer’s Cup winners
Hario V60 Dripper: Detailed Features
I’m assuming that people interested in buying a Hario V60 dripper already understand why manual pour over coffee is better than drip. So that aside, let’s discuss how this dripper gets its name: the 60-degree angle of its conical shape. This steeper angle, compared to a more typical flat coffee bed with a wide angle, keeps the water and coffee in contact for longer periods (aka more flavor.)
Another notable feature is the five different materials for the V60 dripper—glass, plastic, ceramic, metal, and copper. Personally, I prefer the plastic model as it has been durable over the years while being extremely lightweight. But, I’m sure the metal models (which I have not used) have a similar durability. I have always found the ceramic model to be too heavy/bulky (especially when doing the classic V60 tap at the end.)
You can also choose between three sizes of this dripper design, a nice touch depending on how many people you brew for. But, besides materials and sizes, the unique features of the V60 include:
- 60-degree conical cone shape: deep coffee bed with tons of flavor extraction
- Hario filters that fit perfectly with the brewer
- Extremely affordable
- Single-hole design gives you finer control over brewing speed/extraction
- It’s a beloved brewer amongst coffee professionals and at-home specialty coffee enthusiasts (aka it has withheld the test of time!)
Includes:
- Package of (100) Hario V60 02W Coffee Filters
- Hario XGS-02 V60 Glass Pot Range Server
- Hario V60 Ceramic Coffee Dripper & measuring spoon
- Silicone and Glass Lid
Hario V60 Dripper Review: My Personal Experience
As a regular user of the Hario V60 plastic model, I have personally experienced the wonderful balance it strikes between difficulty and reward. The brewing process does have a learning curve, so you might not get delicious brews on the first few tries. (But, coffee always tastes better from a Kurt Vonnegut mug!)
Compared to the Chemex, I’ve always found that the grind size and pouring style are far more finicky on a V60—be prepared for a few frustrating brews. Proper pour over water temperature is also crucial.
Note: I do not recommend this brewer unless you have a gooseneck kettle.
But, despite this steeper learning curve, I’ve found the V60 to produce some of my best brews. I brew on a mix of my coffee equipment at home, but the V60 is a go-to for lighter roasts where I wish to highlight complex acidic flavors. It also brews the perfect amount for me, whereas brewing on my Chemex usually makes too much coffee at once.
Lastly, Hario changed their default V60 filters to a slightly thicker material between 2015-2018. If you find your pour-over takes too long, you might consider these original filters, which I find always taste slightly better:
- Original Hario 02 white paper filters without the tab for faster pour over brewing.
Hario V60 Ceramic Review
My Hario V60 plastic review is completely positive. However, I’ve used the ceramic model quite a few times and always found the weight frustrating. I usually do a light tap at the end of brewing to ensure an even flow/drain. And, with the ceramic material, I’m usually concerned that the weight will break the glass carafe I brew into. I have not used the glass models, but I imagine it has a similar issue.
Ceramic and glass may be a nicer material, and once pre-heated they likely have slightly better heat retention. However, I still tend to recommend the plastic or metal models to get the best combination of weight and durability. And, I have not personally found any difference in heat retention affecting the coffee taste.
Hario V60 Copper Review
There are stainless steel metal versions of the V60 that are probably fantastic. But, I just wanted to point out the existence of the premium V60 Copper Coffee Dripper. Visually it is the most elegant version they have, including a copper cone, nickel-plated interior, and a brass handle.
Of course, it is also way more expensive, one of the reasons I tend to recommend the plastic versions.
V60 Coffee Review: Pros and Cons
There’s no doubt in my mind that the V60 has served me well, especially considering the price of the plastic model and how many times I’ve brewed on it. But, in this section, I want to combine my experience with an overview of general reviews to give a sense of the V60’s pros and cons.
V60 Pros
The most significant pro of the V60, at least for me, has to be the amount of complex, bold, and exciting coffees I’ve been able to brew on this thing. It has a sleek design, and there are multiple sizes to choose from. Even within each size, you can more subtly alter how much coffee you brew.
Other pros include:
- The internet is filled with creative V60 recipes
- World Brewer’s Cup baristas have won with the V60
- This dripper can grow with you as you advance your coffee skills
V60 Cons
The biggest con of the V60 for an average home coffee brewer would probably be the learning process. Compared to more typical flat-bed/fan-shaped drippers, it takes more care not to over-extract coffee with a V60. You might also discover that having a quality grinder makes a bigger difference on the V60 than on other drippers.
See Also: The Best Coffee Grinders For Every Budget
So, generally, you want to have a more solid understanding of coffee extraction and pour over brewing before committing to a V60, otherwise, you may end up more frustrated. Other downsides include:
- Can’t brew larger batches (Chemex is better for that)
- Works best with other quality coffee equipment
- The 60-degree angle is less forgiving to brewing mistakes
So, Is The Hario V60 Worth It?
If you can put up with some of the V60 quirks, most especially the steep learning curve, I would say buying a V60 is worth it. Especially if you get the plastic dripper, you can start learning to use this brewer for almost nothing.
Alternative Pour Over Coffee Drippers
While the Hario V60 is a superb coffee dripper, it is not the only one on the market. Other popular drippers amongst specialty coffee lovers include the Chemex Coffee Maker, Kalita Wave, Blue Bottle Coffee Dripper, and many others.
Check out this guide I have of the best pour over coffee makers to see them all (I update the list each year with any new products that may come out.)
And, here’s a general overview of the top 3 pour over drippers and how they compare:
Features:
- Ceramic, plastic, or copper materials
- Sleek design
- Steep 60-degree angle = more flavor
- Used by many World Brewer’s Cup winners
Features:
- Ceramic, glass, stainless steel, and copper materials
- Simple design
- Three holes for easier draining
Features:
- Aesthetically beautiful
- One-piece hourglass design
- Polished wood collar with leather tie
- Brew up to 10 cups
- Thick filter= clean taste
Chemex vs Hario V60
The Chemex, like the Hario V60, is a pour-over coffee maker. And, it can brew delicious coffee, especially when it comes to flavor clarity from the thicker filters. However, these thicker filters may not appeal as much to people who want more body and boldness to the brew. I’ve always found I can control flow better on V60 as well.
However, in terms of needing a large brewer that can serve multiple people at once, the Chemex definitely wins. The Chemex also has a more forgiving learning curve compared to the V60, and you can probably get away without using a gooseneck kettle if you pour it carefully. However, I don’t recommend brewing on a V60 without a gooseneck kettle if you want delicious results.
Hario V60 FAQs
If you want, scan through these common Hario V60 questions in case they help you decide on this brewer!
Why do people love V60?
People love the Hario V60 pour over coffee maker because of its sleek design, flexible sizing, and reputation it has amongst specialty coffee professionals. This brewer can be as easy to complicated as you need—beginners can quickly make a good cup and professionals have used it to win coffee competitions.
How many cups can you brew with V60?
The number of cups you can brew with V60 depends on which size you buy. Hario sells 1, 2, and 3-cup models that maintain the same design, angles, and hole size while scaling up the total brew capacity. For most people, the Size 02 V60 is best.
What is the difference between the different material models of the Hario V60?
The different material models of the Hario V60—plastic, glass, ceramic, metal, and copper—primarily differ in terms of thermal retention, durability, and aesthetics. Plastic models are great for beginners due to their durability and affordability, but they offer slightly less heat retention than the other models. Glass, ceramic, and metal versions offer better heat retention, with the copper model excelling in this area. Moreover, aesthetic preferences might lead some coffee enthusiasts to prefer one model over another.
How hard is it for a newcomer to learn to use the Hario V60?
Since the Hario V60’s brewing technique involves precise water pouring and control, it can be a bit tricky for a newcomer. Plus, each coffee requires a slightly different approach. However, with a bit of practice and some basic tips, it’s certainly manageable. The key is to experiment with different grind sizes, water temperatures, and pouring techniques until you start extracting delicious flavors.
Is it possible to use regular paper filters with the V60?
The Hario V60 requires specialty paper filters made by Hario. Using generic filters might affect the extraction process due to differences in thickness and shape. Hario’s filters have a specific design meant for the 60-degree angle of the conical shape, including how it sticks to the ridged edges. Using a different filter will probably negatively affect the extraction/flavor.
Are all V60 parts dishwasher-safe?
The cleaning methods for V60 parts generally vary based on the model material. Plastic and ceramic models can handle dishwasher cleaning, but it’s recommended to hand wash the glass and metal models to protect their finishes.
Conclusion: Is The Hario V60 Worth It?
Since the Hario V60 has remained a regular part of my home coffee routine, I can strongly recommend it. Especially if you are interested in the nuances of specialty coffee brewing skills, you will quickly learn how to make bold, clear, and smooth-tasting coffee at home.
I usually recommend the plastic model, but the other materials can add some flair if you dislike plastic. Lastly, if you want a full pour over coffee setup, consider the Hario Pour Over Kit, which includes a dripper, glass serving pot, spoon, and 100 filters!
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