Hario V60 review: There’s beauty in simplicity

If you’re in the market for a non-electric coffee maker from a big name, you’re probably not going to find one cheaper than the Hario V60 Coffee Dripper. Whether or not it’s one of the best coffee makers… well it depends what you’re after.

For those who desire an easy-to-use, easy-to-clean product that won’t break the bank, the V60 is the perfect entry point. But if you’re after a super stylish, aesthetic, trendy coffee maker, you might want to veer more towards Chemex or AeroPress territory.

The V60 is a foolproof coffee maker — your toddler could probably use it (obviously don’t let them, though, because it would be dangerous). All you need to give your coffee routine a little oomph is some ground coffee, Hario filters, and you’re good to go.

I like a lighter, fruitier coffee, so something that removes bitterness from coffee is essential for me. If you drink your coffee super strong, you’d usually want the opposite coffee maker from me. Luckily, the V60 is so versatile that whether you like a lighter coffee or a strong coffee, you’ll get your desired result with this straightforward device. Could it be your next coffee purchase? For the full story, read this Hario V60 Coffee Dripper review.

Hario V60 review: Cheat sheet

• Who is it for? Coffee purists who don’t want any bells or whistles with their morning brew
• What does it do well? It’s super affordable and easy to use
• What does it cost? $11 / £15 at Amazon
• What are its weaknesses? The taste isn’t as sophisticated as other coffee makers
• Anything else to know? The filters are 9 cents each, cheaper than Chemex

Hario V60 review: Specs

Hario V60 review: Price & availability

The Hario V60 is $11 at Amazon U.S. and £15 at Amazon U.K, making it one of, if not the cheapest brand-named coffee maker I’ve ever seen — other big names in the coffee world, like Chemex and AeroPress, are priced around the $40 mark.

Hario V60 review: Design

The V60 comes in a range of sizes and colors. For this review, I tested the ‘02’ (two to three servings) size in clear plastic, but it’s also available in ‘01’ (one serving) and ‘03’ (up to four servings). You can get the V60 with a red, black, or white finish, or if you’re feeling super fancy, Hario also makes the V60 in different materials, like copper, ceramic, mesh, and olive wood. There’ll be a design to suit your taste in Hario’s range.

The V60 is an inverted cone with ridges and grooves on its interior. This unique design is supposed to direct the flow of water to the center of the coffee maker, which results in even water-coffee contact, and a more balanced brew.

I used V60 paper filters for this review: the filters only fit with certain sizes, so you must use 02 filters with the 02 V60 size, for example. The Hario filters we used aren’t bleached or chlorinated, which means they’re generally safer than bleached or chlorinated filters. Bleached filters are also available, though.

The V60 comes with a 0.42 ounce plastic scoop (just under 1 tablespoon). The plastic scoop has three lines on the inside, but frustratingly, these lines don’t have measurements. You can get a silver replacement on Hario’s website for $9.50 should you lose or break it. I’d recommend using a quality coffee scale to weigh your grounds instead, as this is a more accurate way to measure.

Hario V60 review: Performance

The V60 is beyond easy to use. It requires medium to fine grind, depending on your preference. I ground mine to medium fine using a Eureka Mignon Specialata grinder. I used one full scoop for 8 fluid ounces of about 200°F water.

I inserted the V60 filter into the V60 cone (placed on top of a sturdy mug, à la AeroPress) and poured in my coffee grounds. Then, much like the Chemex, I poured a small volume of hot water over the grounds and let the coffee “bloom” to release carbon dioxide. Then I poured more water on with slow, circular motions. This allows the coffee to breathe and settle to create a finer brew, and also means the filter won’t overflow and spill everywhere.

Once all the water had dripped through, I simply put the filter and grounds into my compost bin and had an easy, quick cup of coffee ready. It’s really that easy. I wouldn’t recommend buying off-brand filters for your V60 because they’re not all designed to fit the narrow conical shape, so might become unbalanced and spill.

You can adjust the flavor of your coffee by altering the coffee-to-water ratio. If you want a stronger coffee, put in a scoop and a half for 8 ounces of water. My preference resulted in a smooth black coffee with no bitterness and an aromatic, floral finish.

You’re supposed to be able to make cold brew using the V60. I followed a recipe I found online: it’s effectively the same as the hot coffee version, but you pour the water much slower to get a longer brew. I tried this recipe three times with varying ratios of coffe-to-water. While I did get a pretty tasty drink out of it (probably because I made Vietnamese-inspired salted condensed milk foam to go on top), the coffee flavor was minimal — like just a whisper of flavor. For quick cold brew, I recommend the Instant Cold Brewer instead.

Hario V60 review: Storage & maintenance

The V60 is perhaps the best coffee maker for super compact houses, or for people who have cupboards already overflowing with various kitchen accessories. As it’s only about the same size as a mug, you’ll be able to hide it away in your cup cabinet.

Not only is it small, it’s also supremely easy to clean. Simply empty the filter into your compost, wash the V60 with hot soapy water after each use, and you’re good to go. This is a little easier than the Chemex because you don’t have to remove a wooden collar to clean, and easier than the AeroPress purely because you don’t have to disassemble anything.

Hario V60 review: How does it compare?

In terms of flavor, I admit I do appreciate the finesse of the AeroPress coffee over any other manual coffee maker I’ve tried. That’s not to say the V60 brews a bad cup at all, but it’s a very simple cup of coffee. If you’re here for black coffee you can customize and play around with, and you only want to spend $10, the V60 is a fantastic option. It’s especially good for those just getting into specialty coffee, because you get the same luxurious feel without the high price tag you’d expect from a Chemex or an AeroPress.

While Chemex and AeroPress brews are a little more sophisticated, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with the flavor produced by the V60. The versatility of this little device means it’s great for experimenting with.

Hario V60 review: Verdict

If you’re just branching out into the world of specialty coffee or you simply feel like spending as little money as possible (me too!), the V60 is a great option. It’s beyond easy to use and you’ll be mastering its simplicity in no time. I adore how you can make an entire coffee (cleanup included) in under 2 minutes with this handy little product. While I appreciate the brighter flavor of an AeroPress a little more, for just $9, you can’t go wrong with a V60.