The Hario V60 is a cone-shaped pour-over dripper that makes a clean, bright cup that really shows off a speciality coffee's flavours. It takes a little more care than a cafetière, but once you've done it a couple of times it takes about three minutes. Here's how.
Why it's called the V60
Hario, the Japanese glassware company, launched the V60 in 2004. The name comes from its V-shaped cone with a 60-degree angle. Spiral ribs inside and one large hole at the bottom let the coffee flow freely, so how you pour controls how it tastes.
What you need
- A V60 dripper and a V60 paper filter
- 15g of freshly ground coffee. Choose the Dripper grind in your subscription, or grind medium (like coarse sand)
- 250ml of water, just off the boil (about 93 to 96°C)
- A mug or jug, and ideally scales, a timer and a gooseneck kettle for a steady pour
How to brew a V60, step by step
- Rinse the filter. Fold the seam of the paper filter, put it in the V60 and pour hot water through it. This removes any papery taste and warms everything up. Pour that water away.
- Add the coffee. Tip in 15g of ground coffee and give it a gentle shake to level the bed.
- Bloom. Start your timer and pour about 30 to 40ml of water, just enough to wet all the coffee. Wait 30 to 45 seconds while it bubbles: that's carbon dioxide escaping from freshly roasted coffee.
- Pour slowly. Pour the rest of the water in slow circles from the centre outwards, avoiding the paper. Aim to reach 250ml by about 1 minute 30 seconds.
- Let it drain. Give the dripper a gentle swirl and let it drain. It should finish at around 2 minutes 30 seconds to 3 minutes 30 seconds.
- Enjoy. Lift off the dripper, swirl the coffee and pour.
Getting the taste right
- Drains too fast and tastes sour or weak? Grind a little finer.
- Drains too slowly and tastes bitter or dry? Grind a little coarser.
- Want it stronger? Use a little more coffee (16 to 17g) rather than brewing for longer.
Fruity, floral coffees from Ethiopia and Kenya are wonderful in a V60. Read our guides to Ethiopian coffee and Kenyan coffee, compare pour-over coffee makers, or try the AeroPress.
V60 FAQs
How much coffee do I use in a V60?
About 15g of coffee for 250ml of water (60g per litre). Scale it up for a bigger brew.
What grind is best for a V60?
Medium, like coarse sand. In our subscription, choose the Dripper grind.
Do I need a gooseneck kettle?
It isn't essential, but its thin spout makes a slow, even pour much easier.
New to brewing? See all our brewing guides, with the grind, ratio and brew time for every method.
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