When I first picked up a Hario V60, I remember being mesmerised by its simplicity - a single cone, a swirl of hot water, and suddenly that aroma of freshly bloomed coffee filled my home.
This is also named as the pour-over method - a hands-on, meditative way to brew coffee that balances precision flavour with ritual.
If you’ve ever wondered how baristas create those clean coffees, that taste almost tea-like, with subtle citrus notes, this guide will show you exactly how to brew the perfect cup.
What Is the Hario V60 and Why Home Baristas Love It
Made by Hario, the Japanese masters of heat-proof glassware, the V60 brewer gets its name from its 60-degree cone angle. That conical shape, paired with spiral ridges inside, controls how water flows through the coffee bed, ensuring an even extraction every single time.
Unlike espresso, which is short and concentrated, pour-over brewing creates a lighter-bodied, aromatic cup.
It’s filter coffee at its most elegant. The paper filter removes oils and sediment, leaving you with a sparkling clean cup that highlights the coffee’s natural sweetness.
With the V60 you can expect notes of caramelised peach, cocoa nib, or even jasmine - depending on your speciality coffee beans and pour.
Why I Recommend the Hario V60 Pour-Over Method
After my 15 year+ career in coffee, I’ve tested almost every brewing device there is. The V60 remains my personal go-to for home and café use. Here’s why.
1. Clean, Crisp Flavour
Compared to a cafetiere coffee (which allows fine grounds into your cup), the V60’s paper filter delivers a clarity of flavour that lets origin characteristics totally shine.
Perfect if you're craving something subtle, mellow, but fruity. Think of it like this - less murky in texture and mouthfeel, more like tea-like sparkling acidity and floral aroma.
2. Simple and Flexible
Whether you’re brewing eyes closed, half-asleep before work or experimenting on a Sunday, the V60 is adaptable and easy to use. A simple repeatable recipe, and use a gooseneck kettle which makes all the difference for precision pouring.
3. Affordable and Portable
Depending on the material of the V60 you want, prices range from £6-60, it’s one of the best-value brewers you can own. The plastic version is lightweight and nearly unbreakable, perfect for camping or the office.
Although, not the most optimal from a health perspective, as microplastics can leach into drinks over time compared to a metal version. I’ve even brewed a V60 on a mountain in Thailand once (true story).
4. Beautiful Design
The V60’s minimalist aesthetic - available in glass, copper, and ceramic — feels as good to hold as it looks on your kitchen countertop.
The Complete Hario V60 Brewing Guide
If you’re ready to make your first ever v60 pour-over coffee, here’s everything you’ll need.
Equipment Checklist
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Hario V60 Dripper - shop here.
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Filter papers – essential for clarity
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Digital scales – accuracy matters
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Pouring kettle – ideally a gooseneck for control
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Freshly ground speciality coffee – Try our single origin taster pack
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Filtered water – discover why quality water for coffee matters.
V60 Brew Recipes & Sizes
| Cups | Coffee | Water |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15 g | 250 g |
| 2 | 30 g | 500 g |
To brew more cups, simply scale up the numbers by doubling. Just remember the brew time will change as more water takes longer to pass through the coffee grounds.
The 1 Cup V60 Pourover Method
Total brew time: 2.30–3 minutes for 1 cup.
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Rinse the filter. Pour hot water through the paper to remove papery taste and preheat your brewer. Ideally use brown papers to avoid bleach found in white papers. Discard the rinse water into the sink.
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Add a clean healthy speciality coffee. Use a medium grind setting, similar to table salt.
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Bloom. Pour 50 g of water (about 20 % of total), stir gently, and let the coffee bloom for 20-30 seconds. You’ll see it swell as CO₂ escapes from the coffee providing you're drinking freshly roasted coffee - and yes the smell at this point is totally incredible.
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Continue pouring. In slow, concentric circles, pour the remaining water in two or three stages.Pour every 50ml in a pulse like fashion, pausing for 10 seconds and finishing at 250ml by 2.30 / 3 minutes.
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Swirl and serve. Once dripping stops, swirl your cup or carafe to integrate delicious flavours.
Dialling In V60 Flavour
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Too weak? Use finer grind or less water.
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Too strong? Coarsen grind or add more water.
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Bitter? Over-extraction - try a coarser grind.
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Sour? Under-extraction - use a finer grind or slower pour.
Remember: the small tweaks change everything. When we train baristas at Balance Coffee, we always start with these simple ratios, then fine-tune further by taste, which is of course subjective.
Founder Tips for Perfect Pour-Overs
Even saturation - make sure all grounds get wet early to avoid channeling.
Temperature – brew hotter at 96 °C for more sweetness without bitterness.
Roast choice – washed light to medium roasts sing on the V60. Try an African or South American coffee with bright citrus notes.
Water quality – filtered water like Ashbeck from Tesco truly matters; minerals like potassium and magnesium affect extraction more than you’d think. They bind to coffee particles producing much more intense flavours.
Why the Hario V60 Feels Special
For me, the V60 is more than a brewing device - it’s a clean daily ritual. There’s something grounding about that quiet moment as the coffee drips, the steam rising like incense. It slows you down.
When I first started Balance Coffee, I spent hours perfecting our pour-over recipes, tasting hundreds of coffees to find that balance of sweetness and clarity. Even now, when I brew one at home, that same calm focus returns.
If you’re ready to experience that ritual yourself, you can find everything you need on our Coffee equipment Page.
And if you want to explore other brewing styles, check out our guides on the AeroPress and Moka pot coffee.
Conclusion
If you're looking to improve your home barista skills, then the V60 is absolutely the method for you.
It takes longer to make my afternoon cup than it does to make something quick like an espresso.
However, it's a nice break from work and can become a beautiful ritual.
It has something to do with the gentle pouring in concentric circles, which is quite relaxing.
If you want to try the Hario V60 Coffee Dripper for yourself, you can purchase everything you need from our equipment page.
