How to brew coffee with a Hario V60
The Hario V60 is a manual pour-over coffee brewer that gives you great control over the brewing process. With the right dosage, grind size, and pouring technique, the V60 can provide a clean and aromatic cup where the different flavor nuances of the coffee stand out clearly.
It doesn't require much equipment to get started. A V60, a suitable paper filter, freshly ground coffee beans, a coffee scale, and hot water are a really good starting point.
Quick V60 recipe
For one large cup, you can start with:
• 15 grams of coffee
• 250 grams of water
• Water temperature around 92–96 °C
• Medium to medium-fine grind size
• Total brew time around 2:30–3:30 minutes
The ratio corresponds to approximately 60 grams of coffee per liter of water.
How to do it
- Place the paper filter in your V60.
- Rinse the filter with hot water and pour out the rinse water.
- Grind 15 grams of coffee to a medium or medium-fine consistency.
- Put the coffee in the filter and shake gently so the coffee bed is level.
- Pour about 40–45 grams of water over the coffee so that all the coffee gets wet.
- Let the coffee bloom for about 30–45 seconds.
- Continue pouring water slowly and in a controlled manner.
- Stop when the scale shows 250 grams of water.
- Let the water finish running through the coffee.
- Remove the V60, stir the coffee gently in the serving carafe if desired, and taste.
Use the recipe as a starting point. Afterward, you can adjust the grind size, dosage, and pouring technique according to the coffee and your own taste.
How much coffee should you use for a V60?
A good starting point is 60 grams of coffee per liter of water.
This gives, for example:
• 12 grams of coffee to 200 grams of water
• 15 grams of coffee to 250 grams of water
• 18 grams of coffee to 300 grams of water
• 30 grams of coffee to 500 grams of water
• 60 grams of coffee to 1 liter of water
You do not need to follow the ratio exactly. If you want a stronger cup, you can use a little more coffee, and if you want a lighter cup, you can use a little less.
The most important thing is to weigh the coffee and water so that you know what you are changing from brew to brew.
What grind size should I use for a V60?
A medium to medium-fine grind size is a good starting point for the V60.
The precise setting depends, among other things, on the amount of coffee, the coffee beans, the filter, and the way you pour the water.
The grind size is also one of the best places to adjust the brew.
If the water runs through very quickly and the coffee tastes thin or sharp, you can try grinding finer.
If the brewing takes a very long time and the coffee tastes bitter, dry, or heavy, you can try a coarser setting.
A good coffee grinder makes it easier to make small and controlled changes.
What is the bloom in V60?
When hot water hits freshly roasted coffee, carbon dioxide, among other things, is released from the coffee beans.
The first small pour is therefore often called the bloom.
The purpose is to get the entire coffee bed wet before the rest of the water is poured on.
If you use 15 grams of coffee, about 40–45 grams of water can be a fine starting point for the bloom.
Wait about 30–45 seconds before continuing the brew.
Very fresh coffee can react more strongly during the bloom than coffee that has had more time to degas after roasting.
How to pour water into a V60
The V60 gives great control over the water's flow through the coffee.
Pour slowly and in a controlled manner over the coffee bed. A gooseneck kettle makes it easier to control both placement and speed, but you can definitely brew V60 without one.
You can pour the water in one long controlled pour after the bloom or split it into several pours.
There are many different V60 recipes, and there is no single correct technique.
The most important thing is to find a method that you can repeat.
How long should a V60 take?
With 15 grams of coffee and 250 grams of water, a total brew time of around 2:30–3:30 minutes will be a reasonable starting point.
However, the brew time should not be seen as a goal in itself.
Two different coffee beans can easily run differently through the same V60. Filter type, grind size, coffee density, and pouring technique all affect the draw-down time.
Therefore, use the time as a guide and the taste as the most important assessment.
What temperature should the water be?
A good starting point for V60 is around 92–96 °C.
However, you can adjust the temperature according to the roast level and taste.
For a light-roasted coffee, water at the high end of the range can be a good starting point.
For a darker roast, you can experiment with a slightly lower temperature if the coffee becomes too bitter or tastes too heavily roasted.
You don't need to hit a specific temperature down to the last degree.
Which coffee beans are best for V60?
The V60 can be used with virtually all coffee beans, but the brewing method is particularly suitable if you want to experience the individual flavor nuances of the coffee.
Light-roasted coffee for V60
Light-roasted coffee beans are popular for pour-over because the roasting can preserve more of the coffee's fruity, floral, and acidic character.
This can be a good choice if you want to taste the difference between different countries of origin and coffee types.
Medium-roasted coffee for V60
Medium-roasted coffee often provides more body and sweetness while many of the coffee's individual flavor nuances are still clear.
It is a good starting point if you prefer a more balanced cup.
Dark-roasted coffee for V60
Dark-roasted coffee beans can also be brewed on a V60.
Here, you typically get more roast character, body, and bitterness, and less of the lively acidity often associated with lighter roasts.
Try a slightly lower water temperature if the result becomes too bitter.
What is the difference between V60 01, 02, and 03?
The Hario V60 is available in several sizes.
V60 01 is the smallest and is intended for about 1–2 cups.
V60 02 is the most versatile size and is intended for about 1–4 cups.
V60 03 is the largest and is intended for about 1–6 cups.
For most people who brew one or two cups at a time, the V60 02 is a versatile choice.
Remember to choose paper filters that fit the size of your V60.
Plastic, ceramic, or glass?
Hario produces the V60 in various materials, including plastic, ceramic, glass, and metal.
The geometry and brewing principle itself are the central aspects, but the material affects, among other things, weight, durability, and how much heat the brewer absorbs during brewing.
A plastic V60 is light, robust, and requires relatively little heating.
Ceramic and glass provide a different aesthetic and a heavier construction, but it is a good idea to preheat them thoroughly before brewing.
So, you don't need to buy the most expensive V60 to be able to brew really good coffee.
Why does the V60 have spiral ribs?
The V60's construction differs from many traditional filter holders.
Hario uses a cone shape with spiral ribs along the inside and one large hole at the bottom.
The ribs help create space between the paper filter and the brewer, while the large hole means that the water's passage is largely determined by, among other things, grind size and the speed at which you pour.
This is one of the reasons why the V60 gives so much control over the brewing process.
Should the V60 filter be rinsed?
We recommend rinsing the paper filter with hot water before brewing.
This can remove any paper taste and at the same time warm up the V60, cup, or serving carafe.
Remember to pour out the rinse water before you add the ground coffee.
Why does my V60 taste bitter?
If the coffee becomes very bitter, dry, or heavy, you can try to reduce the extraction.
Start, for example, by grinding the coffee a little coarser.
You can also experiment with a lower water temperature, especially if you use dark-roasted coffee.
Preferably, only change one thing at a time.
Why does my V60 taste sour or thin?
A thin or sharp coffee can be a sign of under-extraction.
First, try to grind the coffee a little finer.
You can also use hotter water or adjust the pouring technique.
However, remember that a pleasant fruity acidity can be a natural part of the taste in, especially, light-roasted coffee.
The goal is not necessarily to remove the acidity, but to get it in balance with the coffee's sweetness and other flavors.
What equipment do I need for a V60?
You don't need much to get started.
The most important things are:
• Hario V60
• V60 paper filter in the correct size
• Coffee beans
• Coffee grinder
• Coffee scale
• Kettle
• Cup or serving carafe
A gooseneck kettle provides more precise control over the pour, but it is not a requirement to begin.
Briefly about Hario V60
Hario is a Japanese manufacturer that has been working with heat-resistant glass since 1921.
The V60 was launched in 2005 and has since developed into one of the most well-known manual pour-over brewers.
The name V60 comes from the brewer's V-shaped cone with an angle of 60 degrees.
The simple design provides the opportunity to influence the result through, among other things, grind size, dosage, water temperature, and pouring speed.
Frequently asked questions about Hario V60
How much coffee should I use for 250 ml of water?
15 grams of coffee to 250 grams of water is a good starting point. This corresponds to approximately 60 grams of coffee per liter.
How fine should coffee be ground for V60?
Start with a medium to medium-fine grind size. Adjust finer if the coffee runs through quickly and tastes thin, and coarser if the draw-down is very slow and the coffee tastes bitter or dry.
How long should V60 brew?
With 15 grams of coffee and 250 grams of water, about 2:30–3:30 minutes is a reasonable starting point. However, use the taste first and foremost to adjust the recipe.
What does bloom mean?
Bloom is the first small amount of water that is poured over the ground coffee. Here, the coffee bed gets soaked, while gas from the roasted coffee can be released.
What is the best V60 size?
V60 02 is a versatile choice for most home users. Hario specifies 01 for 1–2 cups, 02 for 1–4 cups, and 03 for 1–6 cups.
Do I need a gooseneck kettle?
No, but the narrow spout makes it easier to control the speed and placement of the water during brewing.
Is V60 only for light-roasted coffee?
No. Light-roasted coffee is popular for V60, but both medium- and dark-roasted coffee beans can be used.
What is the difference between V60 and regular filter coffee?
Both typically use paper filtration, but with the V60, you pour the water over the coffee yourself and can therefore control, among other things, flow, pouring pattern, and brew time. In a regular coffee machine, the water supply happens automatically.