Hario V60 (2026): Cone Pour-Over Setup That Rewards a Steady Pour
The Hario V60 suits home pour-over drinkers who want a clean cone cup and are willing to pour carefully. Pair the size 02 dripper with V60 papers and a gooseneck kettle for weekday clarity.
By Harper Lin
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The short answer: The Hario V60 Ceramic Coffee Dripper, Size 02 (paid link) is the classic cone pour-over for home kitchens that want a clean, lively cup. Buy it with matching Hario V60 size 02 filters (paid link) and a gooseneck kettle, not as a lonely dripper on an empty counter.
Our picks
The Hario V60 search is usually about the spiral cone that specialty cafes made famous. Water drains through a large center hole, and the ridges keep the paper from sealing shut. That geometry can taste very clear when your pour stays even. It can also taste thin or bitter in patches when you dump water in one spot.
This page is the product owner for the V60 itself. For a wider dripper roundup, start with best pour over coffee maker. For a flatter, more forgiving bed, see the Kalita Wave guide. For carafe batches, see the Chemex coffee maker.
What to buy with the V60
Treat the V60 as a small kit, not a single gadget. The ceramic size 02 dripper is the core. The size 02 filters are not optional accessories. Wrong paper shape is the fastest way to hate the brewer.
Add a gooseneck kettle next. You do not need the most expensive kettle on day one, but you do need a spout you can aim. Our best gooseneck kettle guide covers the Fellow Stagg EKG and a cheaper preset option if you want temperature control later.
Shop the kit: Hario V60 ceramic 02 (paid link) · V60 02 filters (paid link)
Why the cone tastes different
A steep cone stacks the coffee deeper than a flat bed. Water spends more time in contact with the grounds if you pour slowly, and it races through if you flood the bed. That is why V60 cups often taste brighter and lighter-bodied than Wave cups with the same beans.
The spiral ridges matter more than they look. They create channels for air and water so the paper does not glue itself to the walls. Skip rinsing the filter and you can taste paper. Rinse with hot water, discard the rinse, then dose.
Ceramic is the weekday counter choice. It holds heat and feels solid. If you travel or brew in a cramped dorm, plastic size 02 is easier to pack and harder to chip. Technique still beats material.
A simple weekday recipe
Use these starting numbers for one large mug, then adjust:
- Rinse a size 02 filter and warm the dripper.
- Dose about 18 to 22 grams of coffee.
- Grind medium-fine, a notch finer than drip.
- Bloom with about 40 grams of water for 30 to 45 seconds.
- Pour in slow spirals from the center outward, keeping the bed wet.
- Aim for roughly 300 to 350 grams total water and a brew time near two and a half to three and a half minutes.
If the bed looks dry in spots, slow down and keep the slurry covered. If grounds climb the walls in a thick ring, you poured too hard against the ridges. Center pours first, then widen.
V60 vs Wave vs Chemex
Choose the V60 when you want cone clarity and you are willing to practice the pour. Choose the Wave when you want a flatter bed that forgives messy spirals. Choose Chemex when you want a carafe for two and that ultra-clean bonded-filter cup.
The V60 wins on reorder discipline the same way the Wave does. Once the filters live in the same drawer as the dripper, the routine sticks. That is the real product test: will you brew tomorrow, not only on Saturday.
Grind and kettle notes
A blade grinder will make the V60 taste muddy and channel-prone. A simple burr is enough. If pour-over is your main brew, see best coffee grinder for pour over. The Fellow Ode Gen 2 is a strong filter-only electric if you want quiet flat burrs.
Water just off the boil is fine for most medium roasts. Lighter roasts often taste better a little cooler once you have a kettle with presets. Do not wait to buy the dripper until the kettle is perfect.
Bottom line
Buy the Hario V60 Ceramic Coffee Dripper, Size 02 (paid link) if you want the classic cone pour-over and you are ready to pour carefully for a clean weekday cup. Buy the matching size 02 filters in the same order. Add a gooseneck when you can.
If you want a more forgiving flat bed first, read the Kalita Wave guide. For more brew gear, browse the Baristapicks blog.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Hario V60 good for beginners?
It can be, if you accept a learning curve. The cone rewards a steady spiral and punishes dumping water in one spot. If you want a more forgiving first pour-over, start with a Kalita Wave, then move to the V60 when your pour is steadier.
Should I buy size 01 or 02?
Buy size 02 for most home mugs and small shared brews. Size 01 is better when you only make a single small cup and want less filter waste.
Do I need special Hario V60 filters?
Yes. Melitta-style grocery cones do not sit correctly in the V60. Keep a box of size 02 papers next to the dripper so you do not improvise with the wrong shape.
Is ceramic better than plastic?
Ceramic holds heat and looks nicer on the counter. Plastic heats fast, weighs less for travel, and is harder to chip. Flavor differences are smaller than pour technique and grind quality.
What kettle works with the Hario V60?
A gooseneck kettle. The slow spout helps you wet the bed evenly without collapsing the filter ridges. Temperature control is a bonus once the pour feels natural.
What grind should I use for the Hario V60?
Start medium-fine, a notch finer than drip, then adjust by taste. If the brew finishes too fast and tastes thin, grind finer. If it stalls and tastes harsh, grind coarser.
Is the Hario V60 better than a Chemex?
It is better when you want a dripper-and-mug workflow with a brighter cone cup. Chemex is better when you want a glass carafe batch and that bonded-filter clarity for two people.