Hario V60 Brew Guide — How to Make Perfect Pour Over Coffee at Home

Hario V60 Brew Guide — How to Make Perfect Pour Over Coffee at Home in 2026

The Hario V60 is the entry point for most people's specialty coffee journey. It costs under $30. It produces some of the cleanest, most nuanced coffee you can make at home. And it has been the dripper of choice at world-class coffee competitions for over a decade.

It also has a reputation for being difficult — which is somewhat deserved but mostly overstated. Once you understand the three variables that matter (grind, temperature, pour), the V60 is actually forgiving and deeply rewarding to use.

Watch Hario's own brewers demonstrate the technique below — then follow our step-by-step guide to replicate it at home.


Watch — Official Hario V60 Brew Technique

This is the official technique from Hario's own team — 1 minute 58 seconds, no filler, just the method. Watch it once before reading the step-by-step below. You'll notice a few things: the slow, controlled pour from a gooseneck kettle, the circular motion covering the entire coffee bed, and the patience between pours. These are the details that separate a great V60 from a mediocre one.


What the Hario Video Teaches — Key Observations

A few things worth noting from watching the official Hario technique:

  • The grind is medium-fine — not too fine (which clogs) and not too coarse (which drains too fast)
  • The bloom is generous — Hario's brewers saturate all the grounds thoroughly before pausing
  • The pour is slow and steady — no rushing, no agitation, just controlled concentric circles
  • The kettle position is low — close to the coffee bed, which minimises agitation and keeps extraction even
  • Total brew time is under 2 minutes — this is for a stronger, darker cup. A lighter extraction takes 2:30–3:30

Keep these observations in mind as you work through the steps below.


What You Need

  • Hario V60 dripper — size 01 (1 cup) or 02 (1–4 cups). We recommend the 02 for most home brewers
  • Hario V60 paper filters — always use Hario's own filters made in Japan. Third-party filters affect the flavour
  • Gooseneck kettle — essential for controlling the pour. A Hario Buono or Fellow Stagg EKG both work perfectly. As seen in the Hario video above — the gooseneck is non-negotiable for this technique
  • Kitchen scale — non-negotiable. Coffee is brewed by ratio, not by scoops
  • Timer — your phone works fine
  • Burr grinder — blade grinders produce uneven grounds and uneven extraction. A burr grinder is the single biggest upgrade you can make
  • Fresh coffee — medium or light roast works best in a V60. Roasted within the last 2–4 weeks
  • Mug or server — the V60 sits on top. Hario makes a glass server designed for it

We carry the full Hario range at The Hadler Store — dripper, kettle, filters, and server — worldwide shipping from Singapore.


The Ratio

The Hario video uses a stronger ratio for a bold, dark cup. Here are two ratios depending on your preference:

Style Coffee Water Ratio Brew Time
Strong / Dark (as per Hario video) 20g 240g 1:12 ~2:00
Standard / Balanced 15g 225g 1:15 2:30–3:30
Light / Delicate 12g 200g 1:17 3:00–4:00

Start with the standard 1:15 ratio. Once you're comfortable, try the Hario stronger ratio — it's excellent for darker roasts or if you prefer a bolder cup.

Water temperature: 92–96°C for all three. Just off the boil.


Step-by-Step Brew Guide

Step 1 — Boil your water (92–96°C)

Boil your kettle and let it cool for 30–45 seconds. If you're using a Fellow Stagg EKG or Hario Buono with a thermometer, set it to 93°C. Too hot and your coffee will taste harsh. Too cool and it will taste flat.

Step 2 — Rinse the filter

Place a paper filter in your V60. Rinse it thoroughly with hot water until the entire filter is wet. Discard the rinse water. This removes the paper taste and pre-heats your dripper — as done in the Hario video before any coffee is added.

Step 3 — Grind your coffee

Grind to a medium-fine consistency — similar to coarse sand or table salt. Add grounds to the filter, give the V60 a gentle shake to level the bed, then place on your scale and tare to zero.

Step 4 — The bloom (0:00–0:30)

Start your timer. Pour 2x the weight of your coffee in water — so 30–40g — slowly and evenly over all the grounds. This is the bloom. You'll see the grounds puff up and release CO₂ — exactly as shown in the Hario video. Let it sit for 30 seconds without adding more water.

Step 5 — First pour (0:30–1:00)

At 30 seconds, begin pouring in slow, steady concentric circles — starting from the centre and spiralling outward. Keep the kettle spout low to the coffee bed as demonstrated in the video. Pour up to 120g total weight.

Step 6 — Second pour (1:00–1:45)

Once the water level drops slightly, continue pouring in the same circular motion up to 180g total. Maintain a steady, gentle flow at all times.

Step 7 — Final pour (1:45–2:15)

Continue pouring up to your target weight. Stop and let the coffee drain through completely.

Step 8 — Wait for drawdown

The coffee should finish draining within 2:00–3:30 depending on your ratio and grind. Remove the V60 and drink immediately.

  • Drains too fast (under 2:00): grind finer
  • Drains too slow (over 4:00): grind coarser

Troubleshooting

Bitter or harsh — over-extracted. Grind coarser, lower temperature, or shorten brew time.

Sour or thin — under-extracted. Grind finer, raise temperature, or slow your pour.

Papery taste — didn't rinse the filter thoroughly enough.

Grounds clogging — grind is too fine. Coarsen by one step.

Uneven extraction — pour is too fast or not circular enough. Slow down and focus on consistent coverage.


V60 vs Other Pour Over Drippers

Hario V60 Kalita Wave Chemex
Difficulty Medium Easy Medium
Cup profile Clean, bright, nuanced Balanced, forgiving Very clean, delicate
Brew time 2:00–3:30 3:00–4:00 4:00–5:00
Best for Light and medium roast Any roast level Light roast, large batch

Frequently Asked Questions

Hario Asia Official] Hario V60 Coffee Paper Filter Size 01 / 02 (40 c

What size V60 should I buy — 01 or 02?
The 02 is the better choice for most people. It brews 1–4 cups and is more forgiving than the 01.

V60 Drip Kettle Buono (700 / 1000 / 1200 ml) – Hario Asia Official

Do I need a gooseneck kettle?
Yes — as demonstrated in the Hario video. A standard kettle pours too fast and too wide to control extraction properly. The Hario Buono is the affordable starting point, the Fellow Stagg EKG is the premium option.

Coffee Grinder・PRO|COFFEE|HARIO Co., Ltd.

Do I need an expensive grinder?
A burr grinder makes a significant difference. A basic hand burr grinder is a huge upgrade over a blade grinder and costs under $50.

What coffee works best in a V60?
Light to medium roast single-origin coffees show their best qualities through a V60. The clean filtration highlights floral, fruity, and acidic notes that get lost in other brew methods.

What is the difference between the standard and strong ratio?
The Hario video demonstrates a 1:12 ratio — more coffee relative to water — producing a bolder, darker cup. The standard 1:15 ratio produces a cleaner, more balanced result. Try both and decide which you prefer.

Where can I buy the Hario V60?
We carry the full Hario range at The Hadler Store — authorised retailer, worldwide shipping.


Shop Hario at The Hadler Store

Everything shown in the Hario video above is available at The Hadler Store. We're an authorised Hario retailer carrying the complete lineup.

Worldwide shipping from Singapore. Free delivery on orders over $280.

Brew guideCoffee equipmentHarioHome brewingPour overSpeciality coffeeV60

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