In brief
The V60 is a cone-shaped pour-over dripper made by Hario, a Japanese glassware company. The name comes from its V shape and the 60-degree angle of its walls. You set a paper filter in it, add ground coffee, and pour hot water over the top.
Two design details set it apart. Spiral ribs run up the inside walls, and there is one large hole at the bottom instead of several small ones. Together they let water drain quickly, so the brewer adds little resistance of its own.
That makes the V60 flexible but demanding. Your pouring and your grind size do most of the work of controlling the brew.
On this page · 6 sections
Where does the V60 come from?
The V60 comes from Hario, founded in Tokyo in 1921. Japanese Coffee Co says the name Hario means "King of Glass."
Whole Latte Love says Hario first tried a paper dripper in 1980 without success, then returned to the idea in 2004. Japanese Coffee Co dates the commercial release to 2005.
Whole Latte Love adds that the V60 won Japan's Good Design Award in 2007. It also notes that a brewer using a V60 won the World Brewers Cup in 2010, which helped spread it internationally.
What do the spiral ribs and large hole do?
The ribs keep the paper off the walls, and the hole lets water out with little restriction. Whole Latte Love says the spiral ribs stop the filter sticking and leave a layer of air between paper and dripper.
Japanese Coffee Co says the spiral design replaced straight diagonal ribs, which held the paper against the walls. The air gap also lets gas escape during the bloom.
Hario describes the single hole as giving "ultimate freedom." In its words, pour quickly for a light flavor, or slowly if you like your coffee rich.
What sizes and materials does the V60 come in?
The V60 comes in three sizes and several materials. Japanese Coffee Co lists them as follows:
| Size | Brews |
|---|---|
| 01 | 1 to 2 cups |
| 02 | 1 to 4 cups |
| 03 | 1 to 6 cups |
Materials include ceramic, heatproof glass, plastic and metal. Hario's ceramic versions are porcelain made in Japan. Japanese Coffee Co ranks heat conduction from copper down through stainless steel, porcelain, glass and plastic.
What grind size does a V60 need?
A V60 needs a fairly fine pour-over grind. Honest Coffee Guide suggests 400 to 700 microns, about like fine sea salt.
Its reasoning is the design. The steep cone and large opening need "a finer grind size that can slow the flow rate." Because the dripper barely holds water back, grind size becomes the main brake on how fast it drains.
That is why a V60 exposes an uneven grinder. Honest Coffee Guide warns that too many fine particles over-extract, while too many large ones under-extract. It recommends a burr grinder designed for pour-over.
For settings on specific grinders, see the V60 grind size guide. To translate a recipe written for someone else's grinder, use the grind converter.
How is a V60 different from a Chemex?
Both are cone pour-overs, but they differ in filter and flow. The V60 drains through one large hole with an air gap behind the paper. Perfect Daily Grind credits the Chemex's thick paper filter for the cleanness of its brew.
The full comparison, including taste and grind, is in Chemex vs V60. The Chemex glossary entry covers that brewer on its own.
Which grinder works well with a V60?
Any burr grinder with a solid medium-fine range will work. Electric options include the Fellow Ode Gen 2. Hand grinders in BrewMark's catalog with pour-over settings include the Comandante C40 MK4, 1Zpresso ZP6 Special and Timemore C3.
Each of those has a settings chart with a V60 setting. For brewing steps rather than gear, follow the V60 pour-over guide.
Sources
- Hario: V60 Coffee Dripper
- Japanese Coffee Co: Hario V60, everything you need to know
- Whole Latte Love: How to use the Hario V60, the complete guide
- Honest Coffee Guide: Pour over grind size
- Perfect Daily Grind: What is body and how do I brew and roast for it?
By Jeff Gluck · Checked Oct 21, 2026