The Hario V60 pour over coffee maker is the world's most popular pour-over dripper: a simple cone-shaped device (the "60" refers to its 60-degree cone angle) with a single large hole, tall internal spiral ribs and a matching conical paper filter. You pour hot water over fresh grounds, and gravity drips a clean, bright, aromatic cup into the mug or carafe below. This guide is about choosing a V60 setup, not the brewing technique, so we cover the sizes, materials and gear that decide which one is right for you.
If you want the actual pouring method and a repeatable recipe, we hand that off to our dedicated guide to brewing with a V60. Here, the goal is to help you buy the right dripper and the right kit around it the first time.
What is the Hario V60 pour over coffee maker?
The Hario V60 is an open cone that sits on top of your cup, mug or server. You place a paper filter inside, add ground coffee, and pour hot water over it in stages. There is no pump, no electricity and no timer built in — just you, gravity and a filter. That simplicity is exactly why the V60 became a modern classic, and why it is a fixture on cafe bars and home counters around the world.
Three design details do the real work:
- The 60-degree cone. The steep angle funnels water toward the center, so the coffee bed forms a deep cone rather than a flat puck. That encourages an even, thorough extraction.
- The single large hole. Unlike drippers with several small holes that meter the flow for you, the V60 has one wide opening. The water leaves as fast as it can pass through the coffee and filter, which puts the flow rate in your hands.
- The tall spiral ribs. The ridges running up the inside lift the paper away from the cone wall. Air can escape and water can drain around the whole filter instead of sealing against the plastic, which keeps the brew flowing freely.
The trade-off is honest: the V60 is a "you drive it" brewer. Your grind size, water temperature and the shape and speed of your pour all shape the cup. Get them consistent and the V60 rewards you with clarity and sweetness. That is a feature for people who enjoy dialing in a brew, and a learning curve for people who just want to press a button. If hands-off is your priority, a Chemex is more forgiving on flow, and an automatic machine removes the variables entirely.
Hario V60 sizes: 01, 02 and 03
Hario V60 sizes are numbered 01, 02 and 03, and the number refers to brew capacity rather than a physical rating. A Hario "cup" is roughly 150 ml, so the real-world output is a little different from a big mug of coffee.
- Size 01 — brews about 1 to 2 cups. Good for solo drinkers and single-serve brewing, but it can be fussy with larger doses because the cone is small.
- Size 02 — brews about 1 to 4 cups. This is the most popular and most versatile size, and the one most recipes and videos assume. If you buy one V60, buy the 02.
- Size 03 — brews up to about 6 cups. Useful for brewing into a carafe for a small group, though large batches on an open cone take practice to keep even.
Remember that filters are size-specific: an 02 filter will not fit an 01 cone properly, so match your paper to your dripper. When in doubt, the 02 covers the widest range of everyday brewing.
V60 materials: ceramic vs plastic, glass and metal
The Hario V60 comes in several materials, and this is where most buyers get stuck. The ceramic vs plastic question is the big one, but glass and metal each have a place too. None is "best" outright — they trade off heat behavior, durability, looks and travel-friendliness.
Plastic (resin)
The plastic (polypropylene resin) V60 is the entry-level and, for many people, the most practical choice. It is light, inexpensive, nearly unbreakable and travels well, and it holds brewing heat surprisingly well because plastic does not pull much warmth out of the water. The downsides are cosmetic and long-term: it can stain or scratch over time and it lacks the heirloom feel of ceramic.
Ceramic
Ceramic is the classic V60 look and a favorite for the home counter. It is inert, easy to clean and pleasant to use. Its one quirk is thermal mass: cold ceramic absorbs a lot of heat at the start of a brew, so pre-warm it with a hot rinse (which also rinses the paper filter) before you pour. Do that and it holds temperature steadily. It is heavier and can crack if dropped.
Glass
Glass V60s are stylish and inert like ceramic, and they often come paired with a matching glass range or server so you can watch the drawdown. Heat behavior sits close to ceramic, so pre-warming still helps. The obvious caution is fragility — glass is the least forgiving material if you are clumsy at the sink.
Metal
Metal (stainless steel or copper) V60s are durable, striking and effectively travel-proof. The catch is that metal draws heat out of the brew faster than the other materials, which can slightly cool your slurry and nudge the flavor. Pre-warming matters most here. Many people buy metal for the looks and the toughness and simply account for the faster heat loss.
| V60 material | Heat retention | Durability | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plastic / resin | Good (holds heat well) | Very high, won't shatter | Beginners, travel, budget setups |
| Ceramic | Good once pre-warmed | Can crack if dropped | Home counter, classic looks |
| Glass | Good once pre-warmed | Fragile | Pairing with a matching server |
| Metal (steel / copper) | Lower, loses heat faster | Very high | Style and toughness, travel |
Practical takeaway on ceramic vs plastic: choose plastic if you value durability, portability and a low outlay, and ceramic (or glass) if you want a beautiful, permanent fixture and don't mind a quick pre-warm before every brew.
What you need alongside a Hario V60
The dripper is the cheap part; the setup around it is what actually makes good coffee. Plan for these alongside the V60 itself:
- V60 paper filters. These are cone-shaped and size-specific (01, 02, 03). They come in natural (unbleached, brown) and bleached (white). Bleached filters tend to rinse cleaner with less papery taste; both work well if you rinse before brewing. There are also reusable metal filters, which let more oils through for a heavier cup.
- A gooseneck kettle. The thin, curved spout gives you the slow, precise, controllable pour the V60 depends on. It is arguably the single biggest upgrade to your pour-over. See our guide to gooseneck kettles for pour-over to choose one.
- A burr grinder. The V60 wants a consistent medium-fine grind, roughly like table salt. A burr grinder produces even particles, while a blade grinder makes uneven "fines" that cause sludge, clogging and bitterness. Freshly ground beans are a bigger flavor jump than any dripper material.
- A scale. Pour-over is a game of ratios, and eyeballing scoops is where consistency goes to die. A small coffee scale, ideally with a timer, lets you repeat a good brew and fix a bad one.
The Hario Switch: the V60's immersion sibling
If the open V60 sounds like more control than you want, look at the Hario Switch. It is essentially a V60 cone mounted on a base with a stainless steel ball valve. Flip the switch up and the valve closes: coffee and water steep together like a French press (full immersion). Flip it down and the valve opens, draining the brew through the paper cone for a clean, sediment-free cup.
That hybrid design makes the Switch far more forgiving than a bare V60 — you can just steep for a set time and release, without perfecting a continuous pour. It gives you the body of immersion with the clarity of a filter, and it can also brew as a regular pour-over when you want to practice. Best of all, it uses the same V60 paper filters, so your consumables carry over. For anyone torn between "clean and bright" and "easy and repeatable," the Switch is a smart middle path.
How to choose your V60 setup: a checklist
- Pick a size. Choose 02 unless you only ever brew a single small cup (01) or regularly serve a group (03).
- Pick a material. Plastic for durability, travel and value; ceramic or glass for looks on the counter; metal for toughness and style. Remember to pre-warm ceramic, glass and metal.
- Decide on control vs forgiveness. Want to dial in every brew? The classic V60. Want more consistency with less technique? The Hario Switch.
- Buy the right filters. Match the size, and choose natural or bleached to taste — always rinse them first.
- Add the enabling gear. A gooseneck kettle, a burr grinder and a scale matter more to your cup than which dripper you pick.
- Rinse and pre-warm every time. A hot rinse removes paper taste and heats the dripper and vessel, which steadies the brew temperature.
The bottom line
The Hario V60 earns its reputation because it is inexpensive, endlessly available and capable of a genuinely great cup — as long as you pair it with even grinding, a controlled pour and a steady brewing temperature. For most people, a size 02 in plastic or ceramic, a box of matching filters, a gooseneck kettle, a burr grinder and a scale is the whole setup. Get that kit together and the pouring technique is the only thing left to learn — and once it clicks, the V60 gives you a clean, bright cup you can repeat every morning.