The Ultimate V60 Pour Over Guide

The Hario V60 is one of the most popular pour over brewers in the world — and for good reason. Its conical shape and spiral ribs produce a clean, bright cup that highlights a coffee's unique flavor notes. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced brewer, this guide will help you dial in the perfect V60 cup.

What You'll Need

• Hario V60 dripper (size 02 for 1-2 cups)
• V60 paper filters (tabbed or untabbed)
• Gooseneck kettle for controlled pouring
• Coffee grinder (burr grinder recommended)
• Scale with timer
• Fresh coffee beans — medium-light roast works beautifully

The Ideal V60 Ratio

The standard starting point for V60 is 1:16 — that's 1 gram of coffee for every 16 grams of water.

For a single cup:

• 15g coffee to 240ml water
• 20g coffee to 320ml water

If your coffee tastes too weak or watery, try 1:15. If it's too strong or bitter, move toward 1:17.

Grind Size

Aim for a medium-fine grind — roughly the texture of table salt. If you're using a Baratza Encore, start around setting 15 and adjust from there.

Water Temperature

Heat your water to 200-205°F (93-96°C). If you don't have a temperature-controlled kettle, bring water to a boil and let it sit for 30 seconds.

Step-by-Step Brewing Technique

Step 1: Rinse the Filter

Place your V60 filter in the dripper and rinse it with hot water. This removes paper taste and preheats the brewer. Discard the rinse water.

Step 2: Add Coffee

Place the V60 on your server and scale. Add your ground coffee and tare the scale to zero.

Step 3: The Bloom (0:00–0:45)

Pour twice the weight of your coffee in water (e.g., 40g for 20g of coffee) in a gentle spiral. Wait 30-45 seconds for the coffee to degas — you'll see it puff up and bubble.

Step 4: First Pour (0:45–1:15)

Pour slowly in concentric circles from the center outward, adding water until you reach about 60% of your total water weight. Keep the pour steady and controlled.

Step 5: Second Pour (1:15–2:00)

Continue pouring in circles until you reach your target water weight. Avoid pouring directly on the filter edges — keep the water on the coffee bed.

Step 6: Drawdown (2:00–3:00)

Let the remaining water drain through. Your total brew time should be 2:30–3:30. If it's faster, grind finer. If it's slower, grind coarser.

Troubleshooting

Problem	Cause	Fix
Sour or thin taste	Under-extracted	Grind finer, pour slower
Bitter or harsh taste	Over-extracted	Grind coarser, pour faster
Brew too fast (< 2:30)	Grind too coarse	Grind finer
Brew too slow (> 3:30)	Grind too fine	Grind coarser

Tips for Better V60 Coffee

1. Use freshly roasted beans — ideally within 2-4 weeks of roast date
2. Weigh everything — consistency is the key to great coffee
3. Control your pour — a gooseneck kettle makes a massive difference
4. Experiment with ratio — adjust between 1:15 and 1:17 based on your taste
5. Keep notes — write down what works so you can repeat it

The V60 rewards patience and attention. Once you nail your recipe, you'll have a clean, nuanced cup that's hard to beat.