Last Updated on January 29, 2024 by Ibrahim Bat
The Hario V60 is a simple yet highly adaptable brewing method that allows you to extract the maximum flavor from coffee beans.
At first glance, the V60 brewing process might seem a bit intimidating.
However, thanks to the professional step-by-step brewing guide I have prepared for you, you can brew delicious coffee with your V60 without struggling.
What is needed for homemade Hario V60 coffee?
- Hario V60
- Hario V60 Paper Filter
- Gooseneck Kettle
- Coffee Grinder
- Decanter
- Scale
- Timer
- Fresh Coffee and Water
V60 Coffee Brewing Steps
1) Choose Your Ratio
Providing a definitive coffee-water ratio for the Hario V60 is impossible. There isn’t a ratio that can be considered wrong or right.
However, as someone who has brewed V60 coffee hundreds of times, I can recommend a 1:16 coffee-water ratio. This means you should use 16 water units for every 1 unit of coffee. For example, you can use 240 ml of water for 15 grams of coffee or 8 fl oz for 0.5 oz.
As I mentioned before, there’s not a single correct answer in this regard. If you want a stronger coffee, you can decrease the amount of water added to each unit of coffee. Conversely, for a milder coffee, you can increase the amount of water added to each unit of coffee.
Related: Taste Before You Buy – Best Coffee Subscriptions with Free Trials
2) Heat the Water
Once you’ve decided on the coffee-water ratio, heat slightly more water than the amount needed for brewing. This is because you’ll use some of the water to preheat the cup, V60, and decanter in addition to brewing water.
For Hario V60 brewing, aim to heat the water to around 200 °F (93°C). A range of 195-205 °F (90-96 °C) is ideal for brewing.
If you don’t have a thermometer, turn off the heat source after boiling the water and wait 30-40 seconds. This will bring your water’s temperature into this range.
3) Grind Your Beans
There’s no right or wrong when selecting coffee beans for the pour-over method. However, lighter roast beans are more suitable for the Hario V60.
Weigh and grind the necessary coffee beans according to your determined coffee-water ratio. A medium-fine grind is best for V60.
Grind the beans just before brewing. Otherwise, your coffee will lose many of its flavors and aromas.
4) Assemble the V60
Fold the edge of the special paper filter designed for the Hario V60 and place it in the V60.
Position your Hario V60 over your mug or decanter. You can place the V60 directly on your mug for a single-serving brew, but use a decanter for multiple brews.
For instance, if you’re making coffee for two people, avoid placing the V60 on the second cup once the first cup is filled. This is because the coffee that comes out at the beginning of the brew will not have the same strength as the coffee that comes out towards the end. The first cup will be quite strong, while the second cup will be considerably weaker.
5) Pre-wet and Preheat
Rinse your paper filter with hot water to prevent its inherent taste from affecting your coffee. If you’re using a natural paper filter, you might want to use a bit more water for rinsing. This is because natural paper filters impart more unusual aromas to the coffee compared to white filter paper.
Ensure that every part of the paper filter gets wet. This step also allows you to preheat your equipment. Finally, empty any accumulated water from your decanter or mug.
6) Add Coffee and Adjust Your Scale
Place your Hario V60 with the decanter or mug on the scale. Tare the scale to zero and have your timer ready.
The scale I use has an integrated timer, so I don’t need an additional timer.
7) Bloom
Start your timer and pour a small amount of water evenly over all the coffee grounds to fully wet them. Then, wait for 45 seconds for the bloom stage.
For the amount of water to pour, use twice the weight of your coffee grounds. However, don’t get too caught up in the numbers. Make sure all the coffee grounds are thoroughly wet. As an upper limit, try not to exceed three times the weight of the coffee grounds you use.
For example, if you’re using 15 grams of coffee, use 30-45 ml of water for the bloom. Since 1 gram of water equals 1 ml, you can easily follow the measurements on the scale.
During roasting, coffee beans trap carbon dioxide. This gas continues to be released slowly after roasting. When coffee meets hot water, this release accelerates significantly.
The bloom stage is performed to release carbon dioxide. This prevents the sour taste that this gas could impart to your cup. Additionally, the gas release during brewing can cause uneven extraction due to agitation. For these reasons, the bloom stage should not be skipped.
8) Pour the Remaining Water
After waiting for the bloom time, pour the rest of the water.
As you pour, do so in a slow and circular motion for a more even extraction.
Try to pour the targeted amount of water within 1 minute. Avoid letting the water level get too close to the top edges, and don’t pour directly onto the paper filter.
Once you’ve finished pouring the water, wait for the filtration to complete. The entire process for Hario V60 brewing should finish between 2:30 to 3:30. You can discover what time works best for you within this range through experimentation. All you need to do is adjust your grind size.
9) Serve and Enjoy
Pour your coffee into your cup. Now, you can enjoy your delicious and clear cup of coffee.
Conclusion for Homemade Hario V60 Brewing
You might not succeed in your first attempt at V60 brewing, just like I did. Keep trying. You can easily become skilled in using the Hario V60 with some practice.
I strongly recommend exploring the Chemex if you’re new to or curious about pour-over coffee.
Why is my V60 coffee bitter?
Your V60 coffee might taste bitter due to grind size, coffee beans, or water temperature.
Grinding the beans too fine can lead to over-extraction. This results in bitterness in your cup. Try a coarser grind size for your next brew.
The hotter the water, the more coffee grounds dissolve. This can contribute to bitterness. Make small adjustments to the water temperature.
Consider switching to lighter roast beans if you’re using dark roast beans. Dark roast coffees tend to have more bitterness.
Once you make these adjustments, your coffee’s bitter and burnt flavors should decrease. It’s important to make changes to one variable at a time so you can pinpoint the source of the issue.
How do you make a strong V60?
Using a finer grind will result in a stronger coffee. If you want to make your coffee stronger, use a finer grind for your next brew. This will increase extraction and yield a stronger cup of coffee.
Can I use Melitta filters in a Hario V60?
In short, yes, you can use them. You just need to fold the Melitta paper filter into a cone shape.
However, I don’t recommend doing this very frequently. Let me explain.
Melitta paper filters are thicker than Hario V60 filters. As a result, you’ll get less concentrated coffee compared to using V60 filters. Additionally, the thicker paper filter will slow down the water flow. This might extend your brew time. Such an extension can lead to over-extraction.
However, you don’t need to worry too much about this; you can resolve this issue using a coarser grind than usual.
Moreover, this filter won’t fit as well in the V60 as a standard V60 paper filter. This can lead to an uneven brew.
In conclusion, you can use a Melitta paper filter to get through the day, but I wouldn’t recommend making it a habit.
Hario V60 Recipe: Step by Step Brewing Guide
Equipment
- 1 Coffee Grinder
- 1 Decanter
- 1 Scale
- 1 Timer
Ingredients
- 15 gr Coffee Grounds
- 240 ml (8 fl oz) Hot Water
Instructions
- Choose Your RatioI can recommend a 1:16 coffee-water ratio. This means you should use 16 water units for every 1 unit of coffee. For example, you can use 240 ml of water for 15 grams of coffee or 8 fl oz for 0.5 oz.
- Heat the WaterFor Hario V60 brewing, aim to heat the water to around 200 °F (93°C). A range of 195-205 °F (90-96 °C) is ideal for brewing.If you don’t have a thermometer, turn off the heat source after boiling the water and wait 30-40 seconds. This will bring your water’s temperature into this range.
- Grind Your BeansWeigh and grind the necessary coffee beans according to your determined coffee-water ratio. A medium-fine grind is best for V60.
- Assemble the V60Fold the edge of the special paper filter designed for the Hario V60 and place it in the V60. Position your Hario V60 over your mug or decanter. You can place the V60 directly on your mug for a single-serving brew, but use a decanter for multiple brews.
- Pre-wet and PreheatRinse your paper filter with hot water to prevent its inherent taste from affecting your coffee. If you’re using a natural paper filter, you might want to use a bit more water for rinsing. This is because natural paper filters impart more unusual aromas to the coffee compared to white filter paper.
- Add Coffee and Adjust Your ScalePlace your Hario V60 with the decanter or mug on the scale. Tare the scale to zero and have your timer ready.
- BloomStart your timer and pour a small amount of water evenly over all the coffee grounds to fully wet them. Then, wait for 45 seconds for the bloom stage.
- Pour the Remaining WaterAfter waiting for the bloom time, pour the rest of the water. As you pour, do so in a slow and circular motion for a more even extraction.
- Serve and EnjoyPour your coffee into your cup. Now, you can enjoy your delicious and clear cup of coffee.
