Brewing the Perfect Cup of Coffee Using a Hario V60

KEYS TO A PERFECT CUP:

When it comes to brewing the perfect cup of coffee at home or on the go, the Hario V60

dripper is the go-to method for coffee enthusiasts everywhere.

With a little know-how, a bit of patience, and a steady hand, the Hario V60 produces a

vibrant cup with delicate aromas and nuanced flavors perfectly presented. Elegantly

simple in concept and design, brewing with the Hario V60 takes some getting used to

and you may need to invest in a few practice sessions to figure out how your favorite

coffee likes to be brewed.

But once mastered, you may never brew coffee any other way.

As with other brewing methods, using a digital scale and timer is very helpful, whether

you’re a beginner or a pro. This ensures that your brewing ratio of coffee to water is on

point and that your pours are consistent from one brew to the next.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

Here’s what you’ll need to achieve a high-quality brew using Hario V60:

Ingredients and materials:	Equipment and gear:
Freshly ground Trinidad coffee Hario paper filters (or comparable) Filtered water	Hario V60 dripper Water kettle Digital scale (grams preferred) Digital timer (many scales include this) Spoon or scoop A brewing vessel (your favorite mug or carafe)

BREWING COFFEE:

Step 1:

Heat the water to 205°F. Some kettles will hold heated water at a set

temperature. If yours doesn’t, run the kettle so that the water is done heating

right before you brew to ensure you’re pouring water that’s at the ideal

temperature.

Step 2:

Take one filter and fold it into a cone shape (depending on the brand, this may simply involve folding the seams over) so that it fits snugly into the V60 dripper. Place the dripper onto the brewing vessel.

Step 3:

Pour water onto the paper filter to wet it thoroughly. This will remove any papery flavors from the filter while pre-heating the vessel. Discard the water just before brewing.

Step 4:

Grind 20 grams of your favorite Trinidad Coffee beans. Using the right grind size is important – we prefer particles that are slightly coarse – similar to kosher salt. 

Step 5:

Pour the coffee grounds into the paper filter and give the dripper a slight shake to level the particles into an even bed.

Step 6:

Place the brewing vessel and Hario dripper on your digital scale and zero out the display. 

Step 7:

Start your digital timer and slowly pour water directly into the center of the bed of coffee grounds. The goal at this stage is to completely wet the grounds and allow them to bloom. Your target weight is 30 grams. Allow 15 to 20 seconds for the blooming to take place. 

Step 8:

Pour water again, starting in the center of the cone and moving in a circular motion but staying about an inch away from the walls (i.e., avoid pouring water on the paper filter). Some key things to remember:

• Try to keep the flow of water slow and steady as you pour

• Aim to keep the level of liquid in the dripper around half-full

• To accomplish this, you may need to either start and stop your pours, or adjust the speed of your pour

  
  

Pro Tip: Resist the temptation to “rinse” coffee grounds off the walls of the paper filter to get them into the liquid mixture. Instead of improving extraction, you’ll end up allowing water to exit the dripper faster without interacting with the coffee grounds.

Step 9:

Continue adding water to the dripper until you reach 350 grams on your digital scale. This stage of the brewing process should last roughly 3 minutes.

Step 10:

Once your freshly brewed coffee drips out completely, remove the Hario V60 unit from the brewing vessel. Give the brew a nice little swirl to release the aromas and flavors. Enjoy!

What You’ll Like About the Hario V60 Method:	What You May Not Like About the Hario V60 Method:
Gives you complete control over the strength and intensity of your brew Portable and easy to use on the go or when traveling Full extraction so you enjoy all the delicate flavors and nuances Perfect for all roasts, even dark Unlock subtle characteristics and nuances of flavor that may remain hidden using other brew methods Fewer pours than the Kalita method	Requires a steady hand and a certain degree of attention throughout the brewing process Deliberate and accurate pouring will produce the best results May take some practice to get used to and a little more effort to master Specialized paper filter Requires multiple pours (minimum of two, depending on your skill level)

Ready to try another hand-pour brewing method? 

If you want to expand your hand-pour brewing repertoire, give the Kalita Wave a try. The concept is the same but the techniques are a little different.

Looking for something a little simpler? 

For an intense extraction of flavors without the nuances of multiple pours or weighing equipment, try brewing with a French Press.

How about trying out a new way to brew? 

If you’re feeling adventurous and want to try out something new, consider the AeroPress. Utilizing an innovative approach to brewing, this method is perfect for coffee enthusiasts with an active lifestyle.