Both the Chemex and the Hario V60 are fantastic ways to make a cup of pour over coffee. They offer the opportunity to control all the conditions of a brew so you can enjoy the finer hints and notes of the bean. But, newcomers to the pour over method should use a Chemex since the V60 is a little more finicky.
That’s not to say newbies can’t use a V60, but prepare yourself for lots of trial and error. However, it’s important to first understand what a pour over coffee is and how you make one. Then you can decide whether a Chemex or V60 will be best based on their design and brewing requirements.
What Does Pour Over Coffee Mean?
Pour over coffee refers to a method of brewing that’s fairly simple in concept. To make pour over, you need a carafe or pot along with a top basket, funnel or some other similar contraption. Once you put in the grounds, you pour over hot water and allow it to brew. You can use any kind of roast too.
How Do You Make Pour Over Coffee?
The idea of making a pour over is easy yet requires something of a scientific and artistic approach. It’s not as difficult as all that, but you must pay attention and like being particular. Consider the little recipe below for a typical method of brewing six cups.
Items You’ll Need
- Carafe or Pot
- Basket or Funnel (should fit on top of the carafe or pot but not inside it)
- Kettle or Saucepan (you will need something to pour the water from the saucepan; ibriki or other long-handled pourer)
- Thermometer (optional)
- Coffee Filters
- Measuring Spoon/Cups
Ingredients
- 6 Cups Water
- 12 Tbsp (or ¾ Cup) Coffee Grounds
Instructions
- Boil the water until it reaches somewhere between 195°F and 205°F.
- Put together your pour over device.
- Moisten the coffee filter with warm water and set it in the funnel/basket.
- Measure out your grounds and put them into the filter sitting in the funnel/basket.
- Then, bloom the grounds by pouring just enough water over them so they get frothy and foamy.
- Wait for 30 to 45 seconds so all the grounds activate from the hot water.
- Then, pour in the rest of the water in slow, circular motions. If you pour too fast, you won’t extract enough of the coffee. Alternately, if you pour too slow, you’ll over-extract the beans.
What is Chemex?
Invented in a chemistry lab in 1941 by Dr. Peter Schlumbohm, the Chemex is an award-winning pour over device. This is a glass carafe that looks like an hourglass. It’s heat resistant with a spout appearing like a small ridge.
Special Features
There’s a wooden collar around the ‘waist” of the device and affixed with a thin leather strap. This makes it easy to handle and hold when dealing with hot water. However, there are several models available with varying features such as handles or handcrafted blown glass.
Thick Filters
What’s great about a Chemex are its signature thick filters. These help make the coffee extra clear, providing a clean tasting cup of coffee. The downfall about the Chemex filters is that they are special in their design, so they’re difficult to find.
Because of the thicker filters, you can use anything from a fine grind to a very coarse one. Regardless of how you pour the water over the grounds, the filter’s thickness is forgiving if you pour too fast or slow. They also come in a range of sizes that can be as small as three cups to as much as 13 cups.
What is V60?
Hailing from Japan, a V60 is yet another type of pour over device made by a company called Hario. It has a special 60° angle in a conical shape with ribs on the inside to help guide water flow in a near-perfect way. It also allows the grounds to expand in an optimal manner. This means that once you pour the water in, it will reach each coffee particle.
Various Models & Different Materials
The Hario V60 has a host of materials, colors and models from which to choose. Clear glass is the classic original. However, there’s also copper, stainless steel, plastic and ceramic. While you can use just about any size grind, the art of pouring the hot water will take finesse and developing your own technique.
To use it, you simply put it over a cup or a pot. Therefore, you can only make one or two cups of coffee at a time.
Thin Filters Make Brewing Tricky
The paper filters for a V60 are thin; they are very similar to the kind you would put into a drip machine. So, if you run out or can’t find V60-specific filters, you can still get away with using ones for a drip machine. It’s just that you’ll have to be careful when brewing your coffee.
In terms of the brew, it takes some sleight of hand with a bit of precision. If the water takes too long to strain through, you will get an incredibly bitter tasting cup of coffee. But, in the case of pouring slowly just right, you’ll be able to taste the sweet, floral and fruity notes of the bean you’re drinking.
Comparison Table of the Differences between a V60 & Chemex
To understand whether a Chemex or V60 will be better, study the table below for the differences. All-in-all, however, the Chemex will be best for newcomers to pour over style coffee. More experienced brewers will enjoy using a V60.
|
|
Hario V60 |
Chemex |
| Grind Type | Any Kind depending on coffee preferences | Medium (but any kind will do) |
| Materials | Glass, Ceramic, Stainless Steel, Plastic or Copper | Glass with wood and leather; other models have handles |
| Funnel Design | Conical with grooves or ridges | Smooth and conical |
| Filter | Thick fibrous paper | Thin paper |
| Volume Brewed at Once | 1 to 2 cups | Ranges of three to 13 cups |
Hi, I’m Jen Williams, chief editor and writer for ThirstPerk.com.
I’ve been drinking coffee and tea for most of my life, but it wasn’t until I started working at Thirstperk.com that I became an expert on the subject. I’m a total caffeine addict who has spent hours upon hours reading about and experimenting with the different types of coffees out there in my search to find the perfect cup of joe.
I’ve been a tea lover for as long as I can remember as well. I grew up in a house with a mom who loved to drink herbal tea, and I think that’s where my love for tea first began. These days, I’m always on the lookout for new and interesting teas to try, and I love experimenting with different brewing methods and flavoring combinations.