What Is the Difference Between AeroPress and V60? (Explained!)

As two of the most iconic coffee makers in the game, you will likely have heard of the Aerobie AeroPress and the Hario V60, but what actually are these devices, and what sets them apart from each other? If you’re looking to make delicious home coffee easily, then one or both of these may be just what you need.

The main difference between the AeroPress and the V60 is the brewing method: the AeroPress uses pressure to force hot water past the grounds whereas the V60 is a traditional pour over coffee maker. They are also very different to look at and they each make a coffee that has different qualities, though they are equally beloved by enthusiasts.

This article will go into detail about what the Aerobie AeroPress and the Hario V60 are, how the two devices are different from each other, and what you need to know if you are thinking of getting your hands on either of these famous coffee makers.

How Does the Aerobie AeroPress Coffee Maker Work?

The Aerobie AeroPress is beloved in the coffee-making community for its ability to replicate some of the qualities of an espresso by using pressure in the brew. The hot water is pushed past the coffee grounds and through a filter so that your drink is well extracted and infused, giving an intense flavour and a rich end result.

What Are the Different Parts of an AeroPress?

The AeroPress has quite a few parts overall, but ultimately it is made up of a cylinder – with a filter attachment at the bottom – and a plunger. You can use paper or metal filters and the cylinder and plunger are made of more components, but most of the time it stays as just these two parts.

How Do You Make an AeroPress Coffee?

There are many different techniques that people use to make an AeroPress coffee, but they are all variations on the same basic steps. You place the cylinder on your cup with the filter inside, place coffee grounds in the bottom, top it up with hot water, stir or leave it to steep and then push down the plunger.

How Does the Hario V60 Coffee Maker Work?

The Hario V60 is a pour over coffee maker, and it is designed to make the traditional pour over method easy for anyone to do at home. Coffee grounds are steeped with water over a filter that allows the infused liquid to drip through directly into your cup – using gravity to let the water through rather than pressure.

What Are the Different Parts of a Hario V60?

The Hario V60 itself is usually just one piece, though depending on the specific model you get it may separate into two. It is a cone-shaped funnel with a base that allows it to sit on your cup, but it does also require large filters of the right size to be placed inside each time that you use it.

How Do You Make a V60 Coffee?

To make V60 coffee, place it on top of your cup, put the filter inside and then gently add hot water in stages to allow it to drip through underneath. How quickly you add the water takes a bit of practice, and there are also many different recommended techniques for shaking the filter while you pour to improve filtration.

Are the Grounds Different for an AeroPress or a V60?

While both coffee makers can use different grind sizes, the recommended coarseness is different for each device due to the differences in their brewing methods. An AeroPress suits a finer grind consistency due to its shorter extraction time, whereas a medium-fine grind size is better for the longer steep in a V60.

Does the Hario V60 or the Aerobie AeroPress Make Better Coffee?

Neither of the coffees that you can make from these two devices is necessarily better, they are just different. The AeroPress gives more intensity to the flavour and produces more body in the final brew, whereas the coffee you get from a V60 is lighter and more subtle, bringing out the nuances in the grounds.

Is the AeroPress or the V60 Easier to Use?

It is easier to get a consistent coffee out of an AeroPress without having to develop any kind of specific technique. The V60 does take a little bit of practice to get your filter-shaking just right, and you can easily change the exact way that you are brewing by accident and end up with a slightly different drink.

Which Device Takes Longer to Brew, AeroPress or V60?

The AeroPress is slightly quicker at getting your coffee into your cup, you only need to let the brew sit for 1-2 minutes before pushing down and having your beverage ready to go. For a V60 you need to add the water in stages to let it steep and drip through, which takes around 3-4 minutes in total.

Which is More Portable, the AeroPress or the V60?

When it comes to transporting it around, the AeroPress wins every time – not only because of its size but also its durability. You can fit an AeroPress into your pocket and it is practically indestructible, whereas a V60 is significantly more cumbersome and many of the models can be quite delicate, depending on which material you opt for.

Do the V60 and the AeroPress Come in Different Sizes?

The AeroPress device only really makes one cup of coffee, it can only be bought in one size and it only comes in plastic. The V60 has multiple size options, though none of them will make very many cups, and it also comes in a variety of materials, from glass to ceramic to plastic or even wood.

Does the AeroPress or the V60 Cost More?

The AeroPress is slightly more expensive than a lot of other simple home coffee makers at around $30, though it is still significantly cheaper than an espresso machine. The V60, on the other hand, can be very good value at between $8 and $30 – with the price depending on the size and material that you choose.